Owner`s manual

11 12
Managing Electrical Loads
If you try to operate too many things at once, you’ll “overload” the generator. Your
lights will fl icker or the circuit breakers on the generator or the main electrical panel
will trip open, stopping the fl ow of power.
Battery chargers replenish power drained from starting the engine and generator
or appliances operating on inverter power such as a microwave, refrigerator,
mechanical slide out or pump.
Battery charging can overload your generator and you may not realize this is
happening because the charging starts automatically.
Typical “invisible” charging loads:
During start-up, air conditioners need “reserve” power and can draw 3-4
times the typical 1400-2400 watts needed to run. Too much baseload can
prevent air conditioners from starting.
Battery chargers are activated automatically and can draw a large load (up to
3000 watts). Manage your electrical loads by adjusting battery charge rates to
best suit your needs. Consult your inverter/charger manual or manufacturer.
If you have an automatic generator stop/start system, learn how to control it.
Consult your inverter/charger manual or manufacturer for adjustment proce-
dures. Adjust battery charge rates to best suit your total electrical needs. This
system is not part of a Cummins Onan generator.
NOTE: The generator will continue to run after a circuit breaker trips. Turn off all
appliances befor
e resetting the breaker. If the breaker trips again with all electrical
loads off, you may have a short circuit in your wiring. Turn off the generator and
contact a qualifi ed electrician.
Example: Dashed box below shows that a 2000 watt inverter running at 100A
battery charge capacity creates the same load as an 11000 BTU air conditioner
plus a microwave oven.
Battery Charging Loads
Inverter/
Converter
Size (watts)
Battery Charger
Max Output
(14vdc)
Amps Required
From Generator
(at 120VAC)
Watts Equivalent
Appliance Load
Example
1000 50 Amps 12A 1440
Hi-effi
ciency AC
or microwave
1500 75 Amps 16A 1920
Hi-effi ciency AC
plus microwave
2000 100 Amps 21A 2520
11000 AC
plus microwave
2500 120 Amps 26A 3120
13500 AC
plus microwave
3000 140 Amps 28A 3360
11000 AC
plus 13500 AC
Understanding Battery Charging Times
In addition to understanding battery charging loads, it is important to know that
battery charging takes time. The chart below shows how long a 100A charger must
run before reaching 100% battery charge.
Example: Dashed box below shows that when using a 100A battery charger, a
600A/hr battery bank at 60% charge level must be charged for 4.2 hours before it
is fully charged.
Conditions that increase battery charge times:
If too many DC loads like pumps and fans are operating, the charger may
never catch up to the drain on the batteries. The Battery Charging Times
Chart assumes no other DC loads are operating.
120V air conditioning loads powered through the inverter lengthen charge
time due to power sharing. Consult your inverter/charger’s manufacturer
manual for charge rate control.
Poor batteries, cables, or connections extend battery charging times.
Manage electrical loads to get the most performance from your generator and
electrical system.
If you need help, ask your RV dealer for training on how to operate auto-starting
systems as well as how to adjust battery charger output. If the dealer can’t help,
contact the inverter/charger or control manufacturer.
Battery Charging Times
Battery
Bank size
(Amp
Hours)
Hours that a 100A battery charger must run to reach
oat rate starting from this % of battery charge.
80% 60% 40% 20% 0% (11 VDC)
100 0.3 0.7 1 1.3 1.6
200 0.6 1.4 2 2.6 3.2
400 1.2 2.8 4 5.2 6.4
600 1.8 4.2 6 7.8 9.6
800 2.4 5.6 8 10.4 12.8
1000 3.0 7.0 10 13.0 16.0
1200 3.6 8.4 12 15.6 19.2
1500 4.5 10.5 15 19.5 24.0
NOTE: Table is for a 100A battery charger (typical 2000 watt inverter) pulling 21A (2520 watts) from
generator, depending on battery bank size.