After reading numerous replies to an earlier thread I started on best practices for making batteries last, I am trying to figure out the best setup for my winter ice shack without investing a lot of money.It is a 10'X16' house that I use 1-2 nights every weekend from ice up (Usually around Christmas) until the end of February. I have two group 27 deep cycle wet cells that I plan to run in parallel. It will be powering two LED tv's, one direct tv box, a ceiling fan, and 2-3 9 watt LED bulbs. The second tv will be hooked up to an underwater camera that runs on an internal battery rechargeable battery.I have a 300) watt inverter generator that will be used to charge the batteries when needed and when we wan tto cook something in the 1500 watt electric oven. Will the below inverter be enough to power what I need? Will the display give me enough info to let me know the charge status of my batteries?https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T564EIY/?coliid=I2NAYJEK9DYDKQ&colid=25KCAS8Q5DPBK&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_itDo I need a two bank charger to charge both batteries or can I get by with my vector 2/6/12 amp smart charger. I have a minnkota 2 bank charger on my boat that I could probably take to the shack with me. Last year I could power the place for 6-7 hours with one gorup 24 deep cycle but that was running it until the battery died. I now know that is a killer for the battery. Noise is not a concern when the generator is running as everyone on the lake runs a generator, mostly honda or other lower noise inverters. Any concerns with leaving the batteries in the house over the week if I leave them fully charged? Temps can get to -20 occasionally. Thanks in advance

mrad wrote: Will the below inverter be enough to power what I need? It may be enough, but I'm not confident your TV and receiver will like it. I know you said this is a money thing, but for not a whole lot more you can get a pure sine wave unit, which works better, especially for TVs and audio. Cheap inverters can heat up 'bricks' (power supplies) too.

Trojan says: “The only way that a battery can freeze is if it is left in a state of partial or complete discharge. As the state of charge in a battery decreases, the electrolyte becomes more like water and the freezing temperature increases. The freezing temperature of the electrolyte in a fully charged battery is -92º F (-69º C)”

First, use TWO 6V golf cart batteries wired in series for 12V. Placed them on a 3-4" thick piece of foam to keep them off the ice.Second, get a 12VDC fan.Third, spend the money and get a pure sine wave inverter. 1000W should be more than enough for what you want to run (no fan) unless I am guessing wrong on the satellite box.Fourth, I am not sure if LCD TV would do well if you left them there and the temperature drop to -20F.If the batteries are fully charged (make sue you have a GOOD muti-stage charge) when you leave and you put them back on the charge for a couple of hours when you return. I would not worry about the batteries. You do need to check and fill them with distilled water. Of course, hauling them back into a warm cabin would be better.

theoldwizard1 wrote:Fourth, I am not sure if LCD TV would do well if you left them there and the temperature drop to -20F.According to many reports on here over the years, that's not an issue.

They are not called shanties anymore?

Question on running a fish house on battery power

mrad
Explorer II
Nov 26, 2018
B.O. Plenty wrote:
I would get a 2,000 watt Genny, Champion or whatever flavor you like as long as it's an invertor type. This will charge your batteries for the 12 volt side and power all your electric stuff and it will do it for 6-8 hrs on a gallon of gas. Do a little shopping and you can find one for around $400.00. Plus you can run your trucks engine block heater on those 20 below zero nights. Been there.

B.O.

I have a champion 3100 inverter
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
Nov 26, 2018
mrad wrote:
So two 6V GC would be better than my two 12V deep cycles? I was hoping to not spend a lot, but my RV battery will need to be replace so I guess I could put the CG batteries in the TT next spring, right?

It is highly unlikely that your two Group 24 batteries are TRUE deep cycle batteries. They are likely marine/RV "dual purpose" and are therefore a COMPROMISE ! The only commonly available true deep discharge batteries are 6V golf cart batteries. They are designed to specifically handle more charge/discharge cycles. They can tolerate a deeper discharge.

mrad wrote:
What a 12V DC fan? Would I then have issues when running off gen power?
I am assuming when you are running the generator you are also running the battery charger.
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
Nov 26, 2018
mrad wrote:
In a quick search I saw batteries plus carries duracell.

Sams Club and Costco usually carry golf cart batteries, but maybe not in winter in MN ! I check the specs and prices: 215 Ah about $90.

Properly cared for (add water when required, do NOT over discharge and properly charge) a pair of golf cart batteries should easily last 5 years or more.

Segue - My 7.5 year old battery in my truck died yesterday. It should have had a couple more year in it but too many total discharges from interior light left on over night killed it. If you think 7.5 years was good, the original battery lasted over 12 years ! I checked the water (even though it was "maintenance free") at least once a year, kept the outside and terminals clean. Nothing special.
mrad
Explorer II
Nov 26, 2018
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075K97C2V/?coliid=I8COTZBAR72XC&colid=25KCAS8Q5DPBK&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Would this be an adequate pure sinewave inverter?
2oldman
Explorer II
Nov 26, 2018
I'd rather see you get a name-brand like this one, but I guess the above would work. It's how *long* it will work that becomes the difference in price and quality, and, if it lives up to its rated wattage.
mrad
Explorer II
Nov 26, 2018
2oldman wrote:
I'd rather see you get a name-brand like this one, but I guess the above would work. It's how *long* it will work that becomes the difference in price and quality, and, if it lives up to its rated wattage.

Interesting. I noticed on all the inverters in the $110-$150 range did not have to option of purchasing an extended warranty. The one in your link did have that option.

I guess that tells me the warranty company did not have much faith in th eless expensive units lasting very long.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Nov 26, 2018
mrad wrote:
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
A 12 volt FANTASTIC ENDLESS BREEZE will consume half the watts and on high will cause a hurricane in the shed
One 13 watt spotlight will light up the floor like an operating room
High power microwave will tax the CCA out of golf car batteries
A pair of group 29-30-31 batteries may be a better fit

Mex,
No microwave. Just a 1500 watt mini oven but genny would run that. Half the time we go to shore and eat at the bar.

Hi,
I envy the thought of relaxing in a shack trying to catch (Muskies?).

You might want to consider using a short jumper cable, with strong alligator clamps on all cables because it's a lot easier to set up and take down. Make up nylon battery slings for easier handling. My Coleman stove stove heats up water in a third the time of my inverter and strongest kettle on the market. The burner flames roar like mini jet engines.

I use dimmers for interior LED lighting.

The last group 29, 30, 31's I passed in Wally World were pretty close to the cost of golf car batteries.

Happy fishing. When I get home I am going to rig up for Black Bass.
mrad
Explorer II
Nov 26, 2018

Mostly walleye but every now and then we get a Northern.

Guess I don't know how to get pics to post.
mrad
Explorer II
Nov 27, 2018
I noticed this information listed with one of the inverters I was looking at

"Please do not overload. If your applications are inductive loads, please choose the inverters whose continuous power is 3-7 times higher than the watts of your appliances"

Would this be applicable if my fishhouse? I'm n ot sure what inductive loads are. I would be running 2-3 9 watt LED bulbs, two led TV's, a satellite receiver and possibly ceiling fan.

I know some have said that I need a fan that runs on DC, but we need to ceiling fan to push the heat down on cold nights to keep the holes from freezing up.

As I may have stated earlier, I used a $39 northern tool 750 watt modified sine inverter that lasted two years. I ran the battery until it was out of charge. Not sure if this would have killed my inverter or if it was the cheap price. This time I will get a 1000 watt pure sine wave inverter with two batteries running parallel.

Will the 3X rule apply to me?
-
2oldman
Explorer II
Nov 27, 2018
mrad wrote:
Will the 3X rule apply to me?
No. Inductive loads are things like microwaves, air conditioners and motors. Ceiling fans draw very little current so any startup surge would be small, according to my research.

Wise of you to ask.

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