Can I Charge My Boat Batteries With a Honda Generator? 

Took me 2hrs to find this answer 🎉🎉🎉🎉 thanks for posting

Great question thanks for asking!!! : - ) : - )

On Keuka lake, one of NYS's finger lakes, at night sitting at the camp fire, you can hear conversations from across the lake, 3/4 of a mile! You can't hear what they're saying, but you can hear them talking, and it's only at night with no wind. Just affirming your comment about sound on the water:) I had a transient neighbor on a new to him trawler. It had massive Caterpillar 2 stroke diesels and he'd run them during the day when I was working on my boat, it was choking me out so bad, unbelievable how nasty it was. Then he'd run his generator all night. What a newb!

Excellent question AND comments......I'll keep checking back on this one.

I used my Honda 2000 companion (with twist lock receptacle) to recharge three Vmax 8D’s. The charger is a Go Power 75 amp smart charger and yes it does bulk charge as normal. A Honda 2200 may be able to do a 90 amp but that’s pushing it. Keep your cords heavy or really short. The 2000 would also power a 16000 btu Marine Air heat pump but the trick was to turn off the Eco mode first, then once the AC is running you can turn on the Eco mode and it’ll slow down a bit. Also turn the stat down so the AC doesn’t cycle off because the AC would have to sit (equalize) for 30 minutes before the generator has enough grunt to restart. Keep in mind EVERYTHING else is running on the inverter batteries at that point. It’s called energy management. Do buy some 10 year Carbon monoxide detectors and distribute them throughout the boat or RV. Yes, I’ve had one go off when the wind changed a few times and all I had to do is aim the generator exhaust elsewhere. In the near future I will be switching to lithium’s. I’ve built my own but for those that can’t, get Battle Born batteries and Powermax PM3 55 amp charger and follow instructions for lithium adjustment. Or this be the time to buy one of those intelligent inverter/chargers that do energy management and have provisions for lithium charging profiles.

Awesome channel! Just FYI - I was able to run a PowerMax PM4 100A 12V 4 Stage Smart Battery Charger with a 2015 Yamaha EF2000i suitcase generator... barely. I was charging six Rolls 6V deep cycle batteries in a 12V bank with a total of 675 amp hours. If the 50ft shore power cable was in the sun, it would occasionally trip the overload breaker on the generator. I also tried a Honda 2000 several times, which seemed to handle the peak load better than the Yamaha. Apparently Honda programmed slightly more overload capability in their 2000 to suit RV camper air conditioner startup demands. I used the Yamaha generator about 30 times to charge the bank over the course of three years. In hindsight, I wish I had purchased an 80 amp charger, which in my experience would not trip the generator overload circuit.

As a delivery skipper i ran into an interesting solution of an owner - He had the Genny ( Italian make i believe) Mounted on the boarding platform , soundproofed? . permanently connected to the shore power outlet & it had a Wi-Fi set up , Its own separate fuel source so he could turn it on from down below , Worked well. He did have a another shore power plug so either iether .

I have that Honda. The way I have used it is to limit draw at the inverter/charger to about half the capacity, then when I need to run loads with the genset, I'm also charging batteries at a nice low rate and not taxing the genset by running it full out . Over time it will top off my battery bank. This method works well for me, since I use the genset to power large draw loads like a vacuum, and some modern inverter/chargers will actually ADD to the genset's output to power larger loads than either the inverter or the genset can cover alone. Charging at a lower amperage than the batteries can handle treats them gently, which is good, as long as you can fully charge the pack on a regular basis. This is what has worked for me, there are other ways to do it, obviously, depending on loads and habits, specs, etc. Keep the keel side down. :)

Thanks for all of your valuable input. I recently purchased a 2200 Generac with the intentions to use on my S2 8.0. Is it possible to run the generator inside the engine compartment with the exhaust vented out through the stern?

Great info thanks. Can you put 2 of the Honda 2000s togather in parallel or series to give 4000 watts or 240 volts?

I am a BC resident that has been sailing globally for the past 6 years, 23,000 Nm and I am going to say that I disagree with this video on a couple of points. We have 900A of gel batteries with a Victron Multiplus 3000W inverter and 1300W of solar on a 47' catamaran. We also carry aboard a Honda 2000i portable genset. When we have very cloudy weeks at anchor (e.g. Vanuatu in South Pacific) or when we crossed the Atlantic in 2016 which was very cloudy and squally), the genset absolutely kept our batteries up when we needed a charge...we also make water, charge portable devices and often do laundry if we run the Honda genset off the transom directly connected to our shore power inlet as mentioned. Our batteries turn 7 years old this year, so there has been no issues thus far related to chronic undercharging...but I will also chock that up to our solar capabilities and the installation of a hydro charger for multi-day passages. Sailing at night with all electronics running and refrigeration is our heaviest power draw.....With this charging combination, we rarely have used the genset the past couple of years in Sunny Australia and the dry season of SE Asia. I personally am also very cognizant of engines or gensets running in a quiet anchorage - I hate it personally, and while the Honda seems very loud on board (which I only run after 10am until max 5pm), it amazes me how quickly the sound dissipates away from the boat...often boats around us will not hear us - but in all fairness that is often in gentle trade wind conditions and not in peaceful windless Gulf Island anchorages stern tied to the shore...The Honda genset has been very reliable for us and easy to maintain. Fair winds!

Jeff......thanks for politely addressing the noise issue that emanates from generators whilst at anchor......IMHO I see no need for a generator in this day and age....too many other options, wind, solar, better battery capacity....

hey like your channel, beginning boater , at anchor, ( don’t have a generator ) but I have a power station Dewalt 1800 watts, can I use the 15 amps entry on my boat to supply the fridge and lignts ?

You do state that you are talking about lead acid batteries and that in his specific application this is undercharging. I think it would be good to point out that LiFePO4 batteries are not subject to this minimum charge rate therefor regardless of the size of the battery bank, if you were using lithium batteries, you can charge with even a 1000W generator as I do.

As a Honda mechanic I test the Hondas ALL THE TIME. I can pull 25 AMPS peak but I do not leave it there long (LOAD BANK) If fact ALL hondas can pull easy 8 amp over rated of 13.7 amp rating.

2000 watt generator plugged into shore power. 40 amp xantrex. 3x 105 AH AGM. will that work?

So, I am dealing with this now "in theory" and am having trouble wrapping my head around it. So I have a boat with 30 amp shore power. I have a 2000 watt generator with continuous at 1600 watts. I have thought I could just use a normal plug from the generator to the 30 amp shore power port - occasionally to top things up. I have a xantrex rue charge 2 - 40 amps. so why wont this work? and why would solar (with 240 watts of solar) work and not this?

We used one of these Honda generators to power our electric boat with a dead battery bank during a slip change across town. We plugged it into the 120v charger. It drew about 900watts. It's a small engine.

Holy crap! I have the European equivalent, Honda EU20i, 2000w. At 240v that would mean the generator is putting out peak 8.3A! I have 6 x 150Ah batteries wired in series/parallel to give me 300Ah/24 volts that are part of my PV system. I looks like I could not charge this battery bank sufficiently with my Honda generator. I want to use the generator to top off the batteries when the sun is not adequate to charge them fully. Maybe I must charge each battery individually, but I would not like to do that. It requires undoing cables and such, which I don't think is a good idea.

Is it safe to use a portable generator? I would think not having a ground for the AC output would be a risk.

I run a Honda i2000 on a pro Mariner 40 battery charger, charging a 450 amp hour lead acid battery Bank with no problems at all. The charger stays in 14.6 volt bulk charge for 1 hour and then goes to float so I turn it off.

What size amp extension cord does one need from standard 110v electrical system to either a 20amp charger or to a 40amp charger? Thanks

I'm going to make an assumption. If he has 3 240ah 12v house lead-acid batteries in parallel, he has 720ah at 12vdc. At C/20, his max charge is 36 amps. How is his Xantrex 40 amp charger "underpowered"? A Xantrex Trucharge TC4012 consumes 7.7 amps at 120vac, well within the ability of a honda EU2000i generator (13amp).

Is it possible to run a trolling motor with a small generator? Or a simple solution to give me more running time with the trolling motor.

Explain why it “ would not work”. That you kinda threw in right at the end. IMO. It may take longer to charge the bank. But would get there.

In other videos, haven't you stated that using a generator like this is pretty dangerous and you don't recommend it? If I'm not crazy and you actually said that, could you give us the long version of why this is? (Also, any chance of getting the hoodie in navy blue and/or a non-zippered version? I'd wear both! Cheers from Michigan!

I have a cheap $350 800Watt genny powering a 600 watt 20A battery charger (Projector 21) and it works - doesnt trip the cb. I can see 20A charge rate through my battery monitor ($80 off ebay) . I am a sparky from Australia.

The Honda 2000i is rated at 1600 Watt max continuous. Let's say 90% continuous = 1,440 Watts, just to be safe. Then let's say that the battery charger is rated at 90% efficiency like my Mastervolt. So we put in 1,440 Watts and at 90% could put out .9 x 1440 watts = 1,296 watts. Let's say, worst case that the output voltage is 14.4Volts DC. This gives a current of 1296/14.4 =90 amps. Jeff, did I get this wrong? So you jump from 60 Amps that works to 150 Amps not OK. Absolutely correct, but what about an 80 or 90 Amp charger. Regarding noise, the 2200i is rated at 57db, full load. Normal conversation starts at 60db and goes to 70db. The increase from 57db to 60db doubles the sound power or energy levels. The 3db rule. So the Honda 2200i will have half the noise compared to a normal conversation. And yes sound carries over water, so the generator will be half the sound of neighbors talking at a normal volume. So while I am definitely not a proponent of generators in general, (built in diesel generators are often more noisey, ) I think you have made some blanket statements which should be explained better.

Question! The neutral on a portable generator to charge batteries and to run the a/c on a boat should be bounded or floating?

When I plug mine in to the shore power plug I get a reverse polarity alert from my panel

My sailboat came with a 40amp charger that is not wired directly into the boat’s AC system. the chargers AC input is basically a cord with a plug on the end that is plugged into an outlet on the boat, so when on shore power it’s plugged in that way, but I can just unplug it, plug that cord into my little Honda 1000 and run the charger directly that way. the 1000 will run the 40amp charger but nothing else anyway. This gives me the option of at least having another charging source besides the 120amp engine driven alternator. for AC needs I then just use an inverter. I like the Honda 1000 because it’s small and only weighs 28 lbs!! Battery bank currently 630 amp hour lead acid.

You mist the opportunity to highlight that you can synchronised them if you have two units 😉

Ty sir

What about us guys that only have 1 starter battery and 1 house ? Can i charge the single house battery by running an inverter from the starting battery ? House battery only running lights and a fishfinder. Just a small 19ft fishing boat

Running a generator is is rude as hell and bans are coming to most marine parks. The real reason to consider why "it doesn't work" is that asshat behavior inevitably ends up with the consequence of more regulation, and that impacts all boaters including the responsible ones, and the entire activity is made more difficult.

I’ve had a Honda on my boat for years. I use it when I make water during the day. Usually plug the rainman in directly but I can use the inverter as well in a pinch. I also charge my batteries with a 40 amp pro mariner pro nautic charger and run my 1500 watt hot water heater for our nightly showers. Works great but you can’t run anything else or it blows the circuit on the generator.

huhmmm : Would You perhaps have the answer to my wondering if the Honda EU10i can "jump-start" à (diesel 2L) campercar that say won't start after 48 hours parking at say 0 degrees C. ? With a 220 volt device (I dont find any jet) or strait from the EU10i 12volt output (or is that merely just ok for slow charging, and no "jump-start") ? Hmmm lol, in case the question interests You too :-)

Jeff, in previous videos you came out against using portable gen set because of a ground issue. This video not only are you in favour of using portable gen set...what has changed to alter your opinion?

4:25 Undercharge? What do you mean? A small charger just takes longer to charge a big batterybank. BTW battery capacity is in Ah, not just A. So his batterybank is 720 Ah!!! The max chargerate for a battery might be in A, but not the capacity!

💯

Those Honda 2k generators are very quite................., until you start them up

This is funny....the manual I just read said it does 13.3 amps. It also says "specifacations subject to change with out notice",. I can just imagine all the people that buy generators (consumer goods) thinking that its just fine to run at the rated specs. There is only a very few engines of the world that are designed to run at a constant max spec. Most people dont know of duty cycle. Consumer products are rated for their max ouput, but the 25% rating is the actual max rating. Does anyone ever wonder why most equipments predominate fail is oil burning? Then some one runs the oil low but yet in the safe range on a hot summer day...kaputy... I say shoot for 25% load with a 50% load as for emergancy short term (duty cycle) use. But the manufactures dont want you to know that because then they dont sell new ones all the time. Look at the old Onan gensets, they are heavy duty, made to actually run at rated power all day long.. Just my opinion..

Really?!

You don't use a high current output battery charger to charge a battery. High current settings are for motor starting, not for battery charging. 4:17 / 5:30

ABYC does not endorse using these portable gasoline generators.

Might be better then to get a 150 amp alternator and run the engine to charge up the batteries.

burn mine with a 40 amps,charger,,

Ted Cruz doesn’t know crap about boats.