Light Usage Camping Setup...What I would do

BFL13 thanks for your incite. I just returned from a 3 day fishing trip with no electric so I will try the equalizing charge overnight.

Yes I run the 1093 Equalize after every trip, where when away they never got fully charged. I prefer the auto 1093 E to doing a manual charger rising voltage that you have to keep watch over.

Like mena, I have had no luck in getting the batts to True Full by leaving them on Float. The SG just does not get to "baseline SG" unless I can get the batts above 15v for a time (as seen in that US Battery how to charge your 6s thing)

I leave them on Float all the time on the converter when on shore power at home. Float at 13.2v is for 80F and 13.9v is for 50F, so 13.4v should be ok, but too low for winter.

It may be tough on the pos plates, but the alternative is sulfation loss of capacity. I prefer to have the batteries with a shorter, but fuller life than have them longer but at lower capacity.

I know what you mean about no room over the batts to wield your hydrometer. I used to haul them out to get at them--huge PITA. I was able to move my batts to the cargo bay where there is room for that, but I still need to use a flashlight to peer down the holes to see if there is enough water. I envy those with battery slide out trays.

Mena I was thinking of a small solar system before 2 more batteries if usage increased just to top of the batteries after running genset. BFL do you equalize after every trip to fully charge? Wouldn't the Magnatec 950 float charge do the same thing and be easier on the plates? I only have 6 in clearance above the batteries with no slide out so I can just fit the floating needle hydrometer from WM in there so most of the time I use the HF volt meter instead. My 950 floats at 13.4 v and I only leave it on 3 days after B&D says Full.

Gjac wrote:
Water is a greater concern than AH's.

I find this to the be real issue as well.

I follow all your solar threads but can't quite justify it yet because I still don't exercise my generator enough to recharge the batteries

I'd buy two more batteries before I got solar if I were in your position.

Gjac wrote:
I guess I am in the light duty category. I have 2 Sam's Club 6 v GC batteries. I charge with a 40 amp B&D charger to Ful then let the old Magnatec 950 charger float at 5 amps for a couple of days before I go camping. This usually lasts me about 7 days before I get to 50% SOC. The 5 amp float seems to give me several more days. A .........

I have that charger and 6s too. To properly charge the 6s, once the charger says Full the first time, change it over to the Equalize function and 4 amp setting (green light flashing) and let it run till it says Full again. After that put them on your Float charger.

http://www.wholesalesolar.com/pdf.folder/battery-folder/charging_instruction_2011_2.pdf

You need to confirm that the one Equalize run did raise the SG, and it could take a second Equalize run to get the SG right up where it belongs. You will soon find out what your particular batteries want.

If the old converter's Float is too hard on the batts, you can get a decent float charger for about $30 that stays at 13.4v constant and use that instead. I agree with keeping the working old converter and using portable chargers instead of swapping out the old converter and re-wiring the rig (to get value from the new converter) where it is just too much trouble to do that mod.

6s do need watering for sure. Even sitting on solar for weeks getting some 14.x voltage every day also means checking their water

Just a couple of 120W Solar panels has been my goal for awhile now. Would really enhance my camping off the batteries big time. I have just the spot on my POPUP roof for two of those...

It still would not replace my 2KW generator but sure would aid in charging my batteries during the day time when the sun was out. Might not have to use the generator as much.

Roy Ken

I guess I am in the light duty category. I have 2 Sam's Club 6 v GC batteries. I charge with a 40 amp B&D charger to Ful then let the old Magnatec 950 charger float at 5 amps for a couple of days before I go camping. This usually lasts me about 7 days before I get to 50% SOC. The 5 amp float seems to give me several more days. A week is the longest that I have stayed in on place. Water is a greater concern than AH's. After 7 days I need water and have to do laundry and recharge so I go to a private CG with these facilities or go home if camping locally. I follow all your solar threads but can't quite justify it yet because I still don't exercise my generator enough to recharge the batteries.

wa8yxm wrote:
Upping to a pair of GC2's would give you a FEW more amp hours when fully charged (30-40) but not worth it as an upgrade, As a replacement yes, but not as an upgrade.

Question: Have you tried it? Do you have enough power or are you asking how to improve capacity: more batteries, more panels is how you improve capacity.

This thread really was just to get some setups from the light duty campers. I've been noticing a few questions from this group recently and was curious. As you can see my my sig, I'm not hurting for capacity although if I had the space I'd get two more L16's.

Upping to a pair of GC2's would give you a FEW more amp hours when fully charged (30-40) but not worth it as an upgrade, As a replacement yes, but not as an upgrade.

Question: Have you tried it? Do you have enough power or are you asking how to improve capacity: more batteries, more panels is how you improve capacity.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Absolutely no experience...

Are furnace blower motors permanent magnet style?

No idea MEX.