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Old 11-30-2019, 07:48 AM   #1
L0veless
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batteries for dummys info needed

we have a 2016 3720RL love it.
what would a good set up for occasional overnight stop just using batteries?
water heater off, refer on propane. watch a little TV then coffee in the morning.
most of my research has mostly turned up solar and boondocking set ups don't want or need anything that intense. I have 2 generators that have never been used. I just find it a hassle to pull out the generators run the cord then put all away for a few hours not to mention noise gas maintenance (yes the are inverter quiet). this should give you an idea of how often this set up might be used. just something going from point A to point B.

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Old 11-30-2019, 08:28 AM   #2
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With only batteries your pretty limited to a coffee pot on the stove and no tv that I know of.
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Old 11-30-2019, 08:39 AM   #3
jeffba
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Playing with GoPower's calculator I cam up with this

2 100 Amp lithium iron batteries would barely cover you for 1 night with no solar.
play with it and see what you end up with.
you would still need to to add a 2000 watt inverter.

https://gpelectric.com/calculator/


Travel Full-time
Batteries 2 Batteries
Total Daily Amp Draw: 168 Amp Hours
Total Weekly Amp Draw: 168 Amp Hours
DC Loads
Qty avg. use per day in amp hours (Ah)
Light Bulbs 6 4 hrs. per day - Draws 6.24 Ah
Water Pump 1 30 mins. per day - Draws 0.5 Ah
Furnace Fan 2 4 hrs. per day - Draws 64 Ah
Refrigerator 1 6 hrs. per day - Draws 2.4 Ah
Propane Alarm 1 24 hrs. per day - Draws 5.04 Ah
AC Loads
Qty avg. use per day in amp hours (Ah)
Cellphone Charger 2 3 hrs. per day - Draws 24 Ah
TV 1 3 hrs. per day - Draws 36 Ah
DVD Player 1 3 hrs. per day - Draws 9 Ah
Satellite Dish 1 3 hrs. per day - Draws 12 Ah
Microwave 1 10 mins. per day - Draws 17 Ah
Coffee Maker 1 20 mins. per day - Draws 20 Ah
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Old 11-30-2019, 08:41 AM   #4
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You should be able to get away with a couple regular deep cycle batteries or a couple of golf cart batteries. The coffee and TV will be your problem and cause a need for an inverter.
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Old 11-30-2019, 09:01 AM   #5
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As since you want to run the tv, unless you have one of the small 12vdc tv's in the bedroom, then an inverter is required. Look at the ratings on the tv...usually rated in watts. You will draw this amount of watts from the batteries, plus a ltitle snice inverters aRe at most 90% efficent. So if that tv said 4 amps or 500 watts, then 500 watts plus off the batteries or about 12 times the ac current (4 × 12 = 48) or 48 or 50 amps draw off the batteries. And you never want to use more than 50% of the batteries rated capacity or they go south pretty quick and you will be replacing them.
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Old 11-30-2019, 10:22 AM   #6
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I would add a 2000 watt inverter and 4 golf cart batteries. Lithium batteries are also a great option at higher cost. You might get by with 2 batteries if you never plan to need your furnace. The furnace blower motor is a real power hog.

You will also want a low power coffee maker (800-1000 watts) or make your coffee on the stove.
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Old 11-30-2019, 12:31 PM   #7
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thank you for the input
so the inverter is a must, will get one
do I need a transfer switch? I have read this is needed somehow yes or no
I plan on retro fitting generator to propane for emergencies (that's why I have 2 but never used) with an efficient charger can I charge the battery while running on battery power few hr morning or evening (then I don't have to mess with the cord) strange I know.
my progressive EMS shows I pull about 10-12 amp running with the criteria I have
shown.
again 3-4 hrs tv then off to bed, Keurig coffee in the morning then hit the road
if the heater is needed then its an RV park
I know I'm missing something here but 2 105ah AGM batteries run down to 50% still gives me 105ah? so 6hr at 12 amps should be good?
I'm shying away from Lithium as prices drop and technology improves tough to justify that cost now for couple nights a year
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Old 11-30-2019, 12:48 PM   #8
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Get an inverter with integrated transfer switch - easiest way to go. Magnum and Go-Power are two with that capability.

Your Keurig is a power hog and will test the limits of your inverter and battery bank. Our Keurig is 1500 watts - it will work if nothing else is on.
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Old 11-30-2019, 04:12 PM   #9
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first thing in the morning nothing else should be on
I don't need a transfer switch?
thank you for all this information.
this board ROCKS
thank you every one
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Old 11-30-2019, 05:03 PM   #10
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Will it work without a transfer switch? Yes but I would do one - recommend one of the integrated ones.
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Old 11-30-2019, 10:40 PM   #11
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The biggest draw by far I think, is the furnace. I had one battery when I started out and at 8500 ft. elevation and overnight low of around 32 my furnace ran almost 3/4 of the time at night. If you are somewhere warmer you can adjust the time.

Anyway, I used the lights quite a bit starting around 3 pm until 10 and the furnace starting at 7 pm. I ran out of juice at 5 a.m. I think the 64 AH listed above may be too low for these temps. However, if you are in 50-60 degree nights, you should use probably much less than half this. So it comes down to usage.
Another thing - I had incandescent lights - if you have LED the usage drops to 20% or so, I think. I don't think a new LCD/LED television draws much if you don't turn up the volume!!!! I would think you could get 2-3 hours without using too much.
If I was stopping in moderate climates and only using TV for 2-3 hours, I don't think you need to spend any more money - at most a couple of golf cart batteries.
Good luck.
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Old 12-01-2019, 06:39 AM   #12
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Simplify life. Buy a 12volt television and a percolator coffee pot that works on the stove.
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Old 12-01-2019, 08:34 AM   #13
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thank you to everyone for your input and advice,
after pricing out the items needed for this project I decided for what little I would use this I'll just stay with what I have. again thank you for the help
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Old 12-04-2019, 01:54 PM   #14
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Okay so I have some experience here as we were stuck boondocking for our first 3 weeks we had our rig. (I know hate the ca dmv) When we picked up our rig the family had out a single 12 volt automobile battery in it. Needless to say it died Within 3 hours when I left the light on in the rig. We know have 6 6volt golf cart batteries and changed all lightbulbs out to LED you can buy bulk lightbulbs on Amazon. Our beast came with a 55v inverter from factory. I also bought a pour over coffee system for $10 at walmart and the kettle can be heated on the stovetop because I can’t survive without my coffee in the morning. Needless to say our bedroom tv is a 12v so we got lucky their.
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Old 12-04-2019, 05:22 PM   #15
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Use your tablet or computer for t.v. use a french press or stove top percolator for coffee, minimize your use of the furnace. Plan your sleep time to use lights minimally. The question is how badly do you want to do this? What are you willing to give up?
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Old 12-04-2019, 05:35 PM   #16
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Off grid

Quote:
Originally Posted by L0veless View Post
we have a 2016 3720RL love it.
what would a good set up for occasional overnight stop just using batteries?
water heater off, refer on propane. watch a little TV then coffee in the morning.
most of my research has mostly turned up solar and boondocking set ups don't want or need anything that intense. I have 2 generators that have never been used. I just find it a hassle to pull out the generators run the cord then put all away for a few hours not to mention noise gas maintenance (yes the are inverter quiet). this should give you an idea of how often this set up might be used. just something going from point A to point B.

thank you
You want an occasional overnight stop. Your replies have been about boondocking. The reality stopping over night or parking for a week or longer are almost identical when it comes to batteries and usage.
My short story is my old RV like yours had four six volt batters 2 in series each and then the two banks in parallel giving me 440 amp hours. With liquid batteries you can only use 45 to 50 % amp hour without doing damage so that was 220 amp hour usable current. I could survive overnight with furnace fan, TV and Coffee and minor Microwave in the morning using about 120 amp hours.

That is usage. Now you have to replenish with solar or generator.

You commented you have generators but a hassle to hook up. Well you have to pay the Fiedler or don’t dance.

Upgrade your batteries. Or run your generator. And if you don’t put solar to recharge then you need to run the generator to recharge the batteries. If you want to do any off battery (one night or more) living I strongly suggest you get a good battery monitor system like the Ventura 712.

PM me and I will try to help you more. Safe travels
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Old 12-04-2019, 05:51 PM   #17
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Remember lead acid deep cycle batteries life is greatly reduced when depleting them to less than 50% capacity. Starter batteries life is greatly reduced when depleting them to less than 80% capacity. Two group 27 12vdc batteries are not considered sufficient for what you want to do. They will supply approx. 100 amp/hr. without decreasing their intended life cycle.
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Old 12-04-2019, 08:10 PM   #18
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the amp game

since you said you have 2 generators I am assuming they are 2000 watt. the problem with an inverter is that very little is wired to it with a residential fridge is all the runs on it. so it really is quite a bit of rewiring required. if you buy a dogbone 50 amp to 20 amp. start your little gen and plug in the whole rig. you can run everything except air. just mindful of what you would run at home off of one 20 amp breaker
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Old 12-04-2019, 09:18 PM   #19
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We ran a 32" TV off a group 27 battery and a little 400 alligator clip inverter for over 6 hrs for Saturday afternoon football with no problem. We were not depending on it for other use that day. Our group 29 house battery would run our furnace overnite and we would recharge both the next day from our Honda gen.
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Old 12-04-2019, 10:43 PM   #20
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Originally Posted by catch up with the zzzz View Post
since you said you have 2 generators I am assuming they are 2000 watt. the problem with an inverter is that very little is wired to it with a residential fridge is all the runs on it. so it really is quite a bit of rewiring required. if you buy a dogbone 50 amp to 20 amp. start your little gen and plug in the whole rig. you can run everything except air. just mindful of what you would run at home off of one 20 amp breaker
I have 2 Champion 2000 watt inverter generators. With the parallel kit they will run 1 15 amp AC unit. Have not used the microwave when it is running though.
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