Portable generator as "Range Extender"

[mongo]

Do any of the KOA campgrounds offer EV charging?

They are working on it, but their main page says most campgrounds do not support EV charging.
https://koa.com/ev/

Currently, however, a small portion of our campgrounds are set up with EV charging capabilities. It is essential to understand that EVs require constant electricity flow to charge their batteries, and the majority of our campgrounds’ electrical pedestals do not have this capability. Our current electrical pedestals were originally designed for non-continuous loads typical of today’s RV usage, and therefore simply cannot support EV charging. Plugging your EV into a traditional 50-30 amp campground pedestal could permanently damage your vehicle as well as the campground’s electrical system.

If a charging converter was provided by your auto manufacturer, it does not change the way electricity flows within the campground’s electrical infrastructure and should not be used to connect your EV to our campground pedestals.

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[bosshog]

Has anyone used a generator to charge their truck if so what’s the best recommended generator .

 

[cybercricket]

Has anyone used a generator to charge their truck if so what’s the best recommended generator .

I've tested Honda EU2200 with the Tesla Mobile connector and was able to push almost full 2kW (19xxW), which for an empty truck is about 5mi of range per hour of charging. Mobile connector didn't like the lack of grounding, and Neutral and Ground on the generator had to be bonded to get it to start charging.

 

[bosshog]

Ok thanks that’s good to know . I was hoping a little faster than that but I suppose bigger generators will get a little more .

 

[cybercricket]

Ok thanks that’s good to know . I was hoping a little faster than that but I suppose bigger generators will get a little more .

Loading a bigger generator for an average person may be a bit challenging in the absence of loading equipment. Honda EU2200 (and older EU2000) allow for two generators to be paralleled for double the current at the same voltage, which would basically give you something like 10mi per hour. There is no official cable for the Mobile Connector to pull above 16A@120V, but there are aftermarket adapter cables for TT-30P for example that will negotiate up to 24A@120V

 

[Crissa]

I don’t think it’s that foolish . Camping in wild places and off road to get there can use a lot more power than expected …

It's noisy and really on the edge of being useful, though. I can't think of anywhere I'd use it

Generally propane is nice - no smell, no spills, no water in the carb, no degradation. Can be used to run a cook stove and a space heater, like you suggested. The primary concern which may be applicable here is if propane gets cold enough, it may be difficult to get it out of the cylinder.

You use a heating coil on the cylinder. At least, that's what I do for my house.

They are working on it, but their main page says most campgrounds do not support EV charging.
https://koa.com/ev/

Yeah, it's not going to hurt the EV, and they're basically admitting that they cannot heat or cool all the RV slots, either.

But they are right, the demand is different. This is why RV camps should use smart charging infrastructure so that loads can be shed.

And no, not '50 miles from a Supercharger'. Just arrange for your first or last day to be somewhere you can charge over night. Nothing better than coming out of the wilds to a nice shower and hot meal someone else prepared, or heading out at dawn from a friendly rural motel, not having to deal with traffic.

-Crissa

 

[mongo]

And no, not '50 miles from a Supercharger'.

If this was refering to my post, it was 50% of range from a Supercharger, not 50 miles.

 

[Crissa]

If this was refering to my post, it was 50% of range from a Supercharger, not 50 miles.

I know you know, but I've seen the comment before.

-Crissa

 

[bosshog]

It's noisy and really on the edge of being useful, though. I can't think of anywhere I'd use it


You use a heating coil on the cylinder. At least, that's what I do for my house.


Yeah, it's not going to hurt the EV, and they're basically admitting that they cannot heat or cool all the RV slots, either.

But they are right, the demand is different. This is why RV camps should use smart charging infrastructure so that loads can be shed.

And no, not '50 miles from a Supercharger'. Just arrange for your first or last day to be somewhere you can charge over night. Nothing better than coming out of the wilds to a nice shower and hot meal someone else prepared, or heading out at dawn from a friendly rural motel, not having to deal with traffic.

-Crissa

I think your opinion of it being on the edge Of being useful differs from mine being that it will be extremely useful . I don’t want to get into obvious circumstances why it will be very useful . One thing I can say in those situations a sound of a generator charging my truck most likely won’t bother me ….

 

[Crissa]

I think your opinion of it being on the edge Of being useful differs from mine being that it will be extremely useful . I don’t want to get into obvious circumstances why it will be very useful . One thing I can say in those situations a sound of a generator charging my truck most likely won’t bother me ….

Well, yes.

I have camped near the guy who runs his generator all day. I don't understand how they can stand it. I just use solar panels.

-Crissa

 

[bosshog]

Well, yes.

I have camped near the guy who runs his generator all day. I don't understand how they can stand it. I just use solar panels.

-Crissa

Explain your solar panel set up and how much power do you get from it as in how long does solar panels take to charge a truck ..

 

[Crissa]

Explain your solar panel set up and how much power do you get from it as in how long does solar panels take to charge a truck ..

Explain where you're going that you need to charge your truck. Mark it on a map. Explain how many cubic feet of your cargo space is devoted to this function.

What works for me isn't what works for you - I specifically like camping to not use AC and electric heat. I do everything you describe as camping at home. But it's up to you to describe your use case.

We shouldn't hijack someone else's thread comparing different styles of camping.

-Crissa

 

[bosshog]

Explain where you're going that you need to charge your truck. Mark it on a map. Explain how many cubic feet of your cargo space is devoted to this function.

What works for me isn't what works for you - I specifically like camping to not use AC and electric heat. I do everything you describe as camping at home. But it's up to you to describe your use case.

We shouldn't hijack someone else's thread comparing different styles of camping.

-Crissa

I am not hijacking this thread just interested in your solar panel set up as an alternative to charging a truck . I realize solar panels don’t make any noise and a genarator does . Has nothing to do about camping styles . It has to do with charging your truck while camping via solar as you advised versus a generator which may be a little noisy and be on the edge of useful as you quoted .

 

[Lasttoy]

I carried a Honda 3000 camping
It worked great

 

[devdrone6]

Not really surprising that it can be done, but maybe interesting to see someone actually using this approach.

So this guy carries a Predator 9500 generator (9500W, $2,300 at Harbor Freight) in the back of his CT when he goes camping in the snow.

The generator apparently supplies a Tesla connector. He was able to charge at about 11 miles/hr. Took about 14 hours (overnight) to go from 12% to 100%. Burned about 15 gallons of gasoline.

So it can be done, but there are some obvious downsides. You can’t charge while driving, so you’ll probably want to charge overnight. But that’s probably also when you'll want to sleep, and then the generator is noisy.

Good idea for those that need it. I see nothing wrong with this. A smaller generator would work as well, and as others have done, so would an electric one if you had solar panels.

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