Is the generator charging the batteries?

[RMG001]

We are on a mooring. I ran the generator this morning for about an hr and watched the voltage meter to see how long it takes to top off the batteries. After about an hr little to no difference in the house battery voltage. Turned on the air conditioning to ensure that the generator was producing power. The a/c functioned normally. I then turned off the generator and ran the main engine at about 900 rpm for a half hr and saw the voltage increase to 13 v +/- I would have thought that the generator would have topped off the batteries or at least shown some increase in charge in that time. Is there a direct method of determining if power is going to the charger?
The inverter was on during the generator test.
Thanks ahead of time -Rob

 

[CaspersCruiser]

Knowing what boat you have may elicit a better response. However, having the inverter on during the “generator test” is puzzling. The inverter and generator do the same thing— produce AC power. Only one of them at a time can power the AC power system. Period. It’s either the generator or the inverter. Having the inverter on while the generator is powering the AC system is pointless. It cannot power anything.

My question is, did you have the battery charger on while the generator was powering the AC power system? Running the main engine charges the batteries through the alternator which is DC. The battery charger is not used.

 

[BB marine]

I copied this from a different thread that you started. Rather than repeating it I copy and pasted.

There is more questions that I see need to be asked and answered.

RMG001 wrote:
During the attempt to charge the batteries the first time with the generator it felt like it was not charging so to verify output I turned on the AC and it powered the unit as it should.


The AC is on shore power #2 breaker. With the generator on you must have both breakers on. Shore power breaker #1 will transfer the inverter to charging (mode) when 120V is present. My question is do you get a good charge to the batteries when you are on shore power? If YES then the charger/inverter is functioning properly if NO you may have a problem with the Inverter/Charger. Does the inverter operate when operating the boat and have no shore power? If Yes the battery switch is on and all electrical connections are good. If No check to make sure the battery switch is on if the battery switch is on it is time to troubleshoot the inverter/charger.
This is the wiring 120 volt this may help you understand the electrical configuration.

download/file.php?id=731

RMG001 wrote:
Am I expecting too much out of the generator? I thought the charging capacity of the generator was much greater than the alternator.
The batteries are one year old and have been on charged via shore power almost exclusively.


What you should expect from charging from the generator is the same has what you get when you are plugged into shore power. The same charger is doing the charging. The generator's alternator is charging the thruster bank and minimal charge to the other banks when the ACR close. Using the generator to charge the batteries is using the 120V on board battery charger the same charger that charges the batteries when you are plugged into shore power. The main engine alternator will charge the batteries at a much higher rate compared to the battery charger/inverter. Do not expect the Generator to come close the the charging rate of the engine alternator.

 

[RMG001]

Knowing what boat you have may elicit a better response. However, having the inverter on during the “generator test” is puzzling. The inverter and generator do the same thing— produce AC power. Only one of them at a time can power the AC power system. Period. It’s either the generator or the inverter. Having the inverter on while the generator is powering the AC system is pointless. It cannot power anything.

My question is, did you have the battery charger on while the generator was powering the AC power system? Running the main engine charges the batteries through the alternator which is DC. The battery charger is not used.

I can see that my explanation can be confusing probably based on my position on the learning curve of boat electronics. The boat is a 29 tug year 2106. I thought that the generator ran thru the inverter which is also the battery charger. By turning on the air conditioner (A/C) I would be able to quickly determine if the generator had tripped and needed to be reset. That was the only reason for turning on the a/c.

 

[knotflying]

I think you inverted the year I assume 2016? If you have a promariner Combination unit then you are correct, you have to have the inverter switch in the up position for the charger to charge the batteries. Also make sure that the inverter switch (should be near the battery box) is also on.

 

[Happy Place]

In 2106, all Rangers will be powered by flux capacitors.