I am going to be running 2 new batteries on our Jayco 17Z hybrid this year. We have a big MSW inverter, I think it's over 2000w, but we won't be using all of that obviously. I tried a single group 24 last year and used the inverter to run a small (700w) 5 cup coffee maker -- major fail. Basically fried that poor flooded G24 battery. So it's gone, I bought a coffee percolator for the stove top, and I'm starting fresh with the electrical side. I also had a small 1800w/2000w inverter generator. I sold it too, and have a 3300w Firman inverter generator now - it's still in the box in my basement. So, to summarize before I get to my question...The RV is a 17'hybrid, we are 100% without hookups, have no solar, and generator hours are 90 min in the morning and 90 min in the evening before it has to be shut down and all quiet in the Canadian National Parks where we camp.I would love to use solar, but the trees in the mountains would make it useless for where we camp, rarely do you have a site that gets direct sunlight.OLD:Single G24 flooded LA battery, 1800w/2000w inverter generator, factory 45 amp converter charger. It's an "IOTA" brand if memory serves.NEW:2 G31 wet cell batteries (105 Ah each), 3300w inverter generator, and....WHAT CONVERTER/CHARGER?Here are my choices:- IOTA 75A $300- Powermax 100A $210- Progressive Dynamics 70A with charge wizard $325What do you think? Which one should I buy?

AnalyzeWhich gizmo can stay at 14.8 volts for 3-hours straight if needed?

First check if your IOTA has the dual voltage jack. Looks like a phone cord connector.To really get the power in consider a PD9280 14.8 converter.http://www.bestconverter.com/PD-9280C-148-80-Amp-RV-Converter

Pd with the charge wizard sounds good to me. That's a maximum of 35 amps per battery minus whatever DC loads are present.Charge wizard will help keep the voltage up to push those amps.While you're upgrading, get an amp-hour meter as well. It's the best way to keep track of battery usage. Trimetric, Xantrex LinkLite for example. MUCH more accurate than going by voltage.

I am wondering what you use all this power for? We can dry camp for three full days osing a 1000 watt inverter for TV & DVd player. We do this off 2 group 27 deep cycle batteries from Costco. After 3 days we break out the Honda EU 1000 and charge them up.

How far down in SOC will the two 31s get before the morning recharge session? While they will accept big amps at first if down 50%, if they are only down to 75%, there is no point getting a big amp charger. Your existing converter would do as well as any other in that case.A "50-90" on a 210AH bank starting at 50% SOC using a 70 amp charger set to 14.6ish will take 1/2 hour to reach 65% SOC, then amps will taper for another 1/2 hour to reach 80% SOC. From there it takes another hour to do the 80-90 so expect to be at about 85% at your 90 minute limit.Of your three choices only the PD can be expected to do that, by using the CW to keep it in "Boost". The other two will drop to 14.2 or 13.6 after the first half hour.Your other option is to get the adjustable voltage version of the PowerMax. With that you can hold 14.8 (or any other voltage you would need) for as long as you like.

Which would you install? | Good Sam Community

MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Feb 08, 2018
Analyze

Which gizmo can stay at 14.8 volts for 3-hours straight if needed?
time2roll
Nomad
Feb 08, 2018
First check if your IOTA has the dual voltage jack. Looks like a phone cord connector.

To really get the power in consider a PD9280 14.8 converter.

http://www.bestconverter.com/PD-9280C-148-80-Amp-RV-Converter
GordonThree
Explorer
Feb 08, 2018
Pd with the charge wizard sounds good to me. That's a maximum of 35 amps per battery minus whatever DC loads are present.

Charge wizard will help keep the voltage up to push those amps.

While you're upgrading, get an amp-hour meter as well. It's the best way to keep track of battery usage. Trimetric, Xantrex LinkLite for example. MUCH more accurate than going by voltage.
Oasisbob
Explorer
Feb 08, 2018
I am wondering what you use all this power for? We can dry camp for three full days osing a 1000 watt inverter for TV & DVd player. We do this off 2 group 27 deep cycle batteries from Costco. After 3 days we break out the Honda EU 1000 and charge them up.
BFL13
Explorer II
Feb 08, 2018
How far down in SOC will the two 31s get before the morning recharge session? While they will accept big amps at first if down 50%, if they are only down to 75%, there is no point getting a big amp charger. Your existing converter would do as well as any other in that case.

A "50-90" on a 210AH bank starting at 50% SOC using a 70 amp charger set to 14.6ish will take 1/2 hour to reach 65% SOC, then amps will taper for another 1/2 hour to reach 80% SOC. From there it takes another hour to do the 80-90 so expect to be at about 85% at your 90 minute limit.

Of your three choices only the PD can be expected to do that, by using the CW to keep it in "Boost". The other two will drop to 14.2 or 13.6 after the first half hour.

Your other option is to get the adjustable voltage version of the PowerMax. With that you can hold 14.8 (or any other voltage you would need) for as long as you like.
crosscheck
Explorer II
Feb 08, 2018
ib516 wrote:
I am going to be running 2 new batteries on our Jayco 17Z hybrid this year. We have a big MSW inverter, I think it's over 2000w, but we won't be using all of that obviously. I tried a single group 24 last year and used the inverter to run a small (700w) 5 cup coffee maker -- major fail. Basically fried that poor flooded G24 battery. So it's gone, I bought a coffee percolator for the stove top, and I'm starting fresh with the electrical side. I also had a small 1800w/2000w inverter generator. I sold it too, and have a 3300w Firman inverter generator now - it's still in the box in my basement.

So, to summarize before I get to my question...The RV is a 17'hybrid, we are 100% without hookups, have no solar, and generator hours are 90 min in the morning and 90 min in the evening before it has to be shut down and all quiet in the Canadian National Parks where we camp.
I would love to use solar, but the trees in the mountains would make it useless for where we camp, rarely do you have a site that gets direct sunlight.

OLD:
Single G24 flooded LA battery, 1800w/2000w inverter generator, factory 45 amp converter charger. It's an "IOTA" brand if memory serves.

NEW:
2 G31 wet cell batteries (105 Ah each), 3300w inverter generator, and....WHAT CONVERTER/CHARGER?

Here are my choices:
- IOTA 75A $300
- Powermax 100A $210
- Progressive Dynamics 70A with charge wizard $325

What do you think? Which one should I buy?

Have you tried solar at your camping spots in the NP? The reason I asked is we have camped numerous times in all of the western Canadian NP's where trees are common and since we installed solar in 2011, have never needed the generator at any time and we dry camp weeks at a time.

Dave
GordonThree
Explorer
Feb 08, 2018
Oasisbob wrote:
I am wondering what you use all this power for? We can dry camp for three full days osing a 1000 watt inverter for TV & DVd player. We do this off 2 group 27 deep cycle batteries from Costco. After 3 days we break out the Honda EU 1000 and charge them up.

I love wasting energy it seems... I'll go through 1.8 to 2.5 kwh in a 15 hour or so period, depending on the weather.
lawrosa
Explorer
Feb 08, 2018
Dont forget that its a mute point if the wire from the converter to batterys is small...

Mine is 3 gauge and I get 40 amps or so from converter...

With just the 6 gauge I was lucky to get 25 amps
ib516
Explorer II
Feb 08, 2018
I haven't tried solar, but I know the sites we camp in are mostly tree covered. I might get direct sunlight an hour a day at most. So solar is out for me at this point. It would be good for when the RV isn't being used (parked on the street) to keep the batteries up, BUT, RV batteries have been a common target for thieves around here so I'll be removing them and bringing them in when the RV is on the street.
mobeewan
Explorer
Feb 08, 2018
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