How long should a battery last?

JimK-NY wrote:
This thread reminds me of a friend who bought an EV and wanted to take a road trip. In theory they should be able to drive a couple hundred miles before charging so not much of a road trip. To make it worse they wanted to travel in the winter months. The batteries are less efficient in the cold and battery power is needed to heat the interior of the car. So no road trips in that car.

They had great intentions. First they thought they would save on operating costs. We live in an area where electric rates are way, way over the national average so that is not going to happen. Next they thought they were helping to keep pollution down and doing their part to reduce global warming. That electric power did not come free. It comes from a power plant burning natural gas or an older plant burning oil.

Sometimes there just isn't a good fix after buying the wrong thing.

I have plans of getting a generator in a year or so, so it is not that I bought the wrong equipment, but that I am not yet prepared for what eventually I will be for.

Grit dog wrote:

pianotuna wrote:

MFL wrote:
pianotuna said: "12.3 volts is 50% If it is a marine battery that's already pushing it too low."

I'm thinking 12.3 is about 70%, and not an issue, until getting closer to 12.0, which will shorten life of battery.

Deep cycle 12.06 = 50%

Marine 12.2 = 50%

Jerry, you’re right presuming the OP has a FLA battery (most likely since he’s just schlepping the cheapo dealer throwaway battery).
But never count out Tuna to be the antagonist whether there’s actual opportunity to be or not! Lol

Thanks Grit...I do know a bit about batteries. I was giving PT a chance to say typo...I meant 12.03, but he just back pedaled instead.

swimmer_spe wrote:

ewarnerusa wrote:

swimmer_spe wrote:
... you can fire up your tow vehicle ... it is equipment you already have.

How long should I run it for if the battery goes down below 12V?
...

I like the idea of jumper cables instead of 7 pin. Pull in forward so you're close enough to run jumper cables between your tow vehicle battery and trailer battery. Idle the tow vehicle while hooked up this way, the alternator will push amps into your trailer battery. I have no idea for how long though.

Thermoguy wrote:
Why use the fridge? you are talking just 1 weekend, use a cooler for your food. Use minimal lights, minimal water (pump).

Problem solved.

This has been suggested numerous times but somehow does not meet the OPs requirements.

Thermoguy wrote:
Why use the fridge? you are talking just 1 weekend, use a cooler for your food. Use minimal lights, minimal water (pump).

Problem solved.

Yeah, I mean I’ve camped a lot of times with 2 coolers. Dry ice cooler for frozen and other food and ice cooler for bevvies.
And when camping like that also use minimal water and lights. And don’t use heat or AC either.
AND the “camper” rolls up into a little bag with its poles….haha.

But then we got an actual camper, u know, for conveniences like refrigeration and water and lights and heat and and and ….

OP is fixated on something here, whether it’s his being cheap or lack of finances to shore up his electrical system, or something else. Since it’s almost impossible, as a RVer to not learn by default how long your batteries last.
If you haven’t, then you’re either oblivious or never unplug the camper.

pianotuna wrote:

MFL wrote:
pianotuna said: "12.3 volts is 50% If it is a marine battery that's already pushing it too low."

I'm thinking 12.3 is about 70%, and not an issue, until getting closer to 12.0, which will shorten life of battery.

Deep cycle 12.06 = 50%

Marine 12.2 = 50%

Jerry, you’re right presuming the OP has a FLA battery (most likely since he’s just schlepping the cheapo dealer throwaway battery).
But never count out Tuna to be the antagonist whether there’s actual opportunity to be or not! Lol

JimK-NY wrote:
This thread reminds me of a friend who bought an EV and wanted to take a road trip. In theory they should be able to drive a couple hundred miles before charging so not much of a road trip. To make it worse they wanted to travel in the winter months. The batteries are less efficient in the cold and battery power is needed to heat the interior of the car. So no road trips in that car.

They had great intentions. First they thought they would save on operating costs. We live in an area where electric rates are way, way over the national average so that is not going to happen. Next they thought they were helping to keep pollution down and doing their part to reduce global warming. That electric power did not come free. It comes from a power plant burning natural gas or an older plant burning oil.

Sometimes there just isn't a good fix after buying the wrong thing.

Great story that has nothing to do with the OPs thread. And while you’re correct that some of the things you mentioned are concerns or challenges with EVs, your selective info shared and the sensationalizing of it show that you’re just trolling….
Nice work!

Why use the fridge? you are talking just 1 weekend, use a cooler for your food. Use minimal lights, minimal water (pump).

Problem solved.

MFL wrote:
pianotuna said: "12.3 volts is 50% If it is a marine battery that's already pushing it too low."

I'm thinking 12.3 is about 70%, and not an issue, until getting closer to 12.0, which will shorten life of battery.

Deep cycle 12.06 = 50%

Marine 12.2 = 50%

swimmer_spe wrote:
Typical code 24 battery, how long should it last with lights and electric RV fridge? I am only getting about 24 hours before it gets under 11.5V. Also, would a battery shop have a way to properly test the battery to see if it is actually any good? Would an RV shop be able to properly test it?

if you have drained it down to 11.5, that battery is done. if you put more group 24 batteries in there, you'll just kill them also trying to make it through a weekend.

Like others have said you should only use 50% of the capacity of a lead acid battery MAX, for a lighter dual purpose I would never use more than 40% of its capacity if you want it to last.

What I did with my camper was install four good 6V batteries which gave me 470 AH total and because they are a heavier built battery, I was able to use 50% capacity and still get excellent life out of them. so that gave me around 235AH I could use before charging. that's about 3.5 times what you use in 24 hours, but you won't kill your battery. for boon docking that alone won't be enough, solar panels can help here. with my 5th wheel, those same 4 batteries and 480 watts of solar I don't worry about power, but I don't use a lot of 110. you having that compressor fridge it might be enough, it might not. I would start out with a single 400 watt panel, make sure there is enough room to add a second if you need to and see how it does.