Battery Power

[pwb01]

As a point of reference for those with power and water questions.

I don't need 120v power but I'm still trying to find a real good reason to spend $1000 on a generator. I'd like to buy one but with just the two of us, I have 2 batteries on the frame which is plenty of power for a three day weekend. I hook up 3 batteries when a furnace is needed. For 7 nights, 4 batteries work well without a furnace with 2 out of 3 lights left on the usage panel. I get nervous when I'm down 1 light is left on the panel.

This past weekend we went 5 nights on 4 batteries. We watched a movie each night, used satellite radio 2 hours a day which uses a lot of power, was careful on light usage but used lights when needed without worry. We watched an afternoon movie and used lights several hours one rainy night. We still showed 3 out of 3 lights on the usage panel. My tester said I used 50% overall.

When using 3 or 4 batteries I charge them on a home charger and hook them up to the other two at the campsite.

5 nights is our limit on the black water tank but I have to carry the portable tank to drain the gray water every third day being real carful with usage and taking "Navy" showers. Of course we can greatly expand the holding tanks capacity by using the site facilities. Black to a week plus and gray to 4 or 5 days with night time and minimal usage.

[MOKID]

We bought a Honda EU2000i last year new for $600 off of Craigslist with the intention of using it with our T 1950. I have used it around the house here a number of times when we lost electric but have yet to use it with the T 1950. My point being that you may find out that you will use it for more than camping and can justify its purchase. Just food for thought.

[Steve Collins]

Paul,

Biggest way I know to extend battery usefulness is to switch to LED's for some or all of your lighting.

I've got us partly converted, but Gail is a big fan of the warm white that comes from an incandescent bulb. I have ordered some LED warm white bulbs in a couple of configurations to give them a try.

The other thing that may help is solar, but some of the parks that you and we frequent don't offer maximum sunlight opportunities. We value our shade too much!

[mainah]

I have all most all of my lights switched over to LED's a huge difference in power consumption a standard 1156 bulb draws a bit more then 25 watts a 15 LED G4 base draws 2.4 watts they have a light output close to a 10 watt halogen. If I know I'm going to be with out power (I dry camp in Canada for a week or more at a time) I take my little 1,500 watt generator and use it to charge the battery through my 45 amp charger/converter and while it's running I use the high demand stuff like the water pump for a quick shower.

[pwb01]

Originally Posted by MOKID

We bought a Honda EU2000i last year new for $600 off of Craigslist with the intention of using it with our T 1950. I have used it around the house here a number of times when we lost electric but have yet to use it with the T 1950. My point being that you may find out that you will use it for more than camping and can justify its purchase. Just food for thought.

Good thought Jim but I already have a 6000w plugged into the house for power outages. Now if I sell it, I would have a reason to buy a Honda. Hmmm.

I have been looking at LED's but they sure are expensive. I think maybe about 4 for the most used fixtures would work well. I don't think solar could be reliable for a charge most of the time.

Goodness, I work for GE Energy, I should come up with something profound.

As for the water pump, I use an accumulator tank which allows a steady run on the pump to fill the bladder rather than the numerous starts and stops where max amperage is realized on each start.

[mainah]

These are very nice Amazon.com: G4 15 LED 200 Lumen Warm White 3 Watt 12V AC DC Lamp Halogen Replacement: Home Improvement $9.99 15 LED G4 base (fits in place of a halogen bulb) to me they are slightly dimmer then a 10 watt halogen but not by much and only draw 2.4 watts you can run a hole lot of them for the power usage of one 1156 bulb. I made custom flush mount fixtures for them because I hate those plastic things.

[mainah]

Here are my home made LED fixtures the LED's are 15 led 2.4 watt G4 base led's they were made to be a replacement for G4 base halogen 10 watt bulbs I removed the G4 pins an soldered wires directly to the led's.

[pwb01]

Very nice.

[Jim-Bev-2363]

Is there much heat from them?

jim

[mainah]

Warm to the touch you can tell they are doing some thing maybe the temperature of the average cat or about 95% cooler then a 10 watt halogen.

[Jim-Bev-2363]

I was reading online and it is said they do not put off much heat. It does make sense that since the amperage isn't there the heat wouldn't be there either.

jim

[gritsngravy]

Not an excuse to buy a gen, actually the opposite. Even in the shade a 60W solar panel (4x15w) will produce quite a bit, costs 2/3 less and is very quite. Of course it's no good in the dark, but it sounds like you just need to charge batteries.

[mainah]

Yes I do need to charge batteries I bought a 1500 watt generator for $189 brand new. I can't touch 1500 watts solar for any thing close to that wish I could because my camper and my house roof would be covered with them. That of course is the reason for LED's my T1700 had 15 1157 bulbs that's around 350 watts just for lighting as opposed to 36 watts worth of LED's, conservation of power can be an art form during long term dry camping.

[gritsngravy]

You're absolutely right, $189 for 1500 watts is hard to beat. Lately Northern Tool and a couple others have been putting the 60W arrays on for as little as $200, but still nothing close to 1500W.