2 or 4 6V batteries.
Getting ready to get new batteries for my 5th wheel. We do mostly dry camping but mix in CG's with elec/water off and on thru the season. Most of our dry camping is in the 3-6 night range, with most j...
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Solar panels are a lot lighter than batteries. You can get about 100 amp hours daily from the solar panels, while only 100 amp hours total out of a pair of batteries, before discharging them to only 50% full, and leading to their early demise by getting the voltage to low before recharging.
I would also recommend recharging daily, not every other day. 1 hour at a time will provide the max amperage per generator run time. I found that when I started my generator, it would put out 45 amps for about 10 minutes, then taper to about 35 amps, and taper to 30 amps after about 30 minutes, when I would shut it off. No need to run a 4000 watt generator when the output is running a battery charger using about 400 watts. ..
I let my solar finish the charging - in complete silence, with no more maintenance than occasional rain to clean them. . .
I have a 400 watt solar system, that I installed myself. It can put out about 20 - 25 amps, so I can collect about 120 AH daily. I find that 2 batteries is fine, because I am collecting more than 1/2 my daily needs each day, and I really have no need for more than 2 batteries. They each weigh 67 pounds, while a solar panel is only 20 or so, depending on it's capacity.
140 watt solar panels are only about $230 nowdays, check SUnElec.com
Look for 12 volt panels with a aluminum frame. Look for a PWM controller, rated at around 30 amps, for the $20 - $35 range.
The solar panels will outlast 3 or 4 sets of batteries (heck mine are 1994 - 1999 solar panels and have outlasted 4 sets of batteries so far, and going strong still!). So solar panels are much less expensive than 20 years worth of batteries. Not to mention gas, gas cans that seem to come up missing (when not locked up) or generators that walk away at certain campgrounds when a truck comes through at 4 am!
Your CO meter, propane detector and refrigerator team up to consume 35 AH daily, about what one of my 120 watt solar panels can make in one day. I have a total of 400 watts, and went from 4 GC batteries to just 2.
Have fun camping. .. I would love to be by a lake somewhere right now! But am stuck working. .
Good luck,
Fred.
I would also recommend recharging daily, not every other day. 1 hour at a time will provide the max amperage per generator run time. I found that when I started my generator, it would put out 45 amps for about 10 minutes, then taper to about 35 amps, and taper to 30 amps after about 30 minutes, when I would shut it off. No need to run a 4000 watt generator when the output is running a battery charger using about 400 watts. ..
I let my solar finish the charging - in complete silence, with no more maintenance than occasional rain to clean them. . .
I have a 400 watt solar system, that I installed myself. It can put out about 20 - 25 amps, so I can collect about 120 AH daily. I find that 2 batteries is fine, because I am collecting more than 1/2 my daily needs each day, and I really have no need for more than 2 batteries. They each weigh 67 pounds, while a solar panel is only 20 or so, depending on it's capacity.
140 watt solar panels are only about $230 nowdays, check SUnElec.com
Look for 12 volt panels with a aluminum frame. Look for a PWM controller, rated at around 30 amps, for the $20 - $35 range.
The solar panels will outlast 3 or 4 sets of batteries (heck mine are 1994 - 1999 solar panels and have outlasted 4 sets of batteries so far, and going strong still!). So solar panels are much less expensive than 20 years worth of batteries. Not to mention gas, gas cans that seem to come up missing (when not locked up) or generators that walk away at certain campgrounds when a truck comes through at 4 am!
Your CO meter, propane detector and refrigerator team up to consume 35 AH daily, about what one of my 120 watt solar panels can make in one day. I have a total of 400 watts, and went from 4 GC batteries to just 2.
Have fun camping. .. I would love to be by a lake somewhere right now! But am stuck working. .
Good luck,
Fred.
