[Rhodes22-list] Airstream Genset

Mon, 18 Nov 2002 14:28:18 -0600

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.
> > > > Like I said, my Jeep Cherokee Classic can handle
> > > > that, although I wish it
> > > > was just a bit heavier.
> > > >
> > > > Personally, I loved my Ford Aerostar.
> > > > Unfortunately, given the extremes of
> > > > my needs (commuting vs. the occasional heavy
> > > > towing/hauling) there is no
> > > > room in the stable or the budget for a minivan.
> > Too
> > > > bad.  I really liked
> > > > having one.  I don't understand what some of my
> > > > friends have against them.
> > > > They are great vehicles for the family and
> > > > occasional light hauling.  I
> > > > could even fit my garden tractor in mine!
> > > >
> > > > Oh, and about the generator/microwave...  I say
> > GO
> > > > FOR IT!  I'm not going to
> > > > do that on the boat, but you and Rik have me
> > > > seriously thinking about that
> > > > little generator for the camper!  That would
> > widen
> > > > our horizons a lot if I
> > > > could generate enough juice to run the furnace
> > in
> > > > the camper overnight
> > > > without electrical hookups!  I have a catalytic
> > > > heater in there, but won't
> > > > use it overnight with kids nearby.  The furnace
> > is
> > > > the way to go...
> > > >
> > > > --Doug
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: brad haslett [mailto:flybrad@yahoo.com]
> > > > Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 12:00 PM
> > > > To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> > > > Subject: [Rhodes22-list] diesel insults
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Doug, NO! You shouldn't be insulted.  My
> > comments
> > > > were
> > > > not directed to you personally or anyone else on
> > the
> > > > list.  A list member asked for information about
> > > > diesels and as a long time diesel driver I
> > shared
> > > > some
> > > > personal experience.  Thats all.  If you like
> > your
> > > > truck, be happy and live in peace.  I work with
> > 4500
> > > > guys and gals with a larger than average number
> > who
> > > > drive full size diesel pickups that they have
> > little
> > > > legitimate use for (that doesn't mean there
> > isn't
> > > > one).  I poke fun at them all the time and take
> > the
> > > > return fire from them about my "pizza delivery
> > > > truck"
> > > > (Toyota Tacoma) in good spirit.  Forgive me if
> > my
> > > > politically correct, sensitivity meter was
> > unplugged
> > > > that day but it will probably happen again.  A
> > lot
> > > > of
> > > > folks on this list think my genset-microwave
> > combo
> > > > either 1 - can't be done or 2 - is silly to
> > begin
> > > > with, and have stated so in so many words.  I
> > find
> > > > it
> > > > all rather funny and take no offense.  If they
> > > > outright called me an idiot I wouldn't get
> > insulted,
> > > > I'd just take them off my Christmas card list!
> > > >
> > > > Brad Haslett
> > > > "CoraShen"
> > > >
> > _________________________________________________
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> > >
> > >
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