[Rhodes22-list] Airstream Genset

Mon, 18 Nov 2002 15:28:39 -0800 (PST)

Rik, don't confuse me with facts! Brad.
--- Rik Sandberg <racerrik@rea-alp.com> wrote:
> Brad,
> 
> Oooo....don't let your head explode.....I HATE when
> that happens. :-)
> 
> Hey, I'm not saying there might not be something
> wrong with my generator 
> either. But, if you are going to try to run a test
> with a battery charger, 
> make sure you use a dead battery. I have run a
> battery charger on this 
> genset to charge a battery that wasn't run down that
> bad. Worked OK. Tried 
> to use it on a dead battery. Ooooppps too much.
> 
> We had the alternator go out on one of the water
> trucks at the race track 
> one day this summer. We didn't have time to worry
> about fixing it right at 
> that moment, so we went and got the little Honda and
> our ten amp battery 
> charger. Hooked the charger/Honda up to the trucks
> battery and ran the 
> truck all afternoon that way. Had the battery on the
> same truck go dead on 
> me a couple days later. Hooked up the same
> charger/Honda to the same 
> battery and poof, kicked out the overload switch.
> So, experience is telling 
> me, if you really want to know how well it works,
> test it with a dead 
> battery, eh!!! :-)
> 
> Rik
> 
> 
> At 11:50 AM 11/18/2002 -0800, you wrote:
> >Ah ca'mon Rik, first I do all the heavy lifting on
> the
> >microwave and now you throw this curve ball!  I
> don't
> >even have an Airstream anymore!  The DC power
> center
> >went out on mine and I used an auto charger hooked
> >directly to the battery but then I never traveled
> and
> >didn't need the DC that much.  But, you got me to
> >worrying about the genset-boat battery charger
> >application so I'm in the middle of a test;  as we
> >speak the Honda is hooked up to an el-cheapo auto
> >charger connected to a deep cycle battery.  Its
> >drawing about 10 amps and the Honda didn't even
> rise
> >above idle.  When I turn it to 30 amps it barely
> >throttles up.  Thats what it should do on paper.  I
> >remember the DC power supply on my Airstream was
> huge
> >so maybe thats the problem.  Anyway, I have to go
> to
> >the Doctor in a few minutes so my head doesn't
> explode
> >from a sinus infection but the scientific inquiry
> will
> >continue! Tag, you're it.  Your turn to go to
> WalMart.
> >Brad.
> >--- Rik Sandberg <racerrik@rea-alp.com> wrote:
> > > Doug and Brad,
> > >
> > > Careful guys, check it out first. I have had a
> 10
> > > amp battery charger
> > > (plugged into the 110 side) kick out the
> overload
> > > switch on the 1000 watt
> > > Honda. I have no idea what the current draw on
> any
> > > particular travel
> > > trailer's charging system may be. I have also
> never
> > > tried this with my
> > > travel trailer. So I can't say that it
> definitely
> > > won't work. I would sure
> > > test it though, before I laid out the bucks for
> a
> > > new generator. You just
> > > might need a little bit bigger one.
> > >
> > > Rik
> > >
> > > BTW, the furnace system in RVs is strictly 12
> volt
> > > (including the fan), at
> > > least all of our have been.
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "brad haslett" <flybrad@yahoo.com>
> > > To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list"
> > > <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
> > > Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 12:47 PM
> > > Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Airstream Genset
> > >
> > >
> > > > Doug, you mentioned in an earlier post that
> you
> > > towed
> > > > an Airstream.  I lived in one part time (32ft)
> for
> > > two
> > > > years but didn't tow.  If I did you can bet it
> > > would
> > > > have been with the biggest rig I could get my
> > > hands
> > > > on.  I heated my Airstream electric only with
> > > three
> > > > small heaters.  Experimenting with the Honda I
> > > have
> > > > discovered it will power one electric heater
> at
> > > the
> > > > 750watt level no problem.  It sounds like what
> you
> > > > want to do is power the blower on the LP
> furnace,
> > > > correct?  The Honda would probably handle that
> > > easily,
> > > > the blower motor doesn't draw that much power
> but
> > > I
> > > > can't remember whether its AC or DC.  The
> Honda
> > > > produces both but the DC side is for battery
> > > charging
> > > > only.  The most efficient way to consume DC
> would
> > > be
> > > > to let the Honda's AC side power the
> campers/boats
> > > > charging system.  On the AC side you will face
> the
> > > > same issue I am on the boat.  When you're
> powering
> > > a
> > > > high draw application, you have to make sure
> no
> > > one
> > > > plugs anything else in or turns something else
> on.
> > > No
> > > > damage will be done but the genset will trip
> its
> > > > breaker. There were a couple of times I lost
> power
> > > in
> > > > my space for the Airstream and the Honda would
> > > have
> > > > saved me a trip to a motel.
> > > >
> > > > Brad Haslett
> > > > "CoraShen"
> > > > --- "Gardner, Douglas L. (LNG-DAY)"
> > > > <douglas.gardner@lexisnexis.com> wrote:
> > > > > Hey Brad,
> > > > >
> > > > >    No offense taken, and actually my
> response
> > > read
> > > > > much more strongly than I
> > > > > intended.  My main thesis was supposed to be
> > > that
> > > > > casual observers can't
> > > > > decide if a vehicle is appropriate for an
> > > individual
> > > > > or not. I've been known
> > > > > to throw my share of comments about soccer
> moms
> > > > > buying a Ford Excursion to
> > > > > drive to the grocery.  The fact is, I can't
> tell
> > > > > from the grocery store
> > > > > parking lot if they really need the huge SUV
> or
> > > not.
> > > > >  (well, actually I can
> > > > > look at the hitch to see if its been used,
> and I
> > > can
> > > > > look to see if there is
> > > > > a brake controller under the dash, but that
> is
> > > about
> > > > > it.)
> > > > >
> > > > > Rik's main points are well founded.  Given
> that
> > > the
> > > > > question is: what do I
> > > > > need to tow a R22?  Then the answer is:
> > > Something
> > > > > rated to tow 5,000lbs or
> > > > > better.
> 
=== message truncated ===

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