LOAD MANAGEMENT BASICS
To understand how battery chargers, automatic generator start systems, and other baseloads affect your generator, you need to be aware of three things:
- Your generator’s power capability
- How to manage electrical loads
- Battery charging times
Determining Your Generator’s Power Capability
To determine what your generator can power, use the chart on the opposite page to estimate the total combined watts of all the appliances, lamps, battery chargers, air conditioners, and other electrical products you typically use at the same time. (All electrical appliances and lights are labeled with their power requirements expressed in watts or amps). You can use any number of appliances simultaneously, as long as their combined wattage doesn’t exceed the electrical output of your Onan® or Camp Power™ generator or your RV’s circuit breaker rating.
| Appliances | Average Required | Wattage Amps |
| Air Compressor (1hp) | 1500-2000 | 9-20 |
| Air Conditioner | 1400-2400 | 9-20 |
| Battery Charger | Up to 3000 | 6-28 |
| Blender | 600 | 5.5 |
| Broiler | 1350 | 12 |
| Broom/Vacuum | 200-500 | 1.5-4 |
| Coffeepot | 550-1000 | 4-8 |
| Compact Disc Player & Speakers | 50-100 | 0.5-0.9 |
| Computer | 50-100 | 0.5-0.9 |
| Converter | 500-1000 | 4-8 |
| Curling Iron | 20-50 | 0.2-0.5 |
| Dishwasher | 1400 | 12 |
| Drill | 250-750 | 2-6 |
| Electric Blanket | 50-200 | 0.5-1.5 |
| Fan | 25-100 | 0.2-0.9 |
| Frying Pan/Wok | 1000-1350 | 8-11 |
| Hair Dryer | 350-1500 | 3-13 |
| Iron | 500-1200 | 4-10 |
| Lightbulbs | 40-100 ea. | 0.36-0.9 |
| Microwave/Convection Oven | 700-1500 | 6-13 |
| Radio | 50-200 | 0.5-1.5 |
| Refrigerator | 400-1000 | 3-8 |
| Space Heater | 1000-1500 | 8-13 |
| Stove (per element) | 350-1000 | 3-8 |
| Television | 200-600 | 1.5-4 |
| Toaster | 750-1200 | 6.5-10 |
| VCR | 150-200 | 1.15 |
| Washer/Dryer | 2000-2250 | 16 |
| Water Heater | 1000-1500 | 8-13 |
| Water Pump | 500-600 | 4-5 |
Managing Electrical Loads
If you try to operate too many things at once, you’ll “overload” the generator. You’ll know because your lights will flicker or the circuit breakers on the generator or the main coach electrical panel will trip open, stopping the flow of power. Battery charging loads can also overload your generator and you may not realize this is happening because the charging starts automatically. Be aware of how large this “invisible” load can be.
- Air conditioners need “reserve” power to start. Too much baseload can prevent air conditioners from starting.
- Air conditioners typically draw 1400-2400-watts, depending on size and operating conditions (more power is needed at high temperature or humidity). During start-up, air conditioners can draw 3-4 times that amount.
- Battery chargers come on automatically and can draw a large load (up to 3000-watts). Manage your electrical loads by adjusting battery charge rates to best suit your needs. Consult your inverter/charger manual or manufacturer.
- If you have an automatic generator stop/start system, learn how to control it. Consult your inverter/charger manual or manufacturer for adjustment procedures. Adjust battery charge rates to best suit your total electrical needs. This system is not part of an Onan® or Camp Power™ generator.
- Disable auto-start systems while refueling, servicing, storing or long-term parking.
NOTE: The generator will continue to run after a circuit breaker trips. Turn off all appliances and reset the breaker. If the breaker trips again with all electrical loads off, you may have a short circuit in your wiring. Turn off the generator and contact a qualified electrician.
| Inverter/Converter Size (Watts) | Battery Charger Max Output (14vdc) | Amps Required From Generator (at 120VAC) | Watts | Equivalent Appliance Load Example |
| 1000 | 50 Amps | 12A | 1440 | Hi-efficiency AC or microwave |
| 1500 | 75 Amps | 16A | 1920 | Hi-efficiency AC plus microwave |
| 2000 | 100 Amps | 21A | 2520 | 11000 AC plus microwave |
| 2500 | 120 Amps | 26A | 3120 | 13500 AC plus microwave |
| 3000 | 140 Amps | 28A | 3360 | 11000 AC plus 13500 AC |
EXAMPLE: Highlighted box shows that a 2000-watt inverter running at 100A battery charge capacity creates the same load as an 11000 BTU air conditioner plus a microwave oven.
Understanding Battery Charging Times
In addition to being aware of battery charging loads, it is important to know that battery charging takes time. The chart below shows how long a 100A charger must run before reaching a 100% battery charge.
Battery chargers replenish power drained from:
- engine starting
- generator starting
- appliances working on inverter power like microwave and refrigerator
- mechanicals like slide outs and pumps
NOTE: Table is for a 100A battery charger (typical 2000-watt inverter) pulling 21A (2520-watts) from the generator, depending on battery bank size.
Battery Charging Times
| Battery Bank Size (Amp Hours) | Hours That A 100A Battery Charger Must Run To Reach Float Rate Starting From This % Of Battery Charge. | ||||
| 80% | 60% | 40% | 20% | 0%(11 VDC) | |
| 100 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1 | 1.3 | 1.6 |
| 200 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 2 | 2.6 | 3.2 |
| 400 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 4 | 5.2 | 6.4 |
| 600 | 1.8 | 4.2 | 6 | 7.8 | 9.6 |
| 800 | 2.4 | 5.6 | 8 | 10.4 | 12.8 |
| 1000 | 3.0 | 7.0 | 10 | 13.0 | 16.0 |
| 1200 | 3.6 | 8.4 | 12 | 15.6 | 19.2 |
| 1500 | 4.5 | 10.5 | 15 | 19.5 | 24.0 |
EXAMPLE: Highlighted box shows that using a 100A battery charger, a 600A/hr battery bank at 60% charge level must be charged for 4.2 hours before it is fully charged.
Conditions that increase battery charge times:
- If too many DC loads like pumps and fans are applied, the charger may never catch up with the batteries. The Battery Charging Times Chart assumes no other DC loads are operating.
- 120v air conditioning loads powered through the inverter lengthen charge time due to power-sharing. Consult your inverter/charger’s manufacturer manual for charge rate control.
- Poor batteries, cables, or connections.
Manage electrical loads to get the most from your generator and electrical system. If you need help, ask your coach dealer for training on how to operate auto-starting systems as well as how to adjust battery charger output. If the dealer can’t help, contact inverter/charger or control manufacturer.