Charging from Honda Genny

3

[3889]

...
Joined
26 May 2003
Messages
4,139
Visit site
I have a 1kV suitcase generator which has a switchable output showing a Hare or Tortoise ( not too technical, I know.) It seems that in tortoise mode the genny will meet existing demand but not charge the batteries (Sterling charger). Is this to be expected?
Unfortunately, I don't have the manual.
Thanks in anticipation.
Andy
 
Most modern switched mode power supplies SMPS's and modern switched mode battery chargers care little for the supply frequency so use what ever revs give a sensible charge rate. I assume you have a 12V ammeter in circuit.
 
Can't you charge direct from the 12v output on the genny? I've got the honda unit as well but always wondered it you would get more amps into the battery from the 12v outputs rather than the long way round using the batt charger. But would rather know that someone else hasn't blown anything up by this method before trying it.
 
I think you will find that the 12v o/p of a Honda is pretty much just that a 12v output for running lights etc. To charge a batter at any decent current you need at least 14volts. You may get some charge current out of the 12v output but it will be very little compared to using a charger on the 24oV output. olewill
 
Just dug out the manual.
[ QUOTE ]
Honda EU10i
DC output only for charging 12v automotive batterys. max charging output=8 A

[/ QUOTE ]
So although it seems that honda have provided the 12v output to charge batteries, you are right, not a lot of current available. I'm better off going through the 20a stirling charger. I wonder why though, is my schoolboy lx right in that 12v x 8 A=96 watts? And does that leave another 900w available in a perfect world? I would imagine honda would be very careful not to fry any batteries so would keep things very low, but I also wonder if it's possible to get to the rest of that charging power, how would you do that? Up the voltage? Looking at the circuit diagram it looks like there is a seperate DC winding which goes through a full wave rectifier to the dc output. But to be honest I'm not too sure of what I'm talking about so shall run away now. Anyone else care to comment on how to charge batteries faster using a honda genny using the DC outputs?
 
Hello Paddy. Yes it sounds like 8A max would be useless for battery charging. You would only get the 8A into a very flat car battery or perhaps into a low but very large battery bank. Then only for a short time. Batteries need in excess of 14v to induce them to accept real charging current.
The 12v output of the Honda would have a fairly poor regulation characteristic so that it might give over 13 volts at no load but that would fall to less than 12v under load. So the more current you take out the lower the voltage. But batteries need high voltage to take more current.
So my guess is that with an amp meter fitted to the 12v output charging a normal boat battery after a short time of charging the current would fall to around 1 amp not 8A.

Yes that would leave nearly all 1000w capability wasted. If you run a battery charger off the 240V output then the output voltage hence current into the battery can be increased either manually or by smart charger to use a lot more of the full power capability. (but don't expect to get 70 Amps or so into the battery from 1000w gen.)

olewill
 
I have an Eu10i and use it to power my 24V 30A battery charger. When the batteries are well down I need to use the "hare" position or the generator "hunts", but once they have charged for a while and the charge current drops, I can switch back to "tortoise" position. "Tortoise" isn't "idle", it is a variable-speed position. The generator speed will vary to match the load.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top