big_murph_279
Concord, NC
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Next weekend we are going to a campground without hook-ups. I have one 12volt battery. I will be taken my 3500 generator. I don't want to run it anymore than I need to but I want to get a full charge before night. If the battery is in its worse condition, how long should it take to charge. I have a WFCO converter.
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musicmole
Everywhere
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Joined: 02/12/2003
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Bring extra fuel for the genny. If your in the NE you'll be using it quite a bit. You know how batteries just love the cold weather. I never let mine go down in the daytime. I had one battery in my class C and it took about 30 minutes for the thing to charge off my 4000 onan. I was never in very cold temps though.
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Joined: 06/16/2004
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Also need what SIZE, in amp-hours, 12 volt battery. Big ones take longer than little ones.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Lovely German Shepherd.
1999 Mercedes ML320 TV
2003 Wanderer 187TB Toybox (3620# UVW, 4800# loaded)
Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories.
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big_murph_279
Concord, NC
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I think that it is a group 24.
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Sailbad
Oklahoma City
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Your converter won't fully charge the battery. Keep the genny. Get a 45amp 12v 3 stage battery charger and hook it up direct to the battery.
Dave C.
2005 Silverado 2500 CC
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Hi big_murph,
I second the idea of a stand alone battery charger. I'd charge with both devices. For more information surf here:
Charging the lead-acid battery
big_murph_279 wrote:Next weekend we are going to a campground without hook-ups. I have one 12volt battery. I will be taken my 3500 generator. I don't want to run it anymore than I need to but I want to get a full charge before night. If the battery is in its worse condition, how long should it take to charge. I have a WFCO converter.
Regards, Don
Kustom Koach Class C 28'5" 256 watts solar, 875 amp hours in two battery banks 12 volt batteries 2500 watt inverter.
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jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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Some bad advice here. A WFCO converter will do a fine job of charging your battery. If the weather is cold and your furnace has to run it is likely a single group 24 battery will not make it through the night. Do your charging as late in the day as you can. It will probably take a couple of hours at least to charge the battery.
Jim
Jim, Sharon and Buddy the Yorkie
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smkettner
Southern California
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It depends on the WFCO rating and if it is set up right to switch to boost mode. If it is 35 amps or less you have a good shot at seeing 14.5 volts. A larger and typical 55 amp probably will just charge at 13.6 volts. Basically if the battery is super low you will need to run the gen a solid four hours to get to 70% to 90% depending on voltage as said. And another four hours to get to 90 to 100%.
Many do have better luck with a portable charger because they have a fixed voltage converter or the WFCO is not set up right to switch to boost mode. If you have a portable of 10+ amps bring it along and use it.
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
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Crazy Ray
Monroe,La
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click, read and learn. GREAT SITE, 4 plus hours
RET ARMY  , DW Donna , Summer (Furkid)  . Class A, 2000 Gulf Stream, 4 SAMS 6VOLTS, DIRECTV, YAMAHA 2400 GEN , TOW 97 Wrangler/Honda CR V. Garmin GPS 7200  . "Living Our Dream". NASCAR FAN (14,18,,20,11) Love CO & NM 
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MrWizard
Van Nuys, Ca
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1 battery is marginal with a furnace blower kicking on and off apprx 6 amps when running if you have 50% duty cycle and need it only at night figure 6hrs run over a 12hr period , it will use 36 ampHrs
one grp 24 battery avg's 80amphrs total capacity,
40 amphrs use equal 50% used, and time to recharge
add lights and TV and figure you have the battery down to 30-40% by morning
recharge twice a day (2) hrs in morning & 3 hrs in the afternoon during supper time, 4-7 or 5- 8 so you can start the evening with a fully charged battery, wfco are good converter/chargers, i like mine
this is why you see people making posts about Oly Cat heaters or buddy heaters, NO blower to suck on the battery
also why you see all these posts about batteries and generators
I hope you enjoy your weekend of boondocking
Options, always have options, and the journey goes much smoother
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