Battery Charging From Generator to Battery - General Question

[Gold Country Livin']

I wanted to repost this since I buried my question in a previous post.

You are dry camping for several days as an example, and need to top off the batteries. No t.v., micro, a/c etc.

If the generator is used strictly to charge the battery (or batteries, since I have two 12v), which is the best method? : hook up the large shore cable from the trailer via dog bone, or use a direct alligator type clip to the battery direct? I also have a heavy regular extension cord that I use at home to charge up the trailer when packing along with a 50a to 15a? adapter for that cord. I have a Champion 2000 which I bought just in case I need it, and it comes with a 12v direct connection and alligator clips. It says "only use this plug when hooking directly to a "car" type battery". In other words, not any other 12v device like a phone etc. So obviously, it has both the 12v direct (with the angled prongs), plus a standard 120v plug. This model does not have the RV 30 amp plug like the 3100 model generator.

Is there a difference and or which is best or safer? In other words, why drag out the 100 pound 50a shore cord?...voltage drop?

Thanks in advance.

[N6ZCM1]

How ever you think is the easiest to connect to the generator is up to you.
Those 12 volt charging ports on a Generator range from 6 ams to 12 amps, and your converter is rated from 50 amps to 75 amps.
So it would be faster to charge the battery by connecting 120 volt instead the 12 volt port.

Now connecting to the Generator via a 15 amp is fine except running an AC unit, the adapter could overheat and melt, if you do need to run the AC, make sure all other 120 volt devices are off!

[jmbopp]

The better method is to power up the trailer & let the converter do the charging. No need to run the heavy 50A cord if you have an extension cord and an adapter to the 50A connection.
Connecting directly to the 12V output on the generator is inefficient and supplies minimal unregulated charging current.
That said, if you have a WFCO converter it won't stay in "boost" mode long and there are better chargers available. Many people add a Progressive Dynamics or IOTA converter or use a separate 40A battery charger. I have an IOTA-55 converter w/ charge controller mounted in the pass-through. Battery cables are 6ga welding cable to the dual 12v batteries. Power is a single Honda 2000i generator.

[Gold Country Livin']

How ever you think is the easiest to connect to the generator is up to you.
Those 12 volt charging ports on a Generator range from 6 ams to 12 amps, and your converter is rated from 50 amps to 75 amps.
So it would be faster to charge the battery by connecting 120 volt instead the 12 volt port.

Now connecting to the Generator via a 15 amp is fine except running an AC unit, the adapter could overheat and melt, if you do need to run the AC, make sure all other 120 volt devices are off!

Thanks much. There is no a/c involved here. This was strictly a question of recharging the battery while dry camping.

[gbkims]

I tried it both ways on my generator, 120VAC to the Converter charged the battery way faster.

[Gold Country Livin']

Thank you Jmbopp and Kim/Gene. That's what I was wanting to know.