01-31-2016, 09:52 AM
I asked the techs at Newell this exact question in June 2015. Here's what I got...sorry if I go a little off topic but I think it's important information.
They said the alternator on the generator is just an expensive idler pulley for the generator belt system.
The inverter / converter / charger keeps the house batteries charged and provides way more charging capacity than the little alternator.
From a pure efficiency standpoint, I suppose it would be better to have an alternator charging the batts because it would convert mechanical energy directly to the required power type instead of going from mechanical to 120 AC then to 12 DC...it would, however, mean more hardware (bigger alternator and switching system between inverter-charger and alternator) and the efficiency benefit likely would never pay off (like solar).
There is also a trickle charger (echo brand?) that steals a little current from the house batteries to maintain the start batteries even if the merge switch is not "engaged".
***They caution STRONGLY against using the merge switch while the drive engine is running. They said it's very taxing on the batter isolator which directs the main engine driven alternator's charge to the right battery set.
They said the alternator on the generator is just an expensive idler pulley for the generator belt system.
The inverter / converter / charger keeps the house batteries charged and provides way more charging capacity than the little alternator.
From a pure efficiency standpoint, I suppose it would be better to have an alternator charging the batts because it would convert mechanical energy directly to the required power type instead of going from mechanical to 120 AC then to 12 DC...it would, however, mean more hardware (bigger alternator and switching system between inverter-charger and alternator) and the efficiency benefit likely would never pay off (like solar).
There is also a trickle charger (echo brand?) that steals a little current from the house batteries to maintain the start batteries even if the merge switch is not "engaged".
***They caution STRONGLY against using the merge switch while the drive engine is running. They said it's very taxing on the batter isolator which directs the main engine driven alternator's charge to the right battery set.
Jonathan Shetler
1999 Newell 510
Ft Lauderdale, FL