Jump to content

Generator recharge with solar roof panels


Citrus breeze

Recommended Posts

Out boondocking for a week. On fifth day noticed battery level has dropped to a level of concern. Question is, with my Honda portable generator…is there any special tricks I need to perform to do this right?

we’re way north in NH IN THE Great North Woods  

Appreciate any feedback

Charlie

Hull 734 - 2021 Oliver Elite II

pulled by F-150

Out of Florida

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderators

I assume you have never connected the generator to your OTT based on your question.  Do you have a neutral bonding plug and an adapter plug for the trailer power cord to plug into the 120v outlet on the generator?

Mossey

  • Like 3

Mike and Krunch   Lutz, FL  
2017 LEII #193 “the dog house”

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You need a 30 amp RV female to 15 amp male adapter, this is the one I use. It is high quality and won’t melt:

480883DA-CE8F-4507-A679-40B88EF76252.thumb.jpeg.823320d71047f35d07063550350bb40d.jpeg

You can plug its male end into your generator and then plug the big 30 amp shore power cable into the female end. But it works much better if you plug a heavy duty (12 or 10 AWG) 15 amp extension cord into your generator, then in to the adaptor, and attach the adapter to the side of the trailer using the threaded collar. That way you don’t have a massive cord dangling off the fragile generator socket.

The grounding plug is needed, it has to plug into one unused socket on the generator in order for the onboard surge suppressor to “see” the generator and then allow it to connect properly. If you don’t use that plug it won’t work right.

Another option if your generator has a 12 volt DC connection, use the supplied cord with aligator clips and hook those to (any of) your battery positive and negative posts. But this is a a VERY slow way to charge and also little risky for a few reasons. It should look like this:

A42465FC-07F4-4EF3-8B21-26CDC59A127C.thumb.jpeg.c62eae7696fd89c6616f2973bbabc3d1.jpeg

Maybe you could just tell us what equipment/ adapters, etc you have at hand, hopefully you won’t have to make a trip to an RV supplier…. And I will say this, you are supposed to figure this stuff out in your driveway, not out in the remote woods 😀

John Davies

Spokane WA

  • Like 1

SOLD 07/23 "Mouse":  2017 Legacy Elite II Two Beds, Hull Number 218, See my HOW TO threads: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/john-e-davies-how-to-threads-and-tech-articles-links/

Tow Vehicle: 2013 Land Cruiser 200, 32” LT tires, airbags, Safari snorkel, Maggiolina Grand Tour 360 Carbon RTT.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, mossemi said:

I assume you have never connected the generator to your OTT based on if the your question.  Do you have a neutral bonding plug and an adapter plug for the trailer power cord to plug into the 120v outlet on the generator?

Mossey

Yes to both questions. I’ve used my generator on my previous camper(Casita), but that didn’t solar panels on that. 

Charlie

Hull 734 - 2021 Oliver Elite II

pulled by F-150

Out of Florida

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No worries, you won’t hurt your solar charging system, it cooperates nicely with the other charging systems on your Ollie. What generator do you have? If it is a little 1000 watt unit you will have to trip (disconnect) the AC circuit breakers for all the other circuits except the converter (charger) or might not carry the load.

John Davies

Spokane WA

  • Like 1

SOLD 07/23 "Mouse":  2017 Legacy Elite II Two Beds, Hull Number 218, See my HOW TO threads: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/john-e-davies-how-to-threads-and-tech-articles-links/

Tow Vehicle: 2013 Land Cruiser 200, 32” LT tires, airbags, Safari snorkel, Maggiolina Grand Tour 360 Carbon RTT.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderators

The solar system will not effect the operation of the generator.  The Ollie should act just like it does when you are plugged into shore power.

Mossey

  • Like 1

Mike and Krunch   Lutz, FL  
2017 LEII #193 “the dog house”

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderators
14 hours ago, Citrus breeze said:

Yeah, I should have done this in my driveway. I deserved that comment. 

As we say in Florida, "When your up to your butt in alligators, it’s hard to remember your objective was to drain the swamp".  
The Honda EU2000i will provide enough power for most things in the trailer with the exception of the air conditioner unless your Ollie has a EZStart installed.  You will have to manage your power consumption and not overload the generator as JD mentioned above.

Mossey

  • Like 2

Mike and Krunch   Lutz, FL  
2017 LEII #193 “the dog house”

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator+
4 hours ago, Citrus breeze said:

Yes to both questions. I’ve used my generator on my previous camper(Casita), but that didn’t solar panels on that. 

There is a slight difference in generator charging your former Casita and your present Oliver. The Oliver has a built in Electrical Management System (EMS) that most likely your Casita did not have. If you don't have a neutral bonding plug in your generator the EMS will prevent the generator from connecting to the electrical system in your trailer, but for the time being it's OK to bypass the EMS.

  • Like 3

Steve, Tali and our dog Rocky plus our beloved Storm, Maggie, Lucy and Reacher (all waiting at the Rainbow Bridge)

2008 Legacy Elite I - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #026 | 2014 Legacy Elite II - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #050 | 2022 Silverado High Country 3500HD SRW Diesel 4x4 

 

             801469912_StatesVisitedTaliandSteve08-23-2021-I.jpg.26814499292ab76ee55b889b69ad3ef0.jpg1226003278_StatesVisitedTaliandSteve08-23-2021-H.jpg.dc46129cb4967a7fd2531b16699e9e45.jpg

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...