Getting more from a small generator

How can we get more from small generators? I have written about the advantages of an inverter/charger before. Recently we spent a little time setting up a travel trailer to charge with a Hyundai 2000W generator.

The Hyundai 2000 is too small to run a roof air conditioner, but it has a lot of other uses. The little Hyundai will run a microwave, tv, and other 120 V appliances. It is small, light and very quiet. On a unit equipped with an aftermarket inverter/charger it can charge large battery banks with ease. In testing we have done with a Xantrex inverter/charger we were able to get as much as 47 amps to a discharged battery. We discharged the battery and disconnected the solar to get this much from the inverter/charger as the solar charger will keep the inverter/charger from providing full output. With AGM or Lithium batteries there is the potential to charge at an even faster rate as the Xantrex inverter/charger is programable.

The inverter/charger will allow you to run entertainment system and other 120V appliances without starting up the generator. Then when it’s a suitable time to run the generator, you run the generator. By using the Xantrex inverter/charger the charge output can be tuned to the battery bank. Charging the batteries far faster than stock systems. Even large motorhomes with much larger generators won’t charge a battery bank as fast as the Hyundai 2000W with a Xantrex inverter/charger.

If you are dry camping and not worried about running the Air Conditioner the Hyundai 2000W generator is a small, quiet, and light unit. When combined with an inverter/charger it will charge quicker than the big generators.