Thor Forums

[TurnerFam]

When we have no shore power, I let my AGS(auto gen start) control when the batteries get charged, usually at about 12.0/11.9 volts. I have it set to run for a 30 minute 'run time', which seems to do just fine, in 'Bulk Charge' during that whole time.

If you let the generator run past a certain 'time', the charger is then likely to be in 'Absorb Charge' mode, and the charging is then much less, as compared to 'Bulk' mode, and somewhat a more 'waste' of fuel during that time, unless, of course, you have the generator running for other reasons, such as air conditioning.

I also make sure that the 'Shore Max' setting on my Magnum panel is at a very high number, such as 40 or 50amps, so that the Charger can use ALL of it's capacity during that 'Run Time', for the most fuel economical Charging.

While some will say that you 'must' fully charge your batteries 'every time' you run the generator, and they might run it for up to two hours, I find that somewhat wasteful. I would rather it run for 30 minutes over several times, versus one long 2 hour run.

When the generator has cut off, and after a few minutes, the Voltage reading is typically between 12.6 and 12.9, depending on the circumstances and whether anything else was being used during the charge time, etc., which works out just fine.