Amperage from Honda 2000

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by Valmika

I have a Magnum 2000 inverter charger and I was told by Magnum to dial down the charger to under 50 amps when running on the honda 2000

At 12V? Maybe to allow econo mode?

That's under 750W !

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by robertrwolfe

Thanks, I have 4 Lifeline 125 amp, 12V batteries. Usually my solar panels will keep them at 12.5 or above, the 11.2 was after waking up and the previous day was a bit overcast

Not the topic here, but man please read the Lifeline charge specs, that's not even close.

You must get them to Full most cycles, or very early death.

Hold at a 14.4V Absorb setpoint until amps fall to 0.005C - 0.5A per 100A,

so for 500Ah, endAmps current, definition of Full, is 2.5A

Only then drop to 13.4V Float.

[DMCantor]

Best to limit the charging current to about 60 amps. The Honda can hit 15 amps of 120v for a little while, but only for a little. 10-12 amps continuous works fine. We always use Eco mode, the generator will run as fast as it needs to to supply the current, and as you get further into absorption mode it will save you a lot of gas. We have operated this way for many years.

[john61ct]

A PF corrected charger also makes a big difference.

Of course silly to try to go past 85-90% SoC with a gennie, best to just use it for Bulk stage when solar isn't getting all the way

Early morning genset, then once amps acceptance starts falling let solar finish the job, will likely take another 4-6 hours to get to 100%, no matter how many amps you have available,.

[skipgundlach]

Originally Posted by john61ct

Honda 2000 can support charging 12V at 90-100 amps rate continuously, depending on the voltage setpoint.

Startup spikes can be a problem though.

The ideal is an AC-DC charging source where the amps current rate can be reduced when needed.

What he said. That's my personal experience, as well; when my older unit got under 55A I could add another 40A charger; before then it would cycle into the overload protection mode. I now have a 2000XC, which puts out 80A at peak, and cycles nicely down through the stages; it's so much faster at charging than my previous dinosaur that I haven't once used the 40A shorepower unit.

However, for all things Honda 2000, including a factory employee, go to
Honda_EU2000_Generators@yahoogroups....ahoogroups.com> and subscribe.

There is no problem or feature which hasn't already been done there, and folks who know them intimately, down to the last screw, bolt and bearing.

HTH...

L8R

Skip

[sail4evr]

Originally Posted by robertrwolfe

I have a Honda 2000 generator that I use occasionally when I am anchored out. If my house battery bank (500 amps) gets low, 11.5 volts, I plug in my shore power cord to the generator, the amperage spikes and shuts down the battery charger. I don't have this problem when plugging in to regular 30 amp shore power. Any ideas?

If you allow yoour batteries to drop to 11.5 you are slowly damaging them. Battaries are rated on cycling times. Deca is 350, Lifeline 500. A discharge recharge cycle is from 12v (approximately 50%) to fully charge 14.5 or so depending on the battery. If you discharge your batteries below 50% 12v +-
you will significantly shorten your battery life. Conversely if you start charging at 12.2v you will increase the life expectancy.
Joe
Sea Of love
L 440 BVI

[izzyforreal]

The PO of my boat used to use one of these with a Honda generator. Here are his notes to me:
I had a Honda 1000 watt generator stored nicely in stern locker
I had a Vol Teq Power Supply HY3030EX
I would plug the Honda’s 110VAC into the Vol Teq DC Power Supply
I ran constant 30A DC direct to Batteries
I charged until voltage at batteries was 15.5 (equalizing voltage)
This bypassed the smart charger and was quick (30ah per hour)
I could run this for two hours a day instead of starting engine

[Old fella]

Originally Posted by john61ct

A PF corrected charger also makes a big difference.

Of course silly to try to go past 85-90% SoC with a gennie, best to just use it for Bulk stage when solar isn't getting all the way

Early morning genset, then once amps acceptance starts falling let solar finish the job, will likely take another 4-6 hours to get to 100%, no matter how many amps you have available,.

You hit the nail on the head.

[john61ct]

And if you are **only** using the genset for thet 2-hour Bulk charging run,

you will be replacing you bank much more frequently than when

using a bit of solar to get to 100% Full over a 4-6hour period afterwards.

[kev_rm]

Originally Posted by sail4evr

If you allow yoour batteries to drop to 11.5 you are slowly damaging them. Battaries are rated on cycling times. Deca is 350, Lifeline 500. A discharge recharge cycle is from 12v (approximately 50%) to fully charge 14.5 or so depending on the battery. If you discharge your batteries below 50% 12v +-
you will significantly shorten your battery life. Conversely if you start charging at 12.2v you will increase the life expectancy.
Joe
Sea Of love
L 440 BVI

11.5 is not bad if there is a load. The question is what is the resting voltage..