Bought a generator to charge C30. Somethings wrong

[serpa4]

I bought a 2000 watt inverter generator today to charge my C30 while in storage on a trailer. I have no power or sun to charge my boats West Marine G31 AGM batteries.
I'm new to this stuff as I've only had my boat about 2 weeks.
I just got my generator today and had about 30 minutes to play with it and the boat before heading to work. I did not have my inverter owner's manual or trouble codes at the time.

I plugged the running generator into shore outlet 1 for the inverter/charger.
I turned on all battery cutoff switches, engine, thrusters, generator, house.
Then I put the selector switch on the C30 to shore power where I see the shore power light is on green AND RED.
My batteries are on the 12 power panel position 1) 12.2volts 2) 12.2volts 3) 12.4volts

Initially the 2000w Kisae Abso Inverter Charger remote display showed E01 and beeping.

The manual (that I didn't have) says Input battery voltage is too low and unit has shutdown. Then after some beeping, the alarm went away.

I unplugged the shore power and put it back in again.

Everything seems to be ok, but the 12v power panel battery voltages never changed even after running for about 10 minutes. Last week, when I ran the boat generator (when in water) it would go to like 14+ volts.

I don't think it's charging my batteries.
The AC side of the house panel always said 124-125 volts and never changed while the portable generator was running.

Inverter:
It says Bul which in the manual says "By-Pass Mode, battery charging in progress and is in "BULK" mode.
But after a minute or so, it went to abs or "absorption mode"
Then it said right after that, Ful. and read 13.5 volts. However, the boat 12v panel voltages read 1) 12.2volts 2) 12.2volts 3) 12.4volts. Nothing was near 13.5 volts at all. These values never change a single volt after 10 minutes on the portable generator.

I cycled through my setting on the remote inverter display to see what they were.
In1 :
Inverter is set to standby mode with power save mode OFF. Unit will provide backup function when utility power is not available.

FLO:
Flooded: Bulk=14.4volt / 14.4volt Absorption / 13.5volt Float
(this is apparently wrong as I have 4 West marine AGM G31. This should be AG for AGM at Bulk=14.3volt / 14.3volt Absorption / 13.4volt Float. However, the batteries are show as 12.3 on the boat's 12v power panel.

SdL:
Battery under voltage setting is set to LOW. Not sure what this means. The batteries show on the 12v power panel are 12.3. And the Inverter charger remote display says 13.5.

AL1:
Audible alarm will sound when fault or warning occurs.

CB3:
Set the maximum current draw from shore power to maximum draw from shore power to 30A.
This also appears to be wrong. My generator can supply 15A max as it is a portable quiet 2000watt generator. This should be set to Cb1.

Perhaps I pressed or factory reset the inverter "Fd" which resets all setting to manufacturing defaults: In1, AL1, SdL, Flo, CB3.
Those setting I saw are indeed factory defaults. However, it doest explain when the inverter remote panel says 13.5 volts and the house 12v power panel shows 1) 12.2volts 2) 12.2volts 3) 12.4volts

One of the inverter/charger remote display shows SSA or 55A. I don't know what the means. I assume...something is 55 amps, but cannot confirm.

My theory....
While boating last week for the 1st time, I played with the remote display and MAYBE I initiated a factory reset.
Then, when plugging in the portable generator today, the temporary E01 alarm when off due to trying to pull 30 amps from shore power which it cannot possibly supply.

Then after the E01 alarm, the inverter charger restarted? E01 error says corrective action, "Recharge battery immediately and restart unit. I never restarted the unit. I guess I just need to power it off then back on??? and try again with correct settings?

Why do I have two different reading for voltage on the remote inverter display as 13.5 and Ful reading and the house 12volt panel says 1) 12.2volts 2) 12.2volts 3) 12.4volts?

Thanks for any help all.
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[SgtAlf]

What is the gauge is the cord you're using to connect the generator to the boat? My 2000w gen wouldn't run my AC until I upgraded my power cord. I'm now using this cord.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QCC56GG/?c ... _lig_dp_it

 

[serpa4]

Thanks. I reset the inverter/charger to the correct batteries, current, shore power pull reduced to 15 amps, etc.
Now it works and the inverter voltage matches the boat's battery meter.
I fired up the generator and it runs pretty decently and the battery voltage jumped to about 14 or so volts charging. I didn't get a precise number, but it is charging now!!!
The generator isn't struggling, but does have a load for sure on it where before it didn't.

All is good now as it should be. I didn't run the AC on it though. The AC is water cooled so if the boat is not in the water, it's a no-go anyways. I got the generator for maintaining the batteries and maintenance, buffers, power tools etc when working on the boat in storage.

The inverter must have tried to pull 30amps off the shore power/portable generator and threw a fault code when it couldn't. Reset to correct settings and all is well.

I do have a 10guage extension cord for heavy loads if needed, but the gen only makes like 20 amps.