using generator to charge batteries in fish house

[mrjigger]

I just bought a generator. It has a 12V outlet on it. The owners manual is very vague. Can I use this 12V outlet to run 12V appliances, or charge my 12V batteries in my fish house?

If I can use it to charge my batteries, is it ok to still run the appliances or lights when charging the batteries.

[Hafnutz]

yes and yes. If it's a Honda it will have an 8 amp output for battery charging. Just be careful not to overcharge the batteries and be sure the batteries are large enough to handle the amperage output from the generator. Another way to charge is to plug a standard 110 battery charger into the 110 circuit on the generator. Often you can get a higher output/charing rate using one of them.

[upnorth]

I know my Yamaha has a special outlet to charge batteries and you can run other appliances at the same time too.

[mrjigger]

it is not a honda, unfortunately I could not swing the cost right now. But it is rated at 8amps.

After I wrote the post, I also thought about using a standard battery charger. Probably will pick up a onboard charger.

So my next question is, if I use the standard battery charger can I also continue to run my appliances, TV/DVD, etc. without doing any damage to them?

[snowfighter]

I had asked the same question last year. I installed a double bank boat charger in my fish house for the 2 batteries and bought a Honda 2000.I contact the manufactor of the furnace in my house (suburban?)and they basiclly told me no because my charger was putting out 14.5 volts and the circuit board on the furnace can handle 14. Don't know if they where just covering there butt or not.I did charge it for 3 hours before this information and others on this site said they do it all the time.Now when I want to charge the batteries I disconnect the furnace run the generator and plug a ceramic heater on the 110 plug.

[cold one sd]

I have a dual bank on board charger in my wheel house and when I hook my generator up to it, I don't do anything different than when the generator isn't hooked up. I don't have a forced air furnace though. Before I got the on board charger, I used a regular 110v battery charger while the generator was running. I have never used the 12v cord for my generator, but take it with me just in case.

[pikechaser]

another thing to consider is if you have 12v lights/heat you could get a 12v power supply..it plugs into 110v outlet..Saw one at camping world.. it had 12v 8.5 amp output..would be less fooling around...run the 12v stuff off that while charging your batteries..was 25buks