Square waves killed our charger!

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Oscilloscope analysis of the Honda 1000 and 2000 has been on the web for years now. Assuming (rashly) that the genset is in good working order, they put out OUTSTANDING quality AC and can't be blamed for damaging anything, any more than "evil spirits" could.


OTOH, even Honda states that their 12VDC output from the same gensets is intended to be used for battery charging only, it is a really ugly (impure) DC output that can and will damage electronics. They're honest about it.


So perhaps your expert has gotten the AC and DC facets of the Hondas confused. Or perhaps he wants to sell you something else.


But the objective and repeated results, from O'scope tests, say that Honda's AC output is simply not capable of doing that kind of damage. Unless, of course, there was a gross failure. Your local Honda shop--or ham radio club, or tv repair ship, etc.-- can easily confirm that by hooking up to your Honda and seeing just what it is putting out.


You CAN easily get an objective and certain answer to this. Apparently your repairman is simply incapable or unwilling to use the right equipment to do so.

Must be the evil spirits. I'm with you that it is unlikely the Honda is at fault.

Probably just time for the charger to go and salt air is a bitch.

[CarinaPDX]

On a related point, the reason folks are suspicious of inverter outputs is that those "modified square wave" inverters have destroyed a lot of equipment over the years. I lost a couple of computer power supplies that way. Most laptops today come with power supplies that can survive the experience because the cheap inverters are so common now. Still, I wouldn't bet that everything will survive so next time I'm in the market I will be buying a true sine wave inverter.

Greg

[hellosailor]

"Still, I wouldn't bet that everything will survive so next time I'm in the market I will be buying a true sine wave inverter."
Or a true sine wave genset, like the Honda.(G)

[BeaMewesed]

All good info, thanks. 1) it doesn't make sense that the Honda works for so many cruisers...and fries our charger, 2) voltage, hmm...3) the charger was in a confine location, maybe it needed more air circulating, and 4) this Honda was well used when we bought it. Again, thank you.

[mstrebe]

Originally Posted by BeaMewesed

All good info, thanks. 1) it doesn't make sense that the Honda works for so many cruisers...and fries our charger, 2) voltage, hmm...3) the charger was in a confine location, maybe it needed more air circulating, and 4) this Honda was well used when we bought it. Again, thank you.

Chargers fail randomly. I'm not sure why you're convinced that it's the Honda's fault. In any case, a simple O-scope will tell you everything you need to know about it's output. Get it tested, so you can trust it or you'll never use it.

[Fog Bank]

Originally Posted by BeaMewesed

1) it doesn't make sense that the Honda works for so many cruisers...and fries our charger,

I think it may be a bit premature to make such a definitive statement.....

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Fog Bank

I think it may be a bit premature to make such a definitive statement.....

Someone said put a scope on the Honda. Just put a meter on it, I hadn't had an O scope in years, if you get a 120V+- the Honda is probably not the problem. Hope you find the cause. Good luck.