generator vs batter bank w/ inverter
Hey guys. Im building an expedite van and im not sure which way I want to go for power usage. I will need to power an espar heater, rooftop a/c, ( coleman cub 9200 btu ) tv, laptop, small lights, poss...
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Ok, thanks guys. Got it figured out. Im going with batteries and a small generator to run my a/c. Im going to use a battery isolator to charge the house bank through my alternator ( with a 3 stage charger ) when im driving, and if I need to charge when im sitting, use the generator ( through the charger ).
So, now I need to figure out a quality battery brand. I did the math and if I were to run all my equipment at the same time ( minus the a/c ) I would need about 600 amp hours of battery to run it for 24 hours straight without charging. Of course I will not be running everything 24/7 or all at the same time, but I want to have sufficient juice. Im sure I could get by fine with 300 or 400 amp hours.
The problem I run into is that the biggest battery ive seen is 12v 255 Amp hours. Two of those would work great, but they weigh 150 lbs a piece. I need to leave at least 2000#s of carrying capacity for the freight im going to haul, but more would be better. Id like to be able to carry 2200#s which leaves me with 300#s of stuff I can put in the van. I am including a full tank of gas and my weight in that. I still need to put in a rooftop a/c and generator which will be right around 150#s also, so I can only have about 150#s for the batteries.
So im wondering if anyone knows of any 200 amp hour AGM batteries that would weigh around 75 or 100 pounds a piece that I could hook together for a total of 400 amp hours.
Im sure some of you may be confused, so let me clarify a few things. First, I will be expediting pallets of cargo in a NissanNV2500. Not pulling a trailer or anything. Expediters stay in their vans most of the time for sleep and waiting on a load, because getting hotels all the time would drain the profit. I will get hotels from time to time, and also probably stay at campsites. But truck stops and Wal-Mart parking lots are free, so that is where I will be most of the time. The $ I am investing in my sleeper set up will pay for it self in savings from hotels and campsites.
If you've spent much time at truck stops or Wal-Mart parking lots, then you've probably seen the expediter vans. Usually high top sprinter type vans. My GVWR is 9100 lbs. I am currently sitting at 6600 lbs with a full tank and me in it. Add the 2000#s for cargo and that leaves me 500#s to play with. But ideally id like to be able to haul above 2000 lbs.
So, now I need to figure out a quality battery brand. I did the math and if I were to run all my equipment at the same time ( minus the a/c ) I would need about 600 amp hours of battery to run it for 24 hours straight without charging. Of course I will not be running everything 24/7 or all at the same time, but I want to have sufficient juice. Im sure I could get by fine with 300 or 400 amp hours.
The problem I run into is that the biggest battery ive seen is 12v 255 Amp hours. Two of those would work great, but they weigh 150 lbs a piece. I need to leave at least 2000#s of carrying capacity for the freight im going to haul, but more would be better. Id like to be able to carry 2200#s which leaves me with 300#s of stuff I can put in the van. I am including a full tank of gas and my weight in that. I still need to put in a rooftop a/c and generator which will be right around 150#s also, so I can only have about 150#s for the batteries.
So im wondering if anyone knows of any 200 amp hour AGM batteries that would weigh around 75 or 100 pounds a piece that I could hook together for a total of 400 amp hours.
Im sure some of you may be confused, so let me clarify a few things. First, I will be expediting pallets of cargo in a NissanNV2500. Not pulling a trailer or anything. Expediters stay in their vans most of the time for sleep and waiting on a load, because getting hotels all the time would drain the profit. I will get hotels from time to time, and also probably stay at campsites. But truck stops and Wal-Mart parking lots are free, so that is where I will be most of the time. The $ I am investing in my sleeper set up will pay for it self in savings from hotels and campsites.
If you've spent much time at truck stops or Wal-Mart parking lots, then you've probably seen the expediter vans. Usually high top sprinter type vans. My GVWR is 9100 lbs. I am currently sitting at 6600 lbs with a full tank and me in it. Add the 2000#s for cargo and that leaves me 500#s to play with. But ideally id like to be able to haul above 2000 lbs.
