Battery Power

pwb01 · 07-05-2011, 05:39 PM

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 · 07-05-2011, 05:55 PM

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 · 07-05-2011, 05:57 PM

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 · 07-05-2011, 06:38 PM

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 · 07-06-2011, 04:29 PM

Quote:

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 · 07-06-2011, 04:57 PM

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 · 07-07-2011, 06:00 PM

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 · 07-07-2011, 06:19 PM

Very nice.

Jim-Bev-2363 · 07-07-2011, 07:16 PM

Is there much heat from them?

jim

mainah · 07-08-2011, 04:16 PM

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 · 07-08-2011, 04:41 PM

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 · 07-10-2011, 04:49 AM

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 · 07-10-2011, 05:44 AM

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 · 07-10-2011, 08:32 AM

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.

mainah · 07-10-2011, 04:24 PM

It works great for me I just run the little generator while no one cares (actually it's pretty quiet) it in turn runs the 45 amp charger/converter and gives me a good days charge. It's actually small enough to fit under the truck if it's raining.

pwb01 · 07-16-2011, 05:29 PM

I just installed 4, 2.2w LED's in fixtures I use most often. I like the white light they emit and they use about 1/3 of the power. I'll try them and maybe replace a few more later.

Poqprince · 09-17-2011, 07:17 AM

We have done some of the above. I first used a Honda 2000 because of utility with the house etc. Great unit but even though it is quiet...it is loud in some of the parks we have been in. Still take it but haven't used it since Quartzite last year. ( we are on the road a lot 22,000 plus in last 18months)

We moved to solar in two steps. First I bought a system from Costco. It included two 80 watt panels, controller and small inverter. ($835) It resulted in a hybrid system. Yes it was stand alone in the summer in the Sun but was insufficient in the winter when we amped up. I added two Kyocera 135s currently selling $330 on line. Total 430 watts. In August we were restoring 7 amps at 830 AM. 25 from 11 to 2. Now on cloudy days or moderate shade we will show 7 to 11 amps. I have not used the gen for charging since the upgrade. I absolutely love the no noise and no additional costs after entry. Given the amount of time we camp I think it is cost effective for us but not everyone. BTW converting Honda to propane.
After the desert experience I purchased a solar array in Flagstaff. Now I went

Steve Collins · 09-17-2011, 08:44 AM

George, you don't say where you are from and where most of your camping is done. (You can fix that by adding it to your profile in the Control Panel or by editing your signature. It really helps when we have conversations like this.)

Paul and I camp mostly in NYS DEC parks which, for the most part, are heavily wooded with tall trees. Enough so that it is difficult to get good solar charging on a sunny day.

Since you already have several hundred dollars more than the cost of the Honda invested in the solar, I'm not sure the extra investment would be worth it over the cost of the Honda given the limited sunshine in our situation up here in the northeast.

I am really open to discussion on this as I'd love to get away from using the Honda every day for basic charging needs.

Poqprince · 09-17-2011, 10:22 AM

Yes I should put more info in and will do it shortly. We camped last month in Concord MA and at Sampson SP in NY. I am not sure it would pay off for you in your area. We camped at Cayuga SP a year ago in mixed shade and definitely used the but we have added panels. We had morning sun at Sampson but electric hu. I still measured output at Sampson. Because of the size of our array I would not have needed the gen. Our usage per day in the summer is about 40 - 80ah We run two fantastic fans and LED lights and no tv but sirius radio. Winter ranges 70- 110+. Includes satellite tv usage. That is pushing the capacity for the two 6 volts but daytime usage is a wash because of the charging being constant. If the batteries approach 50% I would break out the gen but as you know when you hit 90% or so the cost benefit with a gen is problematic and to get to a full charge is where solar can't be beat IMHO. In the past I used a BDecker charger direct to batts with gen to speed process up.

We boon docked at the Outer Banks in May full Sun. Shennandoah NP In partial shade and flying J during Irene evac and had no need for gen.

Cost wise I have no regrets as the Honda has been essential in so many non camping situations. Since the truck is diesel, I am converting the gen to propane. Quite frankly I have developed the budget for these items from the savings on utilities from being on the road.

Winter camping is done in either FL or AZ CA area.

Steve Collins · 09-17-2011, 11:12 AM

George, thanks for the added info. It really fills out the picture for us.

If we were to continue to mostly camp in NYS DEC parks, I would likely discount moving to solar. But, since we plan to do some cross country stuff beginning next year, solar becomes much more attractive.

I am adding a second battery next week. Had to order the vented battery box, hose, and outside vent as the battery in the new fiver is inside a compartment. The roof on the fiver is a walk-on roof so I am less concerned about fastening down some solar panels up there.

And the separate charger for faster charging is on my short list of stuff to add over the winter. That and finding some LED's for the interior lighting that won't break the bank.

Good info all around, and thanks!