Generator - 12V alternator driven charger vs Conventional genny. Thoughts?

[BruceK]

I don't have shore power from my harbour pontoon and tend to place quite a load on the house batteries. I've been looking at using a generator to recharge the batteries and take some load of the house batteries by using 220. However as the boat appliances can all run on 12v or 220v I'm wondering if something like a petrol driven battery charger may not be a better setup. Something like this...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORTABLE-...-CHARGER-MOTORHOME-CARAVAN-BOAT-/201330790204

It seems a no brainer to me but have no real experience of this sort of setup to make a qualified decision.

My concern is duty cycles of the house batteries vs generator that has to be run longer to deliver same amount of charge.


I'm also hoping I might install it in the engine room and wire it so that when in operation it automatically starts the blowers to vent fumes and CO, or is that a really dumb idea?

 

[CharlieAlpha]

Why not save some cash and buy something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUPER-SILENT-Swiss-Kraft-SK-2000W-Petrol-Inverter-Generator-Gasoline-Powered-/221741574070?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item33a0d3e7b6 [only an example of the many out there] you can then have the best of both worlds.

Must be run outside ie bathing platform and secured but simply plug the gennie 240v output lead into your boats shore power socket. This will power the charger and run a small kettle from the mains.

 

[CharlieAlpha]

A generator on a boat must be properly installed by a qualified person otherwise you risk an insurance get out or worse still your (or families) life CO is dangerous

 

[BruceK]

I have a Honda 3kw genny already. But regardless of "silent" claims any generator is noisy. I'm hoping I can run the alternator variant 1/8th the time to get a similar charge from it. I could bare the noise for a short while, say 1hr vs 6. (and BTW the unit you showed is 94db - that'd make me very popular in the harbour and with the proctologist who has to remove it)

The other alternative is solar panels. Maybe a 100W unit, but I use most power at night and so there could be a lot of power wastage and may still end up using a genny if the kids and admiral go crazy. I just cant get it through to them that battery power is not as conveniently available on the boat as it is at home and no matter how many times you stick a kettle on a 1000W inverter it wont suddenly magically work. Use the gas hob!

 

[Seastoke]

put the gennie in the tender and let it down the river 100m

 

[harstonwood]

What you need is hydrogen fuel cell to charge your batteries

http://www.fuelcellsystems.co.uk/fcapplications/marine-fuel-cells/

Have seen one at the boat show.....excellent device.
Am saving up for one

 

[BruceK]

put the gennie in the tender and let it down the river 100m

That would be fun when every passing raggie picks the shore lead up when they cut across my stern. Certain to light a few fires in scuttlebutt. The CO thing bothers me. Bad idea. Where to put a 100W solar panel though. Real estate on a 34 is at a premium.

 

[BruceK]

What you need is hydrogen fuel cell to charge your batteries

http://www.fuelcellsystems.co.uk/fcapplications/marine-fuel-cells/

Have seen one at the boat show.....excellent device.
Am saving up for one

Site is down at the moment. Are they silly money?

 

[wofforduk]

It depends on what engines you have. I see a lot of motorhomes with generators thumping away, going through a 20a charger. utterly pointless if you ask me! especially when most alternators are fairly strong (around 100a or so) it would make far better sense to have a better charging system from your main engine which are normally a lot quieter than a genny and probably cheaper too if running diesel. Plus you dont have to lug a seperate genny around!

Just my two pence.....

 

[BruceK]

Unfortunately running my engines to charge batteries would quickly become fuel expensive comparatively. twin KAD42's