Dana,
You'll probably be better off using the DC output to charge the
battery, as most standard converters really aren't very good battery
chargers. You might consider replacing the old converter with a modern
outfit that incorporates (or simply IS) a 3-stage charger. I use an
Inteli-Power with the Charge Wizard myself, but there are a couple of
others out there also. If you're trying to charge a "low" battery with
the Magnatec, it'll take hours and hours because the typical charge rate
of those things is only 3-4 amps. The Inteli-Power will charge at 30+
amps when a battery is "low" and replace most of the juice in 4 or 5
hours of genset runtime.
IIRC, the Honda genset that I mentioned has an 8-amp 12VDC output, so
that'll recover your typical daily consumption in 5 hours or so,
depending on your usage. As I've said several times during solar power
discussions, EVERYTHING must start with a chart of your daily usage, all
else follows from that.
Although you specifically said that you didn't want to consider solar
panels, if you plan a lot of boondocking, you might want to rethink that
position. If you're figuring on only a couple of trips/year, and can use
the generator around home, then you're on the right track.
You are correct on your volts, amps, and watts power conversion. Volts X
Amps = Watts.
<<Jim>>
Dana Kelley wrote:
>
>
>
> >Dana,
> > A friend has a couple of those Honda 1000-watt inverter-type gensets
> >and loves them. They weigh about 30# or so and SIP the fuel. They're
> >also very, very quiet. You can also daisy-chain a pair of 'em for more
> >power if you need it, something that's very unusual.
> >
>
> Jim, I'll probably get that Honda because you can paralle two together. Do
> you know if I can plug my trailer into it? I'll just be using it for the
> Magnatec converter, which charges the battery too or should I just go
> straight to charging the battery? I'll just be using lights and the 12 volt
> 13" TV. Since the 1000 watt is so small I'll have to ck on the amps my
> converter draws. To convert amps to watts I think you have to multipy the
> amps X the volts=WATTS. I sure don't want to buy something that's usless
> to me.
>
> DSK in TEXAS
> >
--
<<http://www.oldengine.org/members/jdunmyer>>
<<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>
<<lower SE Michigan, USA>>
<<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>
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