telecom batteries and boondocking
Hi all, First night boondocking on the new batteries. I ran a computer for 5 hours (100 watts) via my large inverter, and a 7 amp 12 volt heating blanket for 7 hours. Battery voltage started ...
Forum Discussion
Hi Mex,
In my previous RV which had a scant 30 watts of solar (from 1989) I did urban dock using a Kipor 2800 watt generator and survived six days on the streets of Calgary. The daily high was -27C and snow was more or less constant. I was at a convention during the day, so I used the stove top as a blue flame heater partly to help 'fool' the main thermostat, and partly to provide heat that required no power. I had two Walmart Marine batteries, and an old fashioned Magnetec converter.
As you, and others are probably aware, I will NOT run a generator while sleeping.
The daily routine was to wake up, climb into clothing, start the generator, turn up the furnace, turn on as much electric heat as I could and make breakfast. At 8:30 I left for the convention, after setting the furnace as low as it was safe to do so and lighting off the four stove burners--as low as I could get them to be.
In the evening, I'd get back about 8 p.m., start the generator, plug in the block heater, turn up the furnace and run electric heaters. (the old unit was a diesel from 1987, no block heater, no start!!!).
After an hour, I'd start the diesel and drive to the nearest gas station to top up the generator fuel tank. I restarted the generator and at about 10 p.m. I'd shut it down.
I do believe that, in my new RV, if I were willing to forgo electric cooking, and water heating, that with 1400 watts of solar I would be able to survive for six days--provided I was not in the RV during the day time.
I am set up to heat 100% electrically--but in the worst of the winter that requires 7100 watts peak load with an average of about 5000 watts. My Yamaha can't do even 50% of that, so I'd be burning propane. I do have three shore power cords so I can just barely squeak through on three 15 amp circuits provided I use the load support feature of the Magnum inverter. I do have a 'break out box' for a 50 amp pedestal which gives me 30 amps on one leg and two 20 amp circuits on the other leg, each with their own breaker.
I would still have the engine alternator as an 'emergency' charging device. If it were a trailer, or other unit that has no engine, I'd agree that a generator would be a requirement.
In my previous RV which had a scant 30 watts of solar (from 1989) I did urban dock using a Kipor 2800 watt generator and survived six days on the streets of Calgary. The daily high was -27C and snow was more or less constant. I was at a convention during the day, so I used the stove top as a blue flame heater partly to help 'fool' the main thermostat, and partly to provide heat that required no power. I had two Walmart Marine batteries, and an old fashioned Magnetec converter.
As you, and others are probably aware, I will NOT run a generator while sleeping.
The daily routine was to wake up, climb into clothing, start the generator, turn up the furnace, turn on as much electric heat as I could and make breakfast. At 8:30 I left for the convention, after setting the furnace as low as it was safe to do so and lighting off the four stove burners--as low as I could get them to be.
In the evening, I'd get back about 8 p.m., start the generator, plug in the block heater, turn up the furnace and run electric heaters. (the old unit was a diesel from 1987, no block heater, no start!!!).
After an hour, I'd start the diesel and drive to the nearest gas station to top up the generator fuel tank. I restarted the generator and at about 10 p.m. I'd shut it down.
I do believe that, in my new RV, if I were willing to forgo electric cooking, and water heating, that with 1400 watts of solar I would be able to survive for six days--provided I was not in the RV during the day time.
I am set up to heat 100% electrically--but in the worst of the winter that requires 7100 watts peak load with an average of about 5000 watts. My Yamaha can't do even 50% of that, so I'd be burning propane. I do have three shore power cords so I can just barely squeak through on three 15 amp circuits provided I use the load support feature of the Magnum inverter. I do have a 'break out box' for a 50 amp pedestal which gives me 30 amps on one leg and two 20 amp circuits on the other leg, each with their own breaker.
I would still have the engine alternator as an 'emergency' charging device. If it were a trailer, or other unit that has no engine, I'd agree that a generator would be a requirement.
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Geemanize PT haven't you been through a plains blizzard yet? -25C 80 kph wind and horizontal snow? Four, five, six days.
Solar can't save you. So you need the generator or risk a "permanent" blackout.
