Originally posted by tony rpod 180 Just wondering, if you connect a converter to the camper battery, then plug a battery charger to it.   Could you connect the charger to the battery also and constantly maintain full battery charge.

Guessing, do you mean if you connect an inverter to the battery, then plug in a battery charger, could you maintain a full battery charge?  The answer is no. You're going to end up with less power than you start with because of loss due to resistance, if nothing else. In terms of maintaining battery power, you'd be better off doing nothing.

TT

Originally posted by tony rpod 180 Let me try again, We will be dry camping and don’t have solar, what ever the name of the thing is, it turns 12v into 110/120. Wondering if will it work if charger and converter/inverter/??? are connected to battery at same time.

No.  No, it will not work.

TT

Agreed. You need some form of energy input. That could be solar or a generator. Even a small generator would work just to keep the battery charged if you don't need to use any other energy intensive devices (e.g. refrigerator on AC, water heater on AC, Air Conditioner). You could get by with something like the http://www.harborfreight.com/engines-generators/gasoline-generators/900-watt-max-starting-2-cycle-gas-powered-generator-epacarb-63025.html - Harbor Freight TailGator which is small and light and relatively quiet for a non-inverter generator. It is, however, 2 cycle and takes a gasoline-oil mix instead of straight gasoline. It is much less expensive than a solar setup. I just got a solar suitcase (see my mods for details). An inverter generator costs more, but is quiet and you can get one powerful enough to run your AC if needed.

If you get a generator, one thing that will help it to last a long time is to always get non-ethanol gasoline to use in it. Regardless of what the bottles of some gasoline treatments say about making ethanol gasoline safe for small engines, ethanol in the gasoline will lead to problems if it is not drained from the carburetor every time as the ethanol will attract water and gum up and clog the carburetor jets. Non-ethanol gasoline with stabilizer will not gum up the jets, even if left in the tank. My Generac iX2000 has gone for 3 or 4 months without being started and it starts up after priming with only a few pulls.

http://www.discovermagazine.com/environment/two-strokes-and-youre-out - https://www.discovermagazine.com/environment/two-strokes-and-youre-out

Originally posted by offgrid You can solve the gasoline problem by running on propane. There is a little 700 watt continuous rated propane 4 stroke generator for sale on both the zon and the depot websites for $250, anybody have any experience with it? Baja brand but apparently identical except branding to the Ryobi version.

Mixed reviews on the Baja generator, but it does look like a good little generator to carry as it is only about 25 lbs. I think the one review I read which said that one should use a Mr. Heater propane filter when using a 20 lb cylinder is likely spot-on.  It is a bit expensive, over twice the price of the TailGator, but then one already has propane available and would not need to carry a container of gasoline (plain or pre-mix) along with it. I would be interested in hearing if anyone has any experience with it as well.

Of course, there is not even the remote possibility of running anything of significance with this generator (AC or convection microwave). It would be good for charging the battery/batteries though.

Since you are using a high pressure hose to go from the propane tank to the generator its probably a good idea to either use a filter or an oil free hose as you suggest. As I understand it the pressurization of the hose is what squeezes the oil contaminates out of the hose material. That's not a problem with the generator propane conversion kits like I have on my Honda which use a regulator at the tank. 

Yeah, any little generator like this would only be good for battery recharging, unless you also install a 2 kw + inverter and use that to run the microwave for short periods. Forget running the a/c, but I find I almost never do that anyway because of the nighttime generator restrictions at most campgrounds. 

Now that I think about it if not trying to run the a/c off grid it would be lighter, cheaper and more convenient to install an inverter for the microwave and the occcasional ac load and carry the little propane genny. if I was starting over I'd consider doing it that way. The 2-3kw sine wave inverters are down around $300-$350 now and only weigh about 10 lbs. 

Sorry guys.. Don't have and still see no reason..  

Don't see a reason for a generator?  To each his own, of course, but does that mean you never stay anywhere without full hookups?

TT

What do you do if you're camped for a week under the tree canopy with no hookups?  That is typical for me in the Appalachians. Can't use solar under those conditions. Either you run your TV and recharge with the alternator (which is very inefficient) or you bring a genny. I'd love to have a nice silent propane fuel cell but they aren't available yet. 

Or, you could get one of these and pedal your behind off for 12 hours straight

https://www.k-tor.com/shop/generators/power-box-50/ - https://www.k-tor.com/shop/generators/power-box-50/

Very rarely stay with any hookups. 

Only got caught once, believe it or not, in the Sou'weast. We packed up and drove away. That took 5 days and we were done there anyway. I do have a solar panel mind ya.. 

All I'm saying is if you can do without those big draw conveniences, you can do without a genny.. Oh we have plenty of trees up here as well and I do seem to get that panel in the sunlight for a few hours a day (ground mount). 

Hear ya on the fans! I have 5.2amps dedicated just for fan use on a daily basis. We use the personal size usb fans. The best part of that is they plug into my portable Lipo battery. 

I have a single tank on the tongue which can feed both the generator and the trailer, and a portable tank to feed the generator. I run the generator from the portable tank until it runs out, then I can connect the gen to the tongue mounted tank until I can swap the portable tank for a full one. If the trailer tank runs out first I put the portable one on the tongue. The two tanks get such different use that they have never run out at the same time.