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Old 08-16-2004, 02:43 PM   #1
snowbunny
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Join Date: Jul 2003
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M.O.C. #409
Dry camping battery questions????

This post is the tail end of another post I made. I am reposting it as a separate topic as I think it will get lost in the other topic.

The only way I can get my wife to agree to dry camp is if I can provide TV for the duration. We will dry camp only for a day or two at a time and be at a full hookup campground the rest of the time. I have a small Panasonic TV in the bedroom and it draws about 60 watts at 120v. I know that there is a 12 volt outlet behind the TV. I assume that if I buy a 300 watt inverter and leave it plugged in behind the TV I can run it like that. My questions are these: Any idea how many hours you can typically get from a battery in good condition? I know that 'typically' is anything but typical but I would like your experience. Should I buy a second battery as a safety measure?
If I do should I keep it separate and swap it in or should I hook it up in parallel? Where can I get battery switches and quick connectors if I do?

Thanks
 
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Old 08-16-2004, 05:59 PM   #2
HamRad
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Jim,
Get a second battery. Better yet get 4 golf cart type batteries. You can probably get a conservative weekend out of one but I wouldn't want to chance it. If you have a good battery shop that would be the place. Otherwise a good auto parts store or a full service hardware. You want to hook up whatever you end up with in parallel to get 12 volts. Good luck and hope you get the setup that will get you on the road to camping..... ......

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Old 08-16-2004, 09:34 PM   #3
Northstar
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Thanks for the posting. Sounds like a good idea. Keep us posted. Happyrving.....
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Old 08-17-2004, 06:17 AM   #4
Montana_557
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Small generator or second battery is an excellent idea. I am in the process of doing that now. Don't know if I should have the dealer install 2nd battery or try myself. Anyone done this?
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Old 08-17-2004, 06:45 AM   #5
Montana_657
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OK here goes...

I presume an alternate wife for boondocking is not the answer??

Your TV uses 60 watts at 120 volts AC. 60 watts at 12 volts ia 12x5amps=60 watts. Nothing is 100% efficient so lets allow 10 amps draw from your deep cycle battery.

If you check the specs on the battery it will probably say something like 100 amp hours or maybe even that you can draw 20 amps for 5 hours.

If it says 20 for 5... you can probably draw 10 amps for 10 hours. In a perfect world that is.... new battery, warm day etc etc.

If it says 100 amp hours that's 1 amp for 100 hours or 10 amps for 10 hours.... Again only in a perfect world.

Nip down to Canadian Tire and buy a 15 amp solar panel, for about $150 $CDN or pop over to Costco and buy the Coleman solar kit for $399 $CDN. It has 45 watts of solar and a charge controller all included. Then you have TV all weekend (if the sun shines).

If not...then you must amuse the wife

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Old 08-21-2004, 07:21 PM   #6
mobrownies
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You should make sure that the inverter you buy has output clean enough to run your TV. Not all are suited for computers and TVs. As for how long the battery will last, it will vary depending on what type of battery you have and your usage. It varies from person to person. I don't ever worry about the battery, cause my wife will go thru the water before the battery goes down .
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