Am wondering about using this solar charging port on my camper as a convenient place to plug in the 12 volt cord on the generator. And would it be best to wire in a solar controller to monitor and regulate the charging. Comments please. The 2104S came pre-wired with this solar hookup
I’m watching this post. Seems like a great idea unless I’m missing something. My Battery Tender monitors the charge rate and comes with the male connector for that solar port.
12vDC will not charge your trailer battery it needs at least 13.7vDC Don't use the 12v outlet on the generator for this. Solar cells put out more voltage than 12vDC but few amps so they're trickle chargers at best but can trickle for days.
To charge your battery just connect your generator's AC outlet directly to the trailer's shorepower inlet and let your builtin battery charge do it's job. Can still take several hours but not days.
-- Chuck
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2006 Roo 23SS behind a 2017 Ford Expedition
I know this generator will charge batteries as have used it to do so, once used it to charge the 2 big batteries on my Versatile tractor after having left the cab fan on, it took a long time but those batteries are large. The generator ouput at 12 volts is 6.3 amps. Is it exactly 12 volt? I don't know.
I know this generator will charge batteries as have used it to do so, once used it to charge the 2 big batteries on my Versatile tractor after having left the cab fan on, it took a long time but those batteries are large. The generator ouput at 12 volts is 6.3 amps. Is it exactly 12 volt? I don't know.
Plugging the shore cord into the generator and letting the RV's converter/charger recharge the batteries will be 100x more efficient than what you're thinking about.
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Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
I know this generator will charge batteries as have used it to do so, once used it to charge the 2 big batteries on my Versatile tractor after having left the cab fan on, it took a long time but those batteries are large. The generator ouput at 12 volts is 6.3 amps. Is it exactly 12 volt? I don't know.
On most generators these 12 volt outlets are unregulated and relatively low output. Meant to be more of an emergency charging source to get an engine started.
As mentioned, just plug shore power cord into generator and let the converter do the work. Will do so faster and safer.
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"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change)
Yes you can. These connectors are just 2 wires to the batteries. But as mentioned plugging your camper into the AC power will be much faster. Many campers have 55-75 amp converters which charge much faster, at least when in bulk mode. It is possible your 12v output may actually charge faster the converter after the first few hours.
After reading the comments it is apparent to me that I won't be using the GoPower Solar connection for charging the batteries, that I am much better off connecting the generation to the 120 volt shore power terminal and letting the converter send the 12 volt charge to the batteries. The converter provides a staged/tapered charge to the batteries, starting out with a higher amperage and tapering off as the batteries reach the full capacity. Thanks to all that responded.
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