Battery Life and Low Temps
I have been having a ball up at Iris Meadow off of Rock Creek Road, Close to Mammoth Lakes, CA. It's the steeper side of the Sierras just East of Yosemite. It's a little known area comparably, but v...
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Rmack, if I may, these guys have helped me tremendously over the last few weeks. I've had to re-learn pretty much everything I thought I knew about battery maintenance.
We live in a "plug-n-play" world, but plug-n-play just doesn't cut it when it comes to maintaining rv batteries... at least not 'til you get things under your control. In the last couple weeks I have split my 430Ah into two 215's, I am in the process re-wiring everything with larger cable and much better ends, I have bought a clamp meter, appliance meter, a power supply for top and equalize charging... and I still need to get a few more tools, like a digital heat sensor gun. But it will all be worth it in the end. In fact, two weeks of staying at a campground would be way more than I've spent, so far. And I now use my hand held meter for more than just checking battery state of charge.
I'm not trying to discourage you, or overwhelm you, just hoping to encourage you to seriously consider your options... either get things under your control, and enjoy camping to its fullest, like mex said, or wake up one morning cold and in the dark.. both literally and metaphorically.
You've come to the right place for help. These guys know their stuff. And they all started out like you and me. And don't assume rv manufacturers always put their customers above their bottom line. It's a huge competitive industry, geared mainly toward trailer park camping, with all the hook-ups and amenities, while boondockers are pretty much left to their own to do all the research and upgrades to make their rigs truly self contained and fully recreational.
Like these guys told me, be patient, try not to get too overwhelmed, and just enjoy the process. Happy camping.
We live in a "plug-n-play" world, but plug-n-play just doesn't cut it when it comes to maintaining rv batteries... at least not 'til you get things under your control. In the last couple weeks I have split my 430Ah into two 215's, I am in the process re-wiring everything with larger cable and much better ends, I have bought a clamp meter, appliance meter, a power supply for top and equalize charging... and I still need to get a few more tools, like a digital heat sensor gun. But it will all be worth it in the end. In fact, two weeks of staying at a campground would be way more than I've spent, so far. And I now use my hand held meter for more than just checking battery state of charge.
I'm not trying to discourage you, or overwhelm you, just hoping to encourage you to seriously consider your options... either get things under your control, and enjoy camping to its fullest, like mex said, or wake up one morning cold and in the dark.. both literally and metaphorically.
You've come to the right place for help. These guys know their stuff. And they all started out like you and me. And don't assume rv manufacturers always put their customers above their bottom line. It's a huge competitive industry, geared mainly toward trailer park camping, with all the hook-ups and amenities, while boondockers are pretty much left to their own to do all the research and upgrades to make their rigs truly self contained and fully recreational.
Like these guys told me, be patient, try not to get too overwhelmed, and just enjoy the process. Happy camping.
