Posted by Melandre on June 17, 2005, 12:43 pm
We recently purchased a small cabin where electricity is not avalable.
At the time of purchase, electrical requirements where met by an old
generator (still works but can't tell what power), a 300A charger, a
couple of 12V generic deep Cycle batteries and a 12V-115V inverter.
The setup is now basically the same except that we have upgraded the 2
12V batteries and we have now a new 2500W generator. Electricity
requirements is generally low: music during the day, a 60W light at
night and occasionnally we watch a DVD on a 27 in TV (so TV and DVD
player running simultaneously for approx. 2 hours or less). Must run
power tools occasionnally but this we do directly from the generator
bypassing the battery system.
Couple of things that are sill unclear to me:
1) if the generator is connected to the charger (with nothing else
runnning) how long should it take for the 2 batteries to be recharged
(say at approx. 90 - 95%) assuming the batteries were down to 50%?
Would I have to run the generator for a couple of hours? 5hrs?
10hrs?
2) if I disconnect the charger and connect the generator directly to
the power bar (from which an extension cord goes to small stereo and
light) could I also use a second extension cord from the power bar and
connect it the charger so that not only would the generator provides
electricity for basic needs (I am assuming music and light would draw
a very small portion of the generator power generating capacity) but
at the same time would provide enough juice to recharrge the 2
batteries?
I guess, the simpler way of asking is, can the generator handle
suppling power simultaneouly to a stereo, a 60W light (or two) AND
recharge the 2 batteries (via the 300A charger)?
Andre
Posted by SQLit on June 17, 2005, 1:38 pm
> We recently purchased a small cabin where electricity is not avalable.
> At the time of purchase, electrical requirements where met by an old
> generator (still works but can't tell what power), a 300A charger, a
> couple of 12V generic deep Cycle batteries and a 12V-115V inverter.
> The setup is now basically the same except that we have upgraded the 2
> 12V batteries and we have now a new 2500W generator. Electricity
> requirements is generally low: music during the day, a 60W light at
> night and occasionnally we watch a DVD on a 27 in TV (so TV and DVD
> player running simultaneously for approx. 2 hours or less). Must run
> power tools occasionnally but this we do directly from the generator
> bypassing the battery system.
> Couple of things that are sill unclear to me:
> 1) if the generator is connected to the charger (with nothing else
> runnning) how long should it take for the 2 batteries to be recharged
> (say at approx. 90 - 95%) assuming the batteries were down to 50%?
> Would I have to run the generator for a couple of hours? 5hrs?
> 10hrs?
> 2) if I disconnect the charger and connect the generator directly to
> the power bar (from which an extension cord goes to small stereo and
> light) could I also use a second extension cord from the power bar and
> connect it the charger so that not only would the generator provides
> electricity for basic needs (I am assuming music and light would draw
> a very small portion of the generator power generating capacity) but
> at the same time would provide enough juice to recharrge the 2
> batteries?
> I guess, the simpler way of asking is, can the generator handle
> suppling power simultaneouly to a stereo, a 60W light (or two) AND
> recharge the 2 batteries (via the 300A charger)?
> Andre
Some how I really doubt that you have a 300 AMP charger. Maybe 300 watts.
You do not provide the amp capasity of the new batteries. A WAG would be 7-8
hours.
You charger is more powerful than your generator. Can you generator sustain
full load for 8 hours?
Sensitive electronics can get really pissy when run off small generators.
Some of the electronics use frequency to control stuff. If the frequency is
off on the generator you could fry the TV.
Since the media center is so small use the inverter and the batteries. Start
and use the generator for charging and power tools.
Syn oil in the generator really helps keep them alive. My old Pincor, 2500
watt is almost 30 years old. I change the oil every 40 hours and or once a
year if idle. I use 10-40.
Remember to ground the generator and use a GFCI on your power tools.
Posted by Ulysses on June 18, 2005, 1:31 pm
> We recently purchased a small cabin where electricity is not avalable.
> At the time of purchase, electrical requirements where met by an old
> generator (still works but can't tell what power), a 300A charger, a
> couple of 12V generic deep Cycle batteries and a 12V-115V inverter.
> The setup is now basically the same except that we have upgraded the 2
> 12V batteries and we have now a new 2500W generator. Electricity
> requirements is generally low: music during the day, a 60W light at
> night and occasionnally we watch a DVD on a 27 in TV (so TV and DVD
> player running simultaneously for approx. 2 hours or less). Must run
> power tools occasionnally but this we do directly from the generator
> bypassing the battery system.
> Couple of things that are sill unclear to me:
> 1) if the generator is connected to the charger (with nothing else
> runnning) how long should it take for the 2 batteries to be recharged
> (say at approx. 90 - 95%) assuming the batteries were down to 50%?
> Would I have to run the generator for a couple of hours? 5hrs?
> 10hrs?
> 2) if I disconnect the charger and connect the generator directly to
> the power bar (from which an extension cord goes to small stereo and
> light) could I also use a second extension cord from the power bar and
> connect it the charger so that not only would the generator provides
> electricity for basic needs (I am assuming music and light would draw
> a very small portion of the generator power generating capacity) but
> at the same time would provide enough juice to recharrge the 2
> batteries?
> I guess, the simpler way of asking is, can the generator handle
> suppling power simultaneouly to a stereo, a 60W light (or two) AND
> recharge the 2 batteries (via the 300A charger)?
Yes and no. As SQLit pointed out your battery charger, if it really is 300
amps, exceeds the capacity of your generator (14.5 volts X 300 ampsC50
watts). Presumably your battery charger is actually much smaller than 300
amps.
If you have 220Ah battery capacity, and are charging at 30 amps, and they
are halfway discharged, then theoretically it should take about 3 1/2 to 4
hours to recharge them. Realistically though it will take a little longer
because the charge rate tapers off as the batteries become more charged.
The Vector Smart Chargers start out at a high rate (I have the 40 amp model)
and this speeds up the charging process.
Assuming your charger is, say, 30 amps then yes you can charge your
batteries (guessing they are two 6 volt 220 Ah batteries in series) and run
your small loads at the same time (probably, unless your generator is
over-rated).
What size is your inverter? I would suggest plugging your stereo, DVD
player, and TV directly into the inverter (get one that's 700 watts or more
and don't buy a really, really cheap one--then purposely overload while you
can still get your money back) and run those things from the batteries.
Don't use the inverter to power your 110 VAC light as that would be
extremely ineffecient. Get some kind of 12 volt light (I like CCFL) and
connect it directly to the batteries. Don't use regular 12 volt incandescent
lilghts as they will drain your battery rather quickly. Get a couple of
kerosene/oil lamps (lots of 'em on eBay) and don't use electric lights
unless the generator is on (unless you use CCFL or perhaps LED then it's ok
for a while) Use purified lamp oil indoors. You can use kerosene or
Cintronella oil outdoors (both are cheaper than lamp oil). Get a good
generator (assuming you have a cheap one now) such as a Honda eu2000i and
then you won't have to worry about frying your electronics. A couple of
solar Malibu lights can be real handy too. I have some with the white LEDs
and they have an on/off switch. They use two AA nicads which I replaced
with AA NiMh. On mine the top unscrews so it can be used like a flashlight
if needed. I use them indoors and out. Get a Vector Smart Charger battery
charger but don't run the microwave (once again assuming you will get one)
or other heavy loads until the charge rate drops below 10 amps.
Posted by Robert Morein on June 18, 2005, 8:38 pm
> We recently purchased a small cabin where electricity is not avalable.
> At the time of purchase, electrical requirements where met by an old
> generator (still works but can't tell what power), a 300A charger, a
> couple of 12V generic deep Cycle batteries and a 12V-115V inverter.
A 300 amp charger would probably weigh around 60 lbs.
It would have huge screw lug terminals for the DC cables.
Does this description match?
Posted by RF Dude on June 18, 2005, 9:10 pm
1) Even if it were a 300A generator, you would be charging the 220AHr
battery way too fast. Safe recommended charge rate is Capacity / 5. So
like others suspect, you probably don't have a 300A charger.
2) The application you are describing is called "cycle charge". To gain
maximum efficiency you want to run your generator at about 80% load.
Similarly, to have your batteries last longer, you generally don't want to
take them down more than 20%. Cycle charge sites mean large batteries so
that you have some reasonable battery run time before you start the
generator again.
3) 60W light? You should change that to a 15W CF lamp. The savings are
obvious. Make sure ithe lamp likes the output of your inverter (true sine
wave).
4) Ideally, you would have one of the inverter/chargers from XANTREX or
other companies that put an inverter/charger/generator start control all in
one box. You program at what stage of battery discharge you want the
generator to start. It takes care of the rest.
Good Luck.
RFDude
XML site map
> At the time of purchase, electrical requirements where met by an old
> generator (still works but can't tell what power), a 300A charger, a
> couple of 12V generic deep Cycle batteries and a 12V-115V inverter.
> The setup is now basically the same except that we have upgraded the 2
> 12V batteries and we have now a new 2500W generator. Electricity
> requirements is generally low: music during the day, a 60W light at
> night and occasionnally we watch a DVD on a 27 in TV (so TV and DVD
> player running simultaneously for approx. 2 hours or less). Must run
> power tools occasionnally but this we do directly from the generator
> bypassing the battery system.
> Couple of things that are sill unclear to me:
> 1) if the generator is connected to the charger (with nothing else
> runnning) how long should it take for the 2 batteries to be recharged
> (say at approx. 90 - 95%) assuming the batteries were down to 50%?
> Would I have to run the generator for a couple of hours? 5hrs?
> 10hrs?
> 2) if I disconnect the charger and connect the generator directly to
> the power bar (from which an extension cord goes to small stereo and
> light) could I also use a second extension cord from the power bar and
> connect it the charger so that not only would the generator provides
> electricity for basic needs (I am assuming music and light would draw
> a very small portion of the generator power generating capacity) but
> at the same time would provide enough juice to recharrge the 2
> batteries?
> I guess, the simpler way of asking is, can the generator handle
> suppling power simultaneouly to a stereo, a 60W light (or two) AND
> recharge the 2 batteries (via the 300A charger)?
> Andre