Lightweight Simple Portable Generator/ Battery Charger??? Ideas???

[SV THIRD DAY]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

Ideally, I need a 25 watt charger or a user adjustable charger.

Ideas? cheers, jeff

Battery Chargers

The adjustable output feature is why I love the Sterling ProCharge Ultra Battery Charger.
I can easily run the full 60A-DC from my Honda 2000 or if I'm running other AC loads, I can dial down the battery charger output to match the generator capabilities.

[Boatguy30]

Thanks, will check those. I reckoned you could get buy without the smart ad on to the IOTA, but maybe not. I'm mainly just looking to bulk charge for a few hours not maintenance charge.
These guys on the prepper forums really like this little generator, I had never seen them before a few days ago. Will repost when it comes. I did order an open box one from Amazon as that's all they had in stock was even a few buck less. I think $235.

[onestepcsy37]

Boatguy30, please keep us informed about your experience with that generator. Some of us poorer sailors would like to know.

[Boatguy30]

Generator has not yet arrived. I purchased a 40 amp stanley battery charger at Lowes today $68. Now, I know it is Chinese junk, but so is everything beside the Charles and Newmars and they are $500 so I figured I'd give it a go.

I left the lights on a few hours on my '90 diesel suburban and stuck the charger on. It has a Digital readout that supposedly tells you the amps going into the battery. Claimed to be doing 41.6 amps for about 2 hours and then when I got back from the beach a few hours later was down to 5.6 amps.

Not sure the earthquake 800 will do 41.6 amps but we'll find out. Stanley also makes a 30 amp but the 40 was cheaper on sale at Lowes and my wife wanted some crap to remodel the bathroom anyway.

Will update when I get the earthquake running the charger.

[onestepcsy37]

I saw that 40 amp charger at Lowes today. Looks good enough. The charging cycle you describe for your suburban sounds correct for that type of battery. Keep us cheap sailors informed.

[Boatguy30]

Ok, so I have now tested the earthquake 800 and the Stanley 40 amp charger.

My neighbor actually had a new Quick 60 amp charger that is supposed to cut power to 30 amps when the AC supply voltage is lower than 100v. So I tried that first as he was basically going to give it to me but it showed on the led readout it was going into 1/2 mode after loading the generator but would then display a fault and unload the generator.

So I was unsure what would happen with the Stanley. at this point the batteries were reading 12V so maybe 2/3 discharged though my battery gauge indicated more like 2/3 full. I'm pretty sure I set it up with the right exponent, but it doesn't seem to tally quite right.

Ok, so I hooked up the Stanley and the little generator had a mighty struggle but did put out 41amps on the charger gauge which was confirmed by my BEP monitor although it did seem to bounce around a bit on the BEP. She put out 41 amps for about 12 minutes then tapered off to 30 and did a pretty steady 30 amps for the next 50 minutes.

I basically ran the test for 1 hour and the bep reckoned 29 amps hours made good. When I was 50' from the boat my neighbors pool pump was louder than the generator. Overall was about as noisy as a Honda but the eco node is nearly quieter than standard and much noiser than a Honda in eco.

So for $300 and just about 30 pounds the cheapo combo wins the first test. Doubt I will test it much again prior to my late year departure. If you hear me on the net looking to buy a charger or generator you'll know what happened.

[a64pilot]

Change the oil pretty quick, like now. The vast majority of metal made from the wearing in process occurs pretty quick and sometimes the less expensive motors make more metal wearing in. Cheap insurance

[socaldmax]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Change the oil pretty quick, like now. The vast majority of metal made from the wearing in process occurs pretty quick and sometimes the less expensive motors make more metal wearing in. Cheap insurance

Excellent advice!

[onestepcsy37]

Thanks for the update boatguy.

[dohenyboy]

I thought that a boat buck was $1000


Sent from an undisclosed location on the high seas or from the lounge chair by the pool, you decide.

[Seymore]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

Ok, so I have now tested the earthquake 800 and the Stanley 40 amp charger.

Yeah, that's the system here, an Earthquake 800 generator and a hardwired ProMariner 40 amp charger. The generator has been here for about 8 months and it works well.

It takes non-alcohol gas and, yes, I changed the oil when I got it and again after 1.5 hours. Both times the oil was clear straw coloured and had a bloom on it.

ProMariner said that the 40 amp charger requires 660 watts at 110v input.

[Boatguy30]

Good to know, you living aboard?

[Seymore]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

Good to know, you living aboard?

Yup, for 12 years now.

One more thing. The ProMariner engineer said to be careful of the grounds when you hook up a portable generator to a charger. On some generators/chargers the chassis are not connected to the ground wire or something.

[Boatguy30]

To update:

The earthquake died in Vero Beach maybe 12 hours run time. Took it to an authorized repairer A1A small engine in Pompano and they told me inverter board fried.

Bought a used eu1000 for twice the new price of the earthquake and promptly went into overload after 5 minutes charging! Turns out the stanley sucks the watts and the Honda overload is conservative and the earthquake just fries.

I have found if I charge before the sun goes down the voltage is high enough the charger taper the voltage fast enough to not overload. Tried almost new eu1000 from another boat and same issue.

Have really only needed the gen a few hours in last 3 weeks with very little juice coming from the outboards so with longer days coming doubt will need it at all.

A replacement warranty earthquake will be waiting for me in St Augustine in a few month. Should work fine with a 30 amp charger, will chuck it on eBay.

On the upside, home built 34' cat does 13 knots!!!

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

Turns out the stanley sucks the watts

Most quality marine chargers are power factor corrected, which helps a lot in their efficiency. Cheap chargers generally are not, so they suck a lot more power.

Thus, the promariner 40 may work well, while the stanley 40 does not.

The Iota is not power factor corrected, but is a very good piece of equipment.

Mark