MacGregorSailors.com

JeffJuneau wrote: ↑Tue Aug 02, 2022 6:08 am I have the same Promariner- Prosport hd 12 amp charger that a number of you have. I also noticed that several Mac owners occasionally connect a small generator to charge batteries. Is it okay practice to attach a small 1000 w generator like a Honda EU 1000i to my shore power input, to operate my 12 amp battery charger?

From an electrical standpoint, as long as you use the proper cables to connect the generator to the shore power input you should be fine.

Make sure you also follow appropriate safety practices regarding fuel, mounting, and carbon monoxide if you use a generator onboard.

Thanks Be Free, I have a NEMA L5-30R 30 Amp, 3-prong male connector on my mac, and the generator has a standard residential 110 two prong plug with a third ground. I have a connector that works for both. Since the generator only puts out a max of 8.3 amps and the Prosport charger is listed as 12 amps, I wasn't sure if the amperage deficit was an issue. That is because I'm in a very slow and steep learning curve on ac and dc electronics. Thanks for clearing this up for me! Jeff

JeffJuneau wrote: ↑Tue Aug 02, 2022 1:55 pm Thanks Be Free, I have a NEMA L5-30R 30 Amp, 3-prong male connector on my mac, and the generator has a standard residential 110 two prong plug with a third ground. I have a connector that works for both. Since the generator only puts out a max of 8.3 amps and the Prosport charger is listed as 12 amps, I wasn't sure if the amperage deficit was an issue. That is because I'm in a very slow and steep learning curve on ac and dc electronics. Thanks for clearing this up for me! Jeff

12 amps at 12 volts is 144 watts (12 amps x 12 volts = 144 watts). That is well below the output of your 1000 watt generator (even allowing for the inefficiencies of changing AC to DC). The 8.3 amp maximum on your generator is for 120V AC (8.3 amps x 120 volts = 1000 watts).

Jeff,
We may or may not be on a cruise ship that puts us in Juneau in a couple of weeks.

How close are you to the cruise ports in Juneau?

Would love to meet up if possible.

Hey Russ, That would be fantastic to meet up with you. I will be here for the next couple of months. Juneau is a small town, and I can easily get to anywhere. My wife and I meet up with friends coming in on cruises all the time. Just let us know when you arrive, and your schedule. If your interested, I can show you around. I can just give you my cell number, but probably shouldn't post it right here. I haven't used the private message system yet, but assume that would be a good way to exchange numbers. Jeff

Hi Be Free, I was thinking that the amp rating of the battery charger was the maximum AC input amps of 12 amps, not the DC amps. How silly of me to assume that. Like I said, I am working on a slow uphill learning curve. Glad I qualified that earlier! Sounds like capacity of a small generator isn't the remotest concern. Thanks. Jeff