Batt charging Q - PD9245; and adding solar
Greetings;
I am trying to get my little Rialta up to speed for full-timing. And need advice/help on charging my batteries and adding solar.
I have 2 27 group walmart marine/deep batteries - about 1 year old - both in good condition.
I just added a Trimetric 2030rv battery monitor.
I have a PD9245 charger/converter which I installed several years ago. Am not fully convinced it's operating properly.
Q: How long should it take to fully charge my batteries? My trimetric indicated my batteries were at 12.3 volts. So I fired up the gen (onan) to recharge. I've been running it for nearly 4 hours now and have not yet hit "full"; the PD is on 'boost' - according to the monitor charging at 14.1 at now +1.15 amps (started at about 5 amps) - no current draw. Seems to be taking toooo long!
I use very little power and would like to add solar to minimize gen use. Have spent several hours reading now. Could probably spend Days reading and still have Qs. I would like enough solar power to: recharge my laptop battery (not necessarily run the computer); run small portable dometic fridge/freezer (pulls about 3 amps when already at set temp - so only runs periodically); . . gee . . my internet access thingy (pulls 1 amp w/ small inverter; a light or two at night (pulls 1 amp each) . . don't need much else. (amps from battery monitor which each item on individually (no other draw)). Oh - and the furnace - at night - looks like the fan pulls about 3.5 amps but only kicks on 5-6 times a night for 2-3 min.
How much solar power would I need? Any recs for 'portable' panels - not mounted.
thanks so much!!
Kelly
Rialta 01FD twins
currently in Quartzsite, AZ
I am trying to get my little Rialta up to speed for full-timing. And need advice/help on charging my batteries and adding solar.
I have 2 27 group walmart marine/deep batteries - about 1 year old - both in good condition.
I just added a Trimetric 2030rv battery monitor.
I have a PD9245 charger/converter which I installed several years ago. Am not fully convinced it's operating properly.
Q: How long should it take to fully charge my batteries? My trimetric indicated my batteries were at 12.3 volts. So I fired up the gen (onan) to recharge. I've been running it for nearly 4 hours now and have not yet hit "full"; the PD is on 'boost' - according to the monitor charging at 14.1 at now +1.15 amps (started at about 5 amps) - no current draw. Seems to be taking toooo long!
I use very little power and would like to add solar to minimize gen use. Have spent several hours reading now. Could probably spend Days reading and still have Qs. I would like enough solar power to: recharge my laptop battery (not necessarily run the computer); run small portable dometic fridge/freezer (pulls about 3 amps when already at set temp - so only runs periodically); . . gee . . my internet access thingy (pulls 1 amp w/ small inverter; a light or two at night (pulls 1 amp each) . . don't need much else. (amps from battery monitor which each item on individually (no other draw)). Oh - and the furnace - at night - looks like the fan pulls about 3.5 amps but only kicks on 5-6 times a night for 2-3 min.
How much solar power would I need? Any recs for 'portable' panels - not mounted.
thanks so much!!
Kelly
Rialta 01FD twins
currently in Quartzsite, AZ
