Using a gas generator to power car stereo?
dgonzales81 asked:
Ok I go tailgating and camping, I would like to use my Gas Generator (Honda EU2000iA) to power my car’s custom stereo system but don’t want to run the car’s engine. Is there a cable or adapter that I can use to charge the 12V car battery (Optima Yellow top) with the gas generator maybe through the ciggarete lighter?
Ok Doug W’s answer made hte most sense. I can get the DC Charging cord for my Honda http://www.steadypower.com/catalog/honda_gen_acc.php?category_id=333 and hook it up to my battery. I don’t want to power my stereo with the generator, I just want to keep my battery at a steady capacity so that when I’m ready to leave, I’m not stuck with no power for my engine to start. Thanks to all!!!!!
Letitia
Ok I go tailgating and camping, I would like to use my Gas Generator (Honda EU2000iA) to power my car’s custom stereo system but don’t want to run the car’s engine. Is there a cable or adapter that I can use to charge the 12V car battery (Optima Yellow top) with the gas generator maybe through the ciggarete lighter?
Ok Doug W’s answer made hte most sense. I can get the DC Charging cord for my Honda http://www.steadypower.com/catalog/honda_gen_acc.php?category_id=333 and hook it up to my battery. I don’t want to power my stereo with the generator, I just want to keep my battery at a steady capacity so that when I’m ready to leave, I’m not stuck with no power for my engine to start. Thanks to all!!!!!
Letitia
February 6th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Drusilla
Not unless that generator has a 12 Volt DC output on it. Not saying it doesn’t but it would be rare. I’ve never seen a gasoline powered Portable Generator that put out anything other than 120/240 Volts AC.
February 9th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Jacqualine
You just charged the 12v car battery? BS! Someone involved here has got to have a problem to sort out
February 12th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Carline
actually most small Portable Generators have a 12V output. They vary in current output but are not usually very big. They have a special plug and harness that comes with them. Most have alligator clips or cig lighter adapter. Yours give 12V at 8A. You can’t charge a battery because it is not higher than a battery normally. What you can do is run your radio off it if you are less than 8 Amps.
Another idea is to put a normal 120Vac powered battery charger on the battery posts and let the generator run that so you don’t drain your battery completely. Unless you are talking about a high powered amped stereo system. Then you are out of luck.
February 14th, 2010 at 4:26 am
Lexie
Would it consume more gasoline to run the generator or the car’s engine? In terms of convenience, ease of operation, and likely noise levels leaving the car running will come out ahead.
The cigarette lighter wiring is too small to do much with. For any serious system you’re going to connect directly to the battery.
The generator has a 12VDC output which could be used to charge the battery. Its capacity is unlikely to keep up with what is being drawn and the battery will eventually discharge.
A standard automotive car battery charger could be used to keep the battery charged. Don’t go with the small 1A model if you hope to keep up with a high powered amplifier. You will need a much larger charger, possibly one with a 70A engine boost feature. The charger may induce a hum on the car’s electrical system which may find its way through to the audio gear as well.
If you can find a large 12VDC regulated power supply with proper filtering it could be used to power the audio equipment. Plug it into the 120V outlet on the generator. Paralleled with the car battery it could also keep the battery fully charged. There would be no noise induced to the audio gear either.