Proper battery / generator operation

[BLACKJACK]

Battery chargers often won't have enough "oomph" to simultaneously charge a low battery and run fairly high demand loads like the furnace.

Whoar,

I installed a Minnkota onboard 3 bank charger in my fishhouse, the MK315 I think, hooked to two batteries, so far I've only either hooked it up to 110 power or the generator to charge the batteries, I've never tried to hook it up to the generator AND run the furnace, are you saying that I will have problems?? What will be the symptom?? If the fishhouse furnace is running when I plug in the generator, what will happen???

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I've done exactly that, with the same charger, and a Suburban furnace, and had no issues after 4 years.

[Redlineracer12]

It won't have any issue if your batteries still have enough power to run the furnace. You might start running into problems if you drain the battery as fast or faster than the charger is charging it though. The "brains" of a battery charger expect the voltage to increase as it charges. That's how most determine how charged a battery is. If the voltage is staying the same or dropping while charging (because of accessory draw) the charger may kick off and signal a bad battery. The inverters are meant to be able to handle load AND battery charging, standard battery chargers are not designed for that.

[jsr426hemi]

I believe my converter is a 45 amp which is necessary probably for a fish house. Typically u wouldn't be running enough ac components to need 45 amps. I picked mine up new for $90 on a rv auction site. Sometimes they go as low as $39 plus shipping if no one else bids on them. I use a 15 amp main breaker where the ac comes in from the generator so it will trip if I pull more than 1800 watts at one time. If u were to install a 30 amp rv connection and had a big enough generator to give u 30 amps u would have the potential of running more ac devices but probably over kill in shack unless u have an air conditioner. If u are looking at plugging in a standard cord I would go with 15 or 20 amp.

[BLACKJACK]

I've done exactly that, with the same charger, and a Suburban furnace, and had no issues after 4 years.

Good to hear Lip Ripper!! I think I installed the Minnkota after reading one of your posts in years past

[BLACKJACK]

The deeper the discharge the shorter the total battery life. For example (from Interstate battery),

25% discharge = ~2200 cycles

50% discharge = ~1000 cycles

75% discharge = ~550 cycles

100% disharge = ~250 cycles

"Cycles" refers to a discharge/charge cycle. The number of cycles is the point where the battery can deliver only 1/2 of its rated amp-hours. Generally considered worn out at this point.

The above assumes proper recharging etc. etc.

Leaving a battery sit at a partially discharged level is very hard on it because that's what causes sulphation, as does only partial recharging such as running it down then giving only a partial recharge.

This is great info!!! I never realized a battery was so sensitive to a partial charge!!

One more question for you battery experts. On a fully charged battery, if there is no draw on it, as in nothing connected to it, how long can you leave it sit before you recharge it again?? I park my fishhouse where there is no power, was wondering if I can just leave the batteries in it all summer without a recharge??

[fsnrod]

You might want to put a solar powered maintainer on thwm it sure wouldn't hurt.

[BobT]

One more question for you battery experts. On a fully charged battery, if there is no draw on it, as in nothing connected to it, how long can you leave it sit before you recharge it again?? I park my fishhouse where there is no power, was wondering if I can just leave the batteries in it all summer without a recharge??

Batteries will lose charge as they sit. It is a good idea to put a charger on them from time to time. I personally wouldn't let one sit more than a month or so between charges.