Golf Cart Batteries and Maximum Charge from a Onan 6.5 Generator

[PEntertainment]

Hi there!

I just bought a 1984 Winnebago Elandan that I am converting into a recording studio/ home.  So I need lots of power. Right now I only have enough money to get a voltage regulator to clean up the power from the onan 6.5, for when I need a lot of juice boondocking, but eventually I want to get a lot of 6 volt golf cart batteries so that I don't have to have the noise of the generator all of the time.

With all my studio equipment I want to run up to 2000 watts all of the time I am working (5 to 10 hours a day) through an inverter like the  $400 xatrex http://www.starmarinedepot.com/Xantrex+Prowatt+SW2000+Inverter.html
Then when my batteries run low I would run the generator. One of my questions is how many batteries can I charge at one time with the appropriate converter - using the boondockers
http://www.bestconverter.com/PowerMax-PM4B-100-100-Amp-4-Stage-ConverterCharger_p_472.html#.USHLjn2iXx8 The amount of 6v batteries I want to get is from 6 to 10, I was wondering where the limit to these chargers and the the output of the onan was in relation to how many batteries I can charge as quickly as possible- Can I charge 10 6 volt batteries in the same time as 6 using the appropriate charger? I guess the onan will put out enough power to power the 100 amp boondocker converter - will the converter charger 10 batteries in the fastest time possible? I guess I wouldnt be using much out of the 100 amps just some lights if it is dark, and my 2000 watts of 120 service would be from the generator during charging time. But will I get enough power from the onan to do this? It seems like I am getting 54 amps out of the onan at 120 volts - thats plently I think.
The goal would be to run the generator only to get the batteries to 80 percent or so then kill the generator again -in the least amount of time possible. At night I thought it would be cool to put an automatic kill switch that killed the generator when the batteries were at around 80 percent, and then have some solar panels that topped the batteries off in the morning (I dont work until noon or later). Probably better to have the generator start in the morning and keep the charge going with the solar, is this true? Or can they wait to be topped off.

Anyway just some random questions - no big deal in getting answers right now im still doing the remodel inside - paint, floors etc. I will post pictures in the other boards

[LJ-TJ]

WOW! Can't help with the question but what type of recording do you do? We have a couple of folks who do voice over work out of their rigs now. Look forward seeing the pictures of your rig and the mods your doing.

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

I think you might want to look a little deeper at this as you are not going to get all your looking for.
You need to know how many AC amps (Watts) you actually need and work backwards from there.

Dave

[PEntertainment]

wow a diagram and everything - thanks for the effort! Im guessing I will be drawing about 2000 watts AC through the inverter then there is some loss and the house power  - but this is all just speculation until I have the money to buy. So I guess it would take 5 whole hours to charge up a big battery bank like that- to 80 percent at least -

I was wondering if I got a 200 amp converter (since my generator would power it) if it would cut that time in half?

This is the basis of determining how big of a converter I would get if I can afford it because that would be really cool to only have to run the generator for 2 hours to charge up then I could get back to recording - ahhh heck its all just speculation now Ill wait till I have a budget - lets call the answer 5 hours to charge with a 100 amp converter (thats the biggest boondocker I saw!). I am going to start t thread in remodels with pictures of what I am doing now. Thanks for the answer!

[PEntertainment]

Oh yeah and I will be recording whatever - a lot of jam sessions with people I meet (I play bass keys and guitar), people who pay me to record them, some talk show stuff, and I will probably start working on my first solo album - kinda groovy instrumental stuff.

[CjAl]

If I remember right from reading the manual for my 6.5NT it charges batteries at a ridiculously slow rate. Like 1.5amps or something along those lines. don't hold me to the exact number as I don't have it in front of me. I run a extra battery charger plugged into the 120 to charge my batteries  when the generator is running.

[ClydesdaleKevin]

We have had good luck with the Boondocker Powermax highest amp unit.  We can fully recharge our battery bank...6 Interstate deep cycle golf cart batteries, from around 60% to 100% in about 2.5-3.5 hours running our Onan 6.5 generator.  Which is exactly what we did when we boondocked last year.  This year, we never ran the generator because we installed 705 watts of solar panels and a Morningstar MPPT 60 amp charge controller.  But then again, we don't have nearly the power demands that you will.

So yep, a high amp Boondocker will do the job in less than 4 hours, and you can still run your equipment with the genny running, since the 6.5 Onan puts out more than enough power to do just about anything, including running the Boondocker.  By itself, its a dismal charger.

Another option is to use a high amp external fast charger to load your batteries when the genny is running, but I HIGHLY recommend unplugging the Boondocker when doing this.  We tried it this way to use less gas, and the Boondocker fried...Best Converters told me it was the only one they ever had to warranty...lol!

If you use a high amp charger of any kind...the Boondocker, an external charger, or a high amp solar charger like ours...check you battery water level OFTEN, and top them off as necessary with distilled water!

Kev

[PEntertainment]

Cool. Thanks for the info Kevin thats what I  like to hear! I was hoping that this would be the case! So I am planning on getting the 100 amp boondocker and 6 batteries- when I get the cash for it. And the a high rate charger if I think it would help with speed. Yeah CjAL my stock converter has a 3 amp charging rate - no good unless you are plugged in for a while! Now back to the remodel. (see my post under projects)

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

For reference

The charger circuit built into generators is only intended to restore the power used to start the generator.  Thats why they only range from 1 to 10 amps max.

Old style linear converters had to have seperate battery charge circuits.  They typically were only 6 amps.  Todays modern converter output is directly applied to the battery so if no other loads are ON then almost all of it's rated output can be applied to battery charging depending on the state of the battery.

Dave