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...
Forum Discussion
PNICHOLS wrote:
"... run the genset every time you need power": Is close to "run a small generator every so often for SEVERAL hours to replenish a battery bank".
But how is the above really different than "... run a large generator every so often for a FEW hours to replenish a battery bank".
Well .... I guess the difference is the small generator would be run at a low sound level for it's several hours as opposed to the large generator being run at a high sound level for it's few hours.” (end)
JRNYMN7 wrote:
“But this isn't about getting free stuff (although that's nice), it's about charging efficiency. The simple fact is, the higher voltage, higher amp charger does the job in 1/3 the time, and at 41% of the cost in fuel... even when coupled with the larger gen engine. And btw, the eu2000i is lighter and just as quiet.
And yes, one could start comparing the ex650 with some huge, highly inefficient gennie, but that would be totally irrelevant. But just try using a $50.00 higher voltage, higher amp charger with that same (free) ex650 and watch your charge times and related costs drop significantly.
…you don't need a quiet "AT FULL" generator, just one that can handle more than a measly 4a load.” (end)
… Round and round we go…You are (again) comparing a small, low powered quiet generator with a large , high powered, noisy one. But there is a better alternative to both. The eu2000i, for example, has the small imprint, light weight, quiet operation of a suitcase genset, but the power of a much larger genset. It’s overall rated fuel consumption is close to that of the 650, but has the capability of powering much larger loads, more efficiently, and thus capable of decreasing overall costs of charging, especially when in eco mode, a feature nowhere to be found on the 650.
And no, the ex650 will not even come close to powering the average 30a charger at 14.4v, (which should not be considered fast, high voltage charging, btw) along with the other amenities in the rv. So now you would have to buy one of the much more expensive power factor compensated units; so yet another added expense due to an undersized genset. Yes, one can MAKE the 650 useful, but at what cost?
It’s really no different than my not being able to put a queen size bed in my less than 90 sq. ft rv. The rv simply does not accommodate such a large bed. Likewise the ex650 does not accommodate even a reasonably sized, inexpensive charger.
As for running the genset for say 10 hours a day, for all your electrical needs:
Yes, at one gallon / $3.50 per day, it sounds reasonably cheap, and extended over an entire 6 month season that’s $637. Not too shabby. But, keep in mind, you still need solar for the refer, in that case, which is hit and miss, and solar doesn’t work at night, so you would still need either batteries and a charging system, or you would have to run the gennie all hours of the night, which would require you to get out of bed and refill the tank.
But what is the expected lifespan of an ex650, run for 10-15 hours a day, for 6 months at a time? And are these things readily available at a very low cost? I'm guessing, no.
(come to think of it, this could make for an interesting thread of its own… comparing gen living with battery living)
"... run the genset every time you need power": Is close to "run a small generator every so often for SEVERAL hours to replenish a battery bank".
But how is the above really different than "... run a large generator every so often for a FEW hours to replenish a battery bank".
Well .... I guess the difference is the small generator would be run at a low sound level for it's several hours as opposed to the large generator being run at a high sound level for it's few hours.” (end)
JRNYMN7 wrote:
“But this isn't about getting free stuff (although that's nice), it's about charging efficiency. The simple fact is, the higher voltage, higher amp charger does the job in 1/3 the time, and at 41% of the cost in fuel... even when coupled with the larger gen engine. And btw, the eu2000i is lighter and just as quiet.
And yes, one could start comparing the ex650 with some huge, highly inefficient gennie, but that would be totally irrelevant. But just try using a $50.00 higher voltage, higher amp charger with that same (free) ex650 and watch your charge times and related costs drop significantly.
…you don't need a quiet "AT FULL" generator, just one that can handle more than a measly 4a load.” (end)
… Round and round we go…You are (again) comparing a small, low powered quiet generator with a large , high powered, noisy one. But there is a better alternative to both. The eu2000i, for example, has the small imprint, light weight, quiet operation of a suitcase genset, but the power of a much larger genset. It’s overall rated fuel consumption is close to that of the 650, but has the capability of powering much larger loads, more efficiently, and thus capable of decreasing overall costs of charging, especially when in eco mode, a feature nowhere to be found on the 650.
And no, the ex650 will not even come close to powering the average 30a charger at 14.4v, (which should not be considered fast, high voltage charging, btw) along with the other amenities in the rv. So now you would have to buy one of the much more expensive power factor compensated units; so yet another added expense due to an undersized genset. Yes, one can MAKE the 650 useful, but at what cost?
It’s really no different than my not being able to put a queen size bed in my less than 90 sq. ft rv. The rv simply does not accommodate such a large bed. Likewise the ex650 does not accommodate even a reasonably sized, inexpensive charger.
As for running the genset for say 10 hours a day, for all your electrical needs:
Yes, at one gallon / $3.50 per day, it sounds reasonably cheap, and extended over an entire 6 month season that’s $637. Not too shabby. But, keep in mind, you still need solar for the refer, in that case, which is hit and miss, and solar doesn’t work at night, so you would still need either batteries and a charging system, or you would have to run the gennie all hours of the night, which would require you to get out of bed and refill the tank.
But what is the expected lifespan of an ex650, run for 10-15 hours a day, for 6 months at a time? And are these things readily available at a very low cost? I'm guessing, no.
(come to think of it, this could make for an interesting thread of its own… comparing gen living with battery living)
