Connecting a generator to a battery bank

[Guilio_2010]

I have a solar array connected to my controller that is connected to my battery bank and then to my load controller. I wanted to have a generator that I can connect to the system to charge the batteries incase weather would cause longer than normal dark day. My question is where do I connect it? Do I connect my external charger directly to the battery bank or do I unhook my solar array from the charge controller and replace it with the external charger? I would think either would work but something about hooking up to the batteries while the solar is charging the batteries and the load would cause damage....also, if my charger is 24v, which is my battery bank voltage, does the charge only charge to 24v or will it actually charge it at ~29v?

[Mike90250]

A 24V automotive charger will not fully charge a 24V deep cycle battery, automotive style chargers generally only get about 90% of an actual full charge into deep cycle batteries.

You may be better off using a AC powered 24V charger, to get 30V to fully recharge a 24V bank.

[Guilio_2010]

Hi Mike,

I'm using a AC Gen with a AC powered charger.

Where I'm at is wondering if I connect it directly to the battery bus bar and charge it or just replace the input terminal on the charge controller that currently have the PV array connected with the terminal of the charger? Or does it not matter?

[Mike90250]

Hi Mike,

I'm using a AC Gen with a AC powered charger.

Where I'm at is wondering if I connect it directly to the battery bus bar and charge it or just replace the input terminal on the charge controller that currently have the PV array connected with the terminal of the charger? Or does it not matter?

If it's a smart charger, you connect it directly to the batteries. Otherwise, you need to monitor it manually to figure out what is happening.

But why not tell us the model & brand, and include a link, so we can see what the charger is.