B+ motorhomes
I just bought a Trail Lite B+ 211s with 8.1 Chevy engine. This is my fifth motorhome (others range from an old 20' Vagabond, and three Winnegagos, from 19 to 32'. This vehicle is fantastic. I am...
Forum Discussion
DW and I are beginning to camp off-grid now and then.
I'm messing around with how to improve the battery system on our TL. Most RVs have a poor battery system when it comes to dry camping, and the TL is worse than most.
-Only one battery.
-Can't access it for checking and maintenance.
-Typical poor stock converter/charger.
-Terrible wiring from it to the battery.
Really, the only good thing is the genset. But due to the above, the genset would have to be used A LOT to charge the battery if dry camping for days.
The battery limitation is obvious.
The charger's problems: It is notorious for either under- or over-charging. Under because it won't produce a high enough voltage and amps for bulk charging, and over because often they don't scale back their voltage when it is time to float charge. ie It undercharges when you are in a hurry, and overcharges over the long run.
The wiring to the battery is atrocious. Too skinny and way too long of a run. But that is fairly typical in RVs. They are just not set up for dry camping at all. They are set up to be plugged in.
There are several improvements possible. Any one of them is a good start, any two of them is a great start.
-Add a second battery. $200-250 DIY.
(Even better, make them both AGMs. $500-600 DIY total w/Sam's Club AGMs.)
-Install a better converter/charger, closer to the battery and with big cables. $250 DIY.
(Poor man's solution is a standalone battery charger plugged into the side of the RV and clamped on the battery(ies), running off the genset. $100, maybe less.)
-Install a solar system. $250 DIY for 100 watts, $400 for 200 watts.
I mapped out the roof, eliminating any space which would be shaded due to a 45ยบ angle from the sun. This covers most of the country during most of the camping season, during the prime mid-day hours for charging. I can fit 200 watts, using 50 watt panels. Add an inexpensive but good Morningstar PWM controller, wire, mounts, etc. A 200w system would replace what we use each day, assuming there is sun on our panels. I figure we use 40 AH per day, what with our LED lights (eBay!), and low power Visio TV.
A 200 watt system could be the primary charging solution. A 100 watt system would at least top the batteries off after they received some charge from a charger. Of course, if you camp in the shade, like most of us in the East, it's not so helpful. I'm in love with the idea of solar, but I think I need to wait till I've done the other stuff. :(
As much as I (really really) want to do solar, I guess I'm going to add a second battery, probably just a regular one, and do something about a better charger. That should keep me under $500.
And if you drive around every day, a lot of this is not even needed. But if you sit for 3 days or more, something has to give. It is a puzzle.
I'm messing around with how to improve the battery system on our TL. Most RVs have a poor battery system when it comes to dry camping, and the TL is worse than most.
-Only one battery.
-Can't access it for checking and maintenance.
-Typical poor stock converter/charger.
-Terrible wiring from it to the battery.
Really, the only good thing is the genset. But due to the above, the genset would have to be used A LOT to charge the battery if dry camping for days.
The battery limitation is obvious.
The charger's problems: It is notorious for either under- or over-charging. Under because it won't produce a high enough voltage and amps for bulk charging, and over because often they don't scale back their voltage when it is time to float charge. ie It undercharges when you are in a hurry, and overcharges over the long run.
The wiring to the battery is atrocious. Too skinny and way too long of a run. But that is fairly typical in RVs. They are just not set up for dry camping at all. They are set up to be plugged in.
There are several improvements possible. Any one of them is a good start, any two of them is a great start.
-Add a second battery. $200-250 DIY.
(Even better, make them both AGMs. $500-600 DIY total w/Sam's Club AGMs.)
-Install a better converter/charger, closer to the battery and with big cables. $250 DIY.
(Poor man's solution is a standalone battery charger plugged into the side of the RV and clamped on the battery(ies), running off the genset. $100, maybe less.)
-Install a solar system. $250 DIY for 100 watts, $400 for 200 watts.
I mapped out the roof, eliminating any space which would be shaded due to a 45ยบ angle from the sun. This covers most of the country during most of the camping season, during the prime mid-day hours for charging. I can fit 200 watts, using 50 watt panels. Add an inexpensive but good Morningstar PWM controller, wire, mounts, etc. A 200w system would replace what we use each day, assuming there is sun on our panels. I figure we use 40 AH per day, what with our LED lights (eBay!), and low power Visio TV.
A 200 watt system could be the primary charging solution. A 100 watt system would at least top the batteries off after they received some charge from a charger. Of course, if you camp in the shade, like most of us in the East, it's not so helpful. I'm in love with the idea of solar, but I think I need to wait till I've done the other stuff. :(
As much as I (really really) want to do solar, I guess I'm going to add a second battery, probably just a regular one, and do something about a better charger. That should keep me under $500.
And if you drive around every day, a lot of this is not even needed. But if you sit for 3 days or more, something has to give. It is a puzzle.
