200 amp hours capacity seems to be a popular flooded battery number. If the batteries seem to discharge to 50% capacity in under a week, there is a very cheap and simple recharge formula that seems to work well enough to be considered...
An 800-watt Harbor Freight generator coupled to a 29-amp Megawatt makes an interesting "zot" charger that can recover adequate amperage to save the day for long weekend or weeklong camping trips.
Minimize unneeded battery loads in the rig.
Fill the generator and start it.
When the engine runs out of gas the 200 amp hour battery will have received enough to last until the next 12.00 start up.
Setting the Megawatt to 14.4 volts prevents accidental overcharge.
The 13.9 volts on a 200-amp hour system prevents sulfation.
Letting the gen run until it quits is a no-brainer.
This modus operendi will carry flooded batteries for 2-3 weeks before a thorough recharge is needed. The generator will run 4-6 hours on a tank full of 2-cycle fuel.
Best done in the afternoon when there are minima hotel loads.
Beats the hell out of running a big generator and whiffiepoo perverter. A small fraction of fuel would be used.
This is an affordable system. It would not even cost hundreds. It is simple, easy to use. and avoids wear and tear on expensive components.
