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- MEXICOWANDERERExplorerBoondocking Vacations. Satellite TV, programmed coffeemakers. Climate control, a remote television in every room, high speed internet access, remote control this, microwave that...
I cannot even begin to tell you how fortunate I feel after reading about stuff like this that I lived my era in the days of throwing a pack saddle on a mule, balancing 150 lbs on the animal, adjusting the stirrups on my gelding and riding off into the Sierras. Shoot, an RV meant miracle luxury. Light off the propane lantern on the wall, a stove, a real stove with gas, knobs, and not a smoky camp fire. A bed with a mattress you didn't have to huff and puff to make it work. A real table. Not a stump or a rock you sat on and balanced a plate of rapidly cooling over or under cooked food on your lap. A little chilly at night? Throw on more blankets. Shiver when you race to heat up the coffeepot, light the stove, or pile on more firewood.
I guess I have outlived myself... - JiminDenverExplorer IIWe have a 500w inverter that runs the TV/DVD and radios that is on a separate battery (8-D) from the trailer. I plug the trailers shore cord into it when we get there and remove it when we pack up. Neither the stand by power or our usage has depleted the battery enough for me to need to charge it in a week. Last trip was four days and the radio or TV/DVD was always on to drown out the generator next door. I checked the 8-D before we went home and it was still over 12.4v.
Next year it will be a 2000w inverter so we can use the MW and hair dryer as well as the other stuff. Heavier loads will pull the 8-D down so it will get its own 220w solar system that will see the same morning sun/ afternoon clouds as the trailers system does now. It usually takes less than two hours to hit float and then the rest of the day the battery just works itself back up to full.
Solar isn't for everyone and may not be for you but I wouldn't discount it so easy. For $400 you may never have to pull the string, gas it up or even change the oil. - mena661Explorer
Gulfcoast wrote:
Can you turn it off when it's not in use?
The 400 watt inverter drains power around the clock on standby mode, much more than the lights connected to it. - GulfcoastExplorerThe 400 watt inverter drains power around the clock on standby mode, much more than the lights connected to it.
- JiminDenverExplorer II
Gulfcoast wrote:
That's the problem.... maybe 4 hrs a day with morning sun, trees blocking the sun all afternoon.
A couple of lights and you are worried about only four hours of morning sun with solar? I run the lights and the rest of a trailer including a furnace all night and have morning sun and afternoon storms. Floatr comes early and it doesn't take a lot of light in float. - Ron3rdExplorer III
Gulfcoast wrote:
MrWizard answered every question I had in his reply. Thanks for the help.
Been around this forum for a few years. I would go with his advice. - qwerty11ExplorerMy champion 2k inverter is doing really well for me.
- GulfcoastExplorerMrWizard answered every question I had in his reply. Thanks for the help.
- BFL13Explorer IIYour morning voltage will drop every day until it gets to about 12.2 (with a 12v batt--12.1v for a pair of 6v) then it will be at 50% and needs a recharge. Charge till the charger gets it to 14.4 or so volts and then run the gen for another hour (smk rule--it works)
After the recharge, the battery voltage will settle back into the 12s over time depending on how much load it gets just how much time.
-If you have camped there already and have most of it figured out from before, ok. If this is a first, and you don't have a clue, we can help with a realistic idea of what you need to do whatever it is at the remote cabin for however long a time.
No idea how far a drive it is to get more gasoline or propane, whether you want to watch TV, do laptop, etc, with an inverter supplied by battery or what the heck.
So you aren't going to get much help unless you give more context, or say you don't need any help. - GulfcoastExplorerLast question please... on a group 29 deep cycle battery, what should the voltage be of a fully charged battery and at what voltage would it need charging? THANKS
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