The wife and I are getting a Damon Intruder 2001 RV in a week (36 ft). It has a 7000W gas generator. Here's the catch...and the reason for my post....the wife has been in an electric wheelchair (which uses qty 2 12v 35A batteries ( maybe 120V 2A for 6 hr/day to recharge) for many many years. She also uses an oxygen concentrator (uses 125V 4A basically 24x7).I am trying to determine how many "house" batteries i will need in the RV to cover our needs. The RV comes with 2 "golf cart" batteries (6V 200AHr), of unknown "quality". However, her medical equipment demands a considerable amount of power on a daily basis as noted above.Now we plan to spend 99,9% of the time in parks with electric power initially, but I learned many decades ago to always have backups and even backups to my backups. If one were using the "standard" amount of electrical ( what the average RVer would use) routinely, plus the extra outlined above, does anyone have a "guesstimate" as to how many batteries i should have in the RV ( assuming they are about 200 AHr 6V) for at least one day, if not 2-3 days (just to soothe my paranoia)?

Since you have a generator, that should be all the backup you need. While driving from campground to campground the engine alternator should be large enough to keep the batteries charged. Only if you have a plan to dry camp for an extended period of time (no hookups) would you need to be concerned about battery capacity. You would also need an inverter of the proper size to handle the load and ensure that you have outlets wired for that inverter to allow the use of these products.

Why do these dups happen again and again. You click the Post Message Button to post and then it shows the dialog box again and the same Post Message Button which makes it appear that you have not done the post or the post did not take. After that, you end up here writing this! :h

So for the 0.01% of the time I would run the generator. Does the Damon even have an inverted to change the 12V battery to something you can use...120V for the battery charger.

The 6V golf cart batteries are the way to go as they will have more capacity than a single 12V. The problem is do you have enough room to add more batteries? Do you have an inverter/converter to run her oxygen concentrator when not on generator or shore power? You may already know this but. ConverterA converter is an electrical device for converting 120-volt AC power into 12-volt DC power. Most RVs with electrical hookups will have a converter, since many of the lights and some other accessories run on 12-volts DC. A converter may also function as a charger for the coach batteries. InverterInverters are electrical devices for converting 12-volt DC power into 120-volt AC power. There are two basic types available: modified square-wave and pure sine wave with the former being the most common and least costly. They are available in sizes ranging from as low as 30 watts up to 3500 watts or more. Bill

The question is how much room for batteries do you have?

RV batteries...how many? | Good Sam Community

wallynm
Explorer
May 18, 2018
You can carry oxygen bottles. Some are large enough to supply 2L/min over night. What rate of oxygen flow is necessary. I always had bottle in reserve.
rcyoung3
Explorer
May 18, 2018
Wife is reluctant to use "bottles".....first wife uses an electric wheelchair, and her mother used oxygen too "back in the day". The wife always got tangled in the canula back when she walked, and the wheelchair has a way of tangling up with cords, canulas, etc etc.

Also, when we were in college, there was an "interesting" problem with oxygen tanks (at least the ones that are 5 ft toll + or -). Someone knocked a tank over down at the university hospital. It lacked a protective cap, so the on/off valve broke off. The tank took off, went through the hospitals basement wall, and buried itself 12 feet underground!

Both those memories are just a little too vivid ;-)
wa8yxm
Explorer III
May 18, 2018
Well you use the generator to recharge the chair so we won't include that
Yoru two Interstate U-2200's or equal are what you need for the RV overnight.

That leaves the Concentrator.. NOTE> have a bottle on hand just in cuss.

4 amp at 125 volt is 40 at 12.5 so we will go with 40*25, why 25, simplifies the math. 1000 amp hours per day. or about half that overnight (Generator hours to generator hours) since you can only use half your battery capacity (Assumes DEEP CYCLE) we are back to 1000 amp hours

4 pair of GC-2 would likely do the job. with a bit of assist from teh existing pair.. THe downside. that's gonna make a BIG dent in the cargo carrying capacity for that RV. You might do better to use bottled O2 when traveling. Use the concentrator only when generating
Ductape
Explorer
May 18, 2018
First,look for a more energy-efficient oxygen concentrator, one that is portable battery powered will use much less power.
In general, with your loads I guesstimate 2 batteries per day, so 4 or 6 if you want 2 or 3 days. That's if you get a more efficient oxygen concentrator. With the power hog you have now, it's going to be ugly without shore power or generator.

I have family on oxy too, and I agree with your thinking. Do not depend on any single point of failure. Have two oxygen sources and two power sources.
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
May 18, 2018
Generator is a good backup to shore power. If you want a "backup to your backup" I would get FOUR 6V golf cart batteries, all new.

I would also suggest upgrading your inverter to a more modern inverter/charge/automatic transfer switch. With this setup you do not need a 12VDC converter, just a 12VDC distribution panel. Some even have an optional output to start a generator. There are several companies that make such a device, but I like Samlex because of their simple installation.

Also, with a good house battery bank, you really need a DC-DC battery charger, for charging while you are driving. READ THIS !
tropical36
Explorer
May 18, 2018
rcyoung3 wrote:
The wife and I are getting a Damon Intruder 2001 RV in a week (36 ft). It has a 7000W gas generator.

Here's the catch...and the reason for my post....the wife has been in an electric wheelchair (which uses qty 2 12v 35A batteries ( maybe 120V 2A for 6 hr/day to recharge) for many many years. She also uses an oxygen concentrator (uses 125V 4A basically 24x7).

I am trying to determine how many "house" batteries i will need in the RV to cover our needs. The RV comes with 2 "golf cart" batteries (6V 200AHr), of unknown "quality". However, her medical equipment demands a considerable amount of power on a daily basis as noted above.

Now we plan to spend 99,9% of the time in parks with electric power initially, but I learned many decades ago to always have backups and even backups to my backups.

If one were using the "standard" amount of electrical ( what the average RVer would use) routinely, plus the extra outlined above, does anyone have a "guesstimate" as to how many batteries i should have in the RV ( assuming they are about 200 AHr 6V) for at least one day, if not 2-3 days (just to soothe my paranoia)?

Basic rule of thumb, is two batteries for a 1KW inverter and four batteries for a 2KW inverter. Naturally four batteries will provide longer and direct 12vdc power, as well, so I'd go with four min.
Finding a place to put the extras, is usually the problem, with any setup.
time2roll
Nomad
May 18, 2018
I would probably go with four GC2 batteries. If you really get stuck the generator can run 24/7/365 until you find power or install more battery. If you do start camping off-grid for extended periods I recommend 600+ watts solar. Consider an automatic start for the generator if the battery gets low on charge.
wallynm
Explorer
May 19, 2018
Got a chuckle out of your breaking the regulator off the gas bottle story. So how safe is it to drive. In others words what is more risky driving or exploding oxygen bottles.

Forum Discussion

RV batteries...how many?

About Motorhome Group

Related Content

How to disconnect battery?

Too many choices

So many questions!

how does a battery boost switch operate?

1st of many questions to come