ADVICE - on a generator charge

[Spacenoddle]

I think the generator's maximum power output of 4500W is for all three outlets (37.5A). The 30A TT-30 will trip at 31A, or so the manual says.

I tested my iGen4500 generator charging my Model Y Std Range. I limited the amperage to 24A and the generator displayed 75% load. The car’s UI indicated that the charge time from 59% to 80% (15.75 kWh) would take 5 hr and 40 minutes. That's 2777W to the battery vs 2880W to the charger for an efficiency of approximately 96% which matches your efficiency claim. The generator consumed 1 lb of propane in 24 minutes. So, 1 lb of propane added 1.1 kWh of energy to the battery (24 ÷ 60 x 2.777 = 1.1 kWh).

1 Gallon of propane = 4.8 kWh

The full 20 lb bottle of propane will add 22 kWh of charge to the battery in 8 hours. At 500 Wh/off-road mile, that's 44 miles of added range.

If that's not enough I can fill the generator tank (3.4 gallons) with gasoline for another 44 miles of range in 8 hours (3.4 gal ÷ 0.42 gal/hr charging at 24A)

1 Gallon of gasoline = 6.5 kWh

Overlanding out west where charging stations are few and far between, often means taking along a generator and fuel to complete the trip.

Why low speed off road engery consumption is higher than the high speed on the freeway ?

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[JBee]

Why low speed off road engery consumption is higher than the high speed on the freeway ?

Road surface conditions, rolling resistance and terrain. Example: Sand is boggy and requires you to dig through it which uses more energy than rolling along a flat hard surface. Also you need to run lower air pressure for flotation, which in turn increases rolling resistance as well. If at speed over sand, you would still have air resistance, but also extra rolling resistance. Most efficient driving is around 20Mph on hard low friction surface with correct air pressure over level terrain. Everything else is more.

 

[JBee]

I think the generator's maximum power output of 4500W is for all three outlets (37.5A). The 30A TT-30 will trip at 31A, or so the manual says.

I tested my iGen4500 generator charging my Model Y Std Range. I limited the amperage to 24A and the generator displayed 75% load. The car’s UI indicated that the charge time from 59% to 80% (15.75 kWh) would take 5 hr and 40 minutes. That's 2777W to the battery vs 2880W to the charger for an efficiency of approximately 96% which matches your efficiency claim. The generator consumed 1 lb of propane in 24 minutes. So, 1 lb of propane added 1.1 kWh of energy to the battery (24 ÷ 60 x 2.777 = 1.1 kWh).

1 Gallon of propane = 4.8 kWh

The full 20 lb bottle of propane will add 22 kWh of charge to the battery in 8 hours. At 500 Wh/off-road mile, that's 44 miles of added range.

If that's not enough I can fill the generator tank (3.4 gallons) with gasoline for another 44 miles of range in 8 hours (3.4 gal ÷ 0.42 gal/hr charging at 24A)

1 Gallon of gasoline = 6.5 kWh

Overlanding out west where charging stations are few and far between, often means taking along a generator and fuel to complete the trip.

Yikes, that's not really good efficiency from the generator. Better off running a Diesel ICE?

1 Gallon Gasoline thermal energy is 36kWh which results in 6.5kWh of charge so around 18%?

 

[Cybergirl]

Yikes, that's not really good efficiency from the generator. Better off running a Diesel ICE?

1 Gallon Gasoline thermal energy is 36kWh which results in 6.5kWh of charge so around 18%?

Yes. 4-7 kWh per gallon of gas is typical for a small generator. Efficiency is highest under full load. It points out very well why the CT Powershare feature is so much more cost effective than using a backup generator. At $4.00/gal of gas, a kWh of electricity from a gas generator costs $0.57 to $1.00 depending on your generator's efficiency compared to $0.13 from the grid and a little more from the CT's battery. To charge my CT from 10% to 90% SOC using my iGen4500 generator on gasoline would cost $60 and take 26 hours.

A Diesel generator is about 20% more efficient than a gasoline generator.

 

[Woodrick]

Why low speed off road engery consumption is higher than the high speed on the freeway ?

Approximately 30 mph is the sweet spot, at which you may be able to get well over 500 miles.
Going below that the range drops just as going above it.

 

[Cybergirl]

Why low speed off road engery consumption is higher than the high speed on the freeway ?

Yeah, off-road range is 15 to 20% less when you need it to be more. That's why taking a generator is important when going into back country wilderness where charging stations are scarce.

The section of the Arizona Peace Trail from Kingman to Salome is 169 miles of rocky and sandy desert wilderness with no place to charge or buy gas. I estimate a maximum off road range of 200 miles at 500 Wh/mi not counting power draw for a refrigerator, Starlink antenna, electric blanket, air compressor, etc. A 20 lb bottle of propane will provide fuel for cooking and margin for unplanned circumstances. Although I prefer to use propane (to avoid the smell of gasoline and easily make generator adjustments for altitude change), being able to use gasoline is a nice fallback if I exhaust my propane supply. The chances of encountering someone on the trail willing to share a gallon of gas or two are pretty good.

 

[the43k]

Once again.. Thanks to everyone here. I truly appreciate the advice, suggestions, recommendations. I knew this would be the place to go. The Honda EU3300i generator I choose met 4 requirements. High Quality, Sufficient Power, Small Size and Low decibels. Ultimately, all we need is to be able to get out from a very rural and limited charging area and back to civilization where SuperChargers are abundant. I believe this generator can do that. Thanks again. If you want to follow along as my intentions become more obvious, Please follow at

https://www.youtube.com/@CyberTruckOne

https://twitter.com/Cybertruck0001

 

[Jager]

I'm a fan of ICE generators. My Honda EU-7000is is how I power my well pump when utility power is down.

But, man, using them because you're in a remote area devoid of EV charging is tough! @Cybergirl spoke to it a bit. But what mostly goes missing in these discussions is managing fuel; and how quickly enough additional charge can be injected into the EV pack to make a difference. The Cybertruck has a pretty big pack!

I like the fuel injection on my big Honda generator enough that I've looked hard at the OP's EU-3200i. That would make a very nice upgrade to my old EU-2000i.

But, absent an emergency where you just have to do what you have to do, using what basically amounts to a trickle charging solution for a large EV pack just seems so incredibly masochistic.

I'm not a naysayer. I absolutely appreciate that once we leave the interstate system there are large swaths of territory devoid of EV charging. Even here in the east.

Those of you who give it a go - carrying a generator and fuel and the time needed - please post up the details of how it worked out.

 

[the43k]

Ok.. making progress. I have my 30 TT twist connected to my Version 2 mobile connector. The EU3300I says its 21.7 amps on the twist outlet. I was getting 4 miles / Hr at 18 Amps setting on my Cybertruck, thats at 122v. 122 x 18 = 2196 watts. Can I safely tweak this up any higher? The generator has max output of 2600 watts. Can I keep going up to 21 amps? That's 2562 watts @122v What say you????

 

[mongo]

Ok.. making progress. I have my 30 TT twist connected to my Version 2 mobile connector. The EU3300I says its 21.7 amps on the twist outlet. I was getting 4 miles / Hr at 18 Amps setting on my Cybertruck, thats at 122v. 122 x 18 = 2196 watts. Can I safely tweak this up any higher? The generator has max output of 2600 watts. Can I keep going up to 21 amps? That's 2562 watts @122v What say you????

The manual for the EU3200i says it can do 2.6 kVA continuous and 3.2 kVA max. The 3000i gives a 30 minute time limit for max .
So 21A should be fine.

 

[Woodrick]

Ok.. making progress. I have my 30 TT twist connected to my Version 2 mobile connector. The EU3300I says its 21.7 amps on the twist outlet. I was getting 4 miles / Hr at 18 Amps setting on my Cybertruck, thats at 122v. 122 x 18 = 2196 watts. Can I safely tweak this up any higher? The generator has max output of 2600 watts. Can I keep going up to 21 amps? That's 2562 watts @122v What say you????

Go ahead, roll it up! What's the worst that it can? Burn out the generator and possible damage the truck?

I'll agree, damaging the truck is low probability, unless the generator burns up in a spectacular way.
I would highly suggest that you look a the recommendations for long term operations for the generator, they are seldom rated at 100% load for 8 hours.

 

[the43k]

Go ahead, roll it up! What's the worst that it can? Burn out the generator and possible damage the truck?

I'll agree, damaging the truck is low probability, unless the generator burns up in a spectacular way.
I would highly suggest that you look a the recommendations for long term operations for the generator, they are seldom rated at 100% load for 8 hours.

As mentioned, this is only for very rare usage. The generator is mostly for regular use.

 

[mongo]

As mentioned, this is only for very rare usage. The generator is mostly for regular use.

And, as shown above, the generator is rated to handle 21.7 Amps continuously.
https://cdn.powerequipment.honda.com/pe/pdf/manuals/00X31Z456000.pdf

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