How to Charge RV Battery with Generator?
What will happen if your RV battery dies when you are far away from shore power? We know this question will scare you to your core! But don’t worry there are multiple substitute options that you can use to charge your RV battery.
One good source of charging is a generator but now the question is “How to charge an RV battery with a generator if your batteries stop working?” Well, the solution to this query is not very hard. We are going to discuss a step-by-step guide with you which will help you in charging your RV battery with a generator during difficult times.
Step-By-Step Guide To Charge An RV Battery With A Generator
To avoid any complications follow the steps below to successfully charge your RV batteries with the help of a generator.
1. Start Your Generator
Place your generator outside the RV on a smooth surface. Switch off all the devices in your motorhome and bring the generator into a running state. Ensure your inverter is strong enough to bear the output your generator will produce.
2. Stabilize The Generator
Once you have turned on your generator wait for a few minutes to get it warmed up. This will help in stabilizing the voltage and speed of the generator.
3. Connect The RV Battery to the Generator
Now, you connect your battery to the generator to start charging. To do this you need to connect the RV power cord directly to the generator. By looking carefully, you will find a built-in 30 amp/120-volt AC plug on the generator, this is where the RV power cord will go. Once this setup is complete your generator will start charging the RV batteries and you can run your appliance on it too.
Pro-Tip: Sometimes the RV cord doesn’t fit into the generator AC plug, so we recommend that you keep a 30 Amp Twist Plug with you to avoid any hassle while traveling.
4. Turn Off The Generator
Once your batteries are charged you can turn off the generator to start using the batteries as the main power source. Usually, a battery takes 8 to 10 hours to charge fully.
Safety Precautions:
Anything that involves the flow of electricity should be held with care because a small mistake can cause a huge loss. Follow the precautions below to avoid any accidents.
- Read the manual of your generator carefully to understand its working.
- Don’t start your generator inside the RV, keep it outside and away from your motor camp.
- Quickly stop the generator if you notice any problem during the setup.
- Place your generator on flat and firm ground.
- Carefully look at the RV power cord, if it appears damaged, adjourn your mission.
Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs): charge an RV battery with a generator
1. What is the Fastest Way to Charge RV Batteries?
According to campers’ experiences, the fastest method to charge RV batteries is by connecting the RV to shore power. You just need to plug in your RV power cord to the power source and soon your batteries will be ready to work. Another good option is to connect your RV batteries with a generator to charge them quickly.
2. How Long Can RV Battery Last?
The latest New RV batteries can last for five to six years. Some batteries may stop working before this period, this might happen because either they are not of high quality or you didn’t take their maintenance seriously. So, if you want your batteries to work to their full potential it is very important that you take good care of them.
3. How long does it take to charge an RV battery with a generator?
If your RV battery is completely dead, it will take around 8-10 hours to fully charge it. But if it is around 40-50% charged then 3 to 4 hours of charging are enough.
4. What is the best way to charge RV batteries?
You can use various options to charge the batteries of your motor home including solar panels, shore power, or a generator. The best method depends on how much your pocket can afford and how many appliances you intend to use in your RV. Efficiency wise solar panels are a good option, as they are a source of renewable energy and they do not produce any harmful effects on the environment.
Summing Up
In short, if your RV battery dries up, there are plenty of ways to recharge it. A generator is a good option to bring your batteries to life again. But during this charging process, you should be very careful to avoid any mishaps because anything that involves electricity needs to be handled with care.
In this guide, we have tried to explain how you can charge your RV battery with a generator efficiently. We hope that this step-by-step guide will help you during your tough times and you will be able to charge your batteries quickly without any hassle.
