Battery Power

[LonnieB]

Can anyone tell me how long I can expect the battery to last before needing recharged? I know there are several things that need to be known before this can be answered. Let's say keeping the coach temp around 60 degrees with outside temp around 40, 2 lights for 3 or 4 hours, and of course the fridge. New, fully charged battery in new 3000RK. One night? Two nights? Six hours? Inquiring minds want to know. I suppose I could could go out and turn things on, but it's easier to ask experience, than to experiment. Thanks in advance.

[Countryfolks]

One night, maybe up to two. The heater fan draws a lot of power. Keep in mind that discharging the battery too much shortens its life, sometimes considerably.

Skip

[bsmeaton]

Lonnie,
I haven't run the Monty through the test, but my Class A with 2 deep cycle batteries and running the furnace at night gave me a couple of good days and one not so good day (too far down by nightfall to run the furnace). During the day when the lights and furnace were off, the batteries would actually recover quite a bit. Unfortunately the deep cycles also take quite a while to charge back up, so just running the generator for a few hours did not do much good.

[bsmeaton]

Is this line under the text something new - or did I do something by accident!

[HamRad]

LonnieB,
I agree with Skip and Mary. Maybe 3 if you really conserved. And the furnace really sucks the juice out of the battery. The fridge, of course, will be running on propane. It will still use some 12 volt power for the control board but the cooling will come from the gas.

HamRad

[LonnieB]

Thanks Skip, that's about how I had it figured. I'm not one to disturb the peace that I and others have gone in search of. I like natural noise at night, not generator noise. I know there are some with great sound supression, but I don't have one yet.

[LonnieB]

Thanks Brad & HamRad (lol that kinda rhymes) I'll probably do the CG thing with electricity until I get the gen. I was just wondering for future reference. Do you know any CG's in southern Co. with close access to atv trails?

On Edit- I guess the last question really needs asked on another thread. I may do that later.

[MAMalody]

It looks like I may be buying two batteries. I am thinking of going to two golf batteries. Any input?

[bsmeaton]

Mike,
I may look at the golf cart batteries as well,as I'm coming up on 3 years for the old Interstates. Ozz had a great right up on one of his recent threads that had photos as well as a series wiring schematic for the 6-volt batteries.

[bsmeaton]

Lonnie,
I'm not familiar with the ATV areas, but there are several nice spots in southern CO, especially towards the west side. I believe even the State campgrounds have electricity now.

[BillyRay]

When running the furnace, you'll drain your batteries fast! Maybe 2 days, 3 at the most.

[LonnieB]

Thanks to all for the info. Looks like I need a new generator, I like the Marquis Gold, and have read good things on here about it, so I guess it's time to dig out the wallet.

[Sunseekers]

LonnieB
I got up this a.m. with that exact question in mind to ask our friends. Looking to spend one night without power and wondering if it will work. ((Over did it in our first RV as we used furance, lights and TV all on battery)
Does anyone have any suggestions on an alternate source of heat that we can use?
We may be heading back to Az sooner than planned!!
Thanks

[Cat320]

Mike...If you are going the golf battery route, it'll take four batteries...they are only 6v each.

[bsmeaton]

CAT - you lost me. Why 4 for a 12V system?

[Cat320]

MAMalody..."It looks like I may be buying two batteries. I am thinking of going to two golf batteries. Any input?"

I thought from the above quote, he was going to increase from one 12v battery to two 12v batteries. Two 12v RV batteries equate to four 6v golf cart batteries. Did I miss something?

[bsmeaton]

CAT - maybe not. I just remember looking at Ozz photos where he had 4 and he had commented it may be over batteried and that it only took 2. I think he only uses 2 now.

I just ask because I wasn't sure 4 would fit in the existing space without modifications and I probably will go to golf batteries. Whatever you decide let me know how it worked out and the fit.

[Ozz]

I do have just Two (just) they fit nicely up front, I tied in a vent from one battery box to the other, so they are vented out. I have the Sam's wholesale 6V Golf Cart batteries. It's tricky to get the second one in, it has to slide back, offset from the first one a little. I welded Two battery holders, L-shaped iron, screwed them to the metal floor, holds the battery in place.
I wanted Two so I would have reserve power for the 3,000 Watt inverter.
If you need pictures, let me know.
We are stocking and putting the finishing touches on her, as we plan on leaving Wednesday for Colorful Colorado.
See you guys sometime!
Ozz

[Montana Sky]

I have 1 battery in my coach. Having the fridge running on propane and of course the propane detector going, my battery lasts approx. 5/6 days. That is with nothing else running.

[dsprik]

I have a "Group 24" Interstate battery with 75 amp-hrs. Should I upgrade to a group 27 or 29? I know some are already typing "It depends on what you are going to use it for." Well, I have already had to dry camp twice in two months, unexpectedly - once was an area wide power outage (storm), and the other was an unexpected delay here at a friend's house that we were staying a week at, in getting electric to us (2 days). We did not buy this 3400 to boondock in it, but I have now discovered that you never can say "never" when FTing in a Montana, so I want to make sure my battery is up to par.

Our 3000ti Kipor has been a God-send. But had to run it more than I wanted to. Not sure my battery would handle too much and I had the gas, so...