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Old 12-10-2022, 03:23 PM   #1
Sienna
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Default Honda EM650 generator

I inherited a Honda ‘em 650. Is this enough if I plug the trailmanor into it to charge my batteries. I would rather use the built WFCO charger because there is overcharge protection. The generator will charge directly at 8 amps but does not have overcharge protection.
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Old 12-10-2022, 09:26 PM   #2
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A Honda EM650 is rated to put out 550 watts continuously. Assuming 90% efficiency in the charger, you will get 495 watts of DC available. If you use it all for charging at 14.5 VDC, that means you will have a little over 30 amps available. That is plenty - and far more than you would get with the 8 amps directly out of the generator.

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Old 12-11-2022, 06:51 AM   #3
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You don't want to hook a generator straight up to the batteries!! Generator Amps are not the same Amps that your batteries use to charge. That generator puts out AC, the batteries are DC. Hooking them up directly will destroy the batteries at best, the trailer and any building next to it at worst.
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Old 12-11-2022, 08:19 AM   #4
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Jim -

Many generators, including this one, have a separate DC output connector intended specifically for battery charging. They are almost always rated at 8 amps max - I never seen one with any other rating - and are intended for use in locations where there is no access to a conventional AC-powered battery charger such as the one in the TM. This is what Sienna and I were referring to.

You are, of course, correct about never connecting a generator's AC output directly to a battery.

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Old 12-11-2022, 08:36 AM   #5
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Default Thank you

Taking my TM out for the first time in New Years Eve. And do not want to run out of power for the heater. I want my wife to like RVing. I can charge the batteries up each day to get through the nights.
Thank you again
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Old 12-11-2022, 12:29 PM   #6
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Sienna -

Be aware that the furnace fan will draw around 3 amps. If it is cold, and the furnace runs more or less continuously, it can use most of your usable battery capacity in a 12-hour night. And if you have other loads - lights, etc - it is possible to wake up in the morning with a cold camper and a dead battery. You can restart the genny, of course, but drawing a battery down to empty is not good for it ...

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Old 12-11-2022, 09:24 PM   #7
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Sienna, when I boon dock, I use several battery powered lights. Helps conserve power for essentials. To stay warm thru the night, I go very old school, but it works great. A hot water bottle. I had a dear friend I camped with, who HATED getting into a cold bed. This saved the day and my batteries thru the night. In the morning, first one up, kicked on the heater till it warmed up enough to make the coffee. The water kept her and now me warm several hours thru the night.
How ever you camp, I hope you both have a great trip.
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Old 12-18-2022, 02:01 PM   #8
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I plugged my TM into shore power and watched the voltage increase at the battery for charging. Then I plugged my generator into the trailmanor and watched the voltage increase at the battery. So enough juice to power the inverter. However then my generator malfunctioned. In checking it was then putting out 300ish volts. Now when I plug into shore power the inverter is not working. TM is in the garage and I will be able to take it out Saturday the 24th. So did I just blow a fuse or trip a breaker or did I fry the inverter and other appliances.
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Old 12-18-2022, 09:07 PM   #9
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I guess I don't understand what was connected to what, and when.

Did you connect the TM to shore power and generator power at the same time???

Does your generator have a 240-volt socket? If so, did you plug the trailer into that socket, maybe with an adapter?

Was the input of the inverter connected to the battery at that time? What was the output of the inverter connected to?

We need a little more info, but I'm not optimistic. 300 volts anywhere in the system spells trouble.

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Old 12-19-2022, 06:25 AM   #10
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I plugged the TM into my house. Took a volt meter to the batteries ad watched the voltage increase from about 12.8 to the high 13s. Then I unplugged from my house and plugged into my generator Honda ‘em 650 into the 120 volt AC plug. Went to test voltage on batteries and it was working increasing the voltage like when I was plugged into the house. Then the voltage,dropped. So basically I had the TM plugged into a faulty generator putting out 300 volts.

I did read in WFCO 8955 literature since my post that there is voltage protection. With work and living in an home owners association. I can’t take it out until Saturday. I will update what I find then. Just want to prepare for the worst.
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