Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 16:09:08 -0600
Reply-To: Mike South <msouth@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mike South <msouth@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: generators/inverters for camping
In-Reply-To: <02eb01caa908$d7c33ed0$8749bc70$@net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
On Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 3:51 PM, B Feddish <bfeddish@netreach.net> wrote:
> I could be guessing but maybe the cheaper Coleman does not put out a pure
> sine wave AC and the Honda does and maybe the charger doesn't like that.
> Power tools will run on almost any AC signal.
>
Check if one of the other campers has an oscilloscope, send us pics...
MIght help if we knew what model exactly you have, but here is an Amazon
review that sounds like a similar story to yours:
http://www.amazon.com/review/R2RFGRX4L9FKK4/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R2RFGRX4L9FKK4
(This is just to tide you over until someone who knows something posts--I
just googled around for powermate and sine wave based on what Bryan
suggested)
Good luck!
mike
> Bryan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Don Hanson
> Sent: Monday, February 08, 2010 4:38 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: generators/inverters for camping
>
> 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
>
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