Date:         Mon, 8 Feb 2010 13:37:53 -0800
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      generators/inverters for camping
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I usually use solar for powering my camping stuff but during prolonged
rainey and cloudy weather I sometimes find insuficient solar coach battery
power, so I have a back-up generator.  Now in my Vanagon, I usually don't
get a really dead coach battery because I use little electric power, but
right now, we are operating out of a camping trailer...the vanagon is taking
a month off.
  Anyway, we have the seldom-used generator with the trailer.  Usually our
solar panels keep it (2 new NAPA deep cycle batteries) adequately charged.
But we had a storm period here in the desert southwest and I fired up the
generator to charge up the batteries...they ran down to 11.4volts during the
rainy spell...Well, this Coleman Powermate generator will not put a charge
on the batteries for some reason.   It runs a power tool and also puts out
proper DC voltage but it will not operate the trailer's invertor/charger.
It will not operate a normal accessory (brand new) battery charger that is
plugged directly into the generator, independent of the trailer's wiring,
either.  But...and here's the wierdness, I borrowed a Honda generator from a
neighbor.  Everything works properly with that generator.  Trailer
invertor/battery charger shows our trailer batteries getting a good charge
through the built-in invertor charger when it (the trailer) is plugged into
the Honda...but not with the Coleman.  Also, the Honda will run the
accessory battery charger right up to it's maximum...giving a good charge to
the batteries when they are hooked directly from the Gen>Charger>Batt.  But
nothing from the Coleman...
  So why would the Coleman Powermate run power tools and show the correct
current output but not run the battery charger or the built in invertor from
the coach while the Honda Gen-set runs it all correctly?

 Is there a way to make do with this Coleman or doI need a different
generator or something?  Why would one work everything and one work just
some of the stuff when both test to the same output and seem to have all the
same specifications?
  If I just go plunk down nearly a thou$and for another generator, is there
a chance that it, too, might not work with that particular trailer? and
Battery charger?  The trailer is a '97 model so it's not ancient.  The
battery charger is a brand new Chicago equipment one (works perfectly on
wall current or the Honda, puts out just a trace of power with the
Coleman...
  What the heck am I missing here?  Sorry this may be a bit off pure vanagon
but many of us are using invertors and generators and solar power as part of
our Vanagon/Westie experience and I know there are some knowledgable
electrical wizards here on the list who may have an answer..(reply off the
list if you think that's better?)
  Thanks  Don Hanson