# Charging Requirements **URL:** \ **Category:** GEM Forum\ **Created:** [March 3, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/charging-requirements/3179 "2013-03-03T19:25:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chuckneste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@chuckneste](https://community.electricforum.com/u/chuckneste)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/charging-requirements/3179/1 "2013-03-03T19:25:09Z")
Hello All, If I want to use a 1000 Watt generator at 1/4 load. Is 250 Watts enough to charge the GEM 4 car. What is the requirements besides 110 volt ac source? Thanks Chuck ---
**Author:** ![chuckneste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@chuckneste](https://community.electricforum.com/u/chuckneste)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/charging-requirements/3179/2 "2013-03-03T19:56:50Z")
FYI, I seen this thread but dont know if these values can be confirmed or verify [http://www.electricforum.com/cars/neighborhood-vehicles/2687-charging-gem-2000watt-gas-generator.html](http://www.electricforum.com/cars/neighborhood-vehicles/2687-charging-gem-2000watt-gas-generator.html) ---
**Author:** ![bob.peloquin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ec9cab/32.png) [@bob.peloquin](https://community.electricforum.com/u/bob.peloquin)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 11:06am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/charging-requirements/3179/3 "2013-03-07T11:06:45Z")
You would need a higher capacity generator. The charger can draw more than 900 watts during the initial charging cycle with a fairly low battery. This could last for a few hours so you’ll want something like an 1800 or 2000 watt generator. Also, since the chargers are the switching regulator type, the waveform will be important. Some smaller generators will have problems keeping the charger happy due to the switching power supply stripping the tops of the sine waves off of the high-impedance low-powered generators. Bigger is almost always better. Don’t forget the inefficiency of these generators compared to the big power plants and the amount of pollution they create… ---
**Author:** ![chuckneste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@chuckneste](https://community.electricforum.com/u/chuckneste)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/charging-requirements/3179/4 "2013-03-07T20:06:22Z")
[QUOTE=bob.peloquin;14309]You would need a higher capacity generator. The charger can draw more than 900 watts during the initial charging cycle with a fairly low battery. This could last for a few hours so you’ll want something like an 1800 or 2000 watt generator. Also, since the chargers are the switching regulator type, the waveform will be important. Some smaller generators will have problems keeping the charger happy due to the switching power supply stripping the tops of the sine waves off of the high-impedance low-powered generators. Bigger is almost always better. Don’t forget the inefficiency of these generators compared to the big power plants and the amount of pollution they create…[/QUOTE] Thanks for the reply. I may have an issue charging if I cant get my car close to my condo and would need a backup plan if needed . I assume 900 watts if drained and around a few hundred watts to top it off. How much amps do I need if 900 watts is max. I assume that I will draw 12.5 amps so a 15 amp breaker dedicated would be required. Does that sound about right. Fuzzy math 900/72=12.5 Thanks Chuck ---
**Author:** ![bob.peloquin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ec9cab/32.png) [@bob.peloquin](https://community.electricforum.com/u/bob.peloquin)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/charging-requirements/3179/5 "2013-03-07T20:09:25Z")
[QUOTE=chuckneste;14317]Thanks for the reply. I may have an issue charging if I cant get my car close to my condo and would need a backup plan if needed . I assume 900 watts if drained and around a few hundred watts to top it off. How much amps do I need if 900 watts is max. I assume that I will draw 12.5 amps so a 15 amp breaker dedicated would be required. Does that sound about right. Fuzzy math 900/72=12.5 Thanks Chuck[/QUOTE]That’s the amps to the battery, not to the charger. 900/120=7.5 amps. Just use a 12 ga 100 foot extension cord.