6v or 12v?

GordonThree wrote:

Yes they use rare Earth catalysts that are basically manufactured in a lab in small batches. There's also very expensive intellectual property involved, the folks that patent the technology don't want it mass produced.

Bloom Energy mass produces a hydrocarbon fuel cell. Fuel from propane, methane, etc. The fuel cells are huge though.

Patents only last 7 years. Hopefully by the time my AGMs need to be replaced I can replace with LiFePo and also replace the Onan with a fuel cell.

pnichols wrote:
Yikes is right!!!!!!!!!!

Other than the disadvantages of small volume producton, I wonder why fuel cells are so expensive .... each one hand assembled by engineers .... or the materials are found only on Venus? :h and :E

Yes they use rare Earth catalysts that are basically manufactured in a lab in small batches. There's also very expensive intellectual property involved, the folks that patent the technology don't want it mass produced.

Bloom Energy mass produces a hydrocarbon fuel cell. Fuel from propane, methane, etc. The fuel cells are huge though.

I would stay with 12 volt for the simple reasons. If you have a problem with the truck battery you have a spare. You could also swap one out to your trolling motor if the fishing was good and your trolling motor battery got low ( no charging system on my small boat).And you could charge it with the truck if you have to. I have run a deep cycle battery in my work truck for 4 years with no problems.

Yikes is right!!!!!!!!!!

Other than the disadvantages of small volume producton, I wonder why fuel cells are so expensive .... each one hand assembled by engineers .... or the materials are found only on Venus? :h and :E

Freep wrote:

pnichols wrote:

I reviewed the brochure for that propane fuel cell and it looks like it might have great potential for use in an RV.

According to it's specs, it'll even run about 4 hours on one of those little green 1 lb. disposable propane bottles!!

Note that it runs at only a 40 db sound level. That's 13 db less than an idling Honda EU2000i portable inverter generator ... hence for all practical purposes it is "silent".

I wrote them to see if I could get a price and also mentioned that the RV market is starved for a product like this. Depending on the price points and manufacturing costs, they could sell these things like hotcakes.... if there are no major issues. Apparently they were DARPA funded and the portable model is intended to be used by soldiers to cut down on the battery weight they currently have to carry.

I got a response from my email inquiry. 16K for the fuel cell.

Yikes!

Hopefully over time we will see prices go down to a more affordable level.

I worked on a rig with 6 2 volt batteries-



I forget the ah rating of those- I'm thinking it is in the 5-600 range.

Freep wrote:

adamis wrote:
Additionally though, I would really like to see a fuel cell system to replace the nearly unused generator. A propane powered fuel cell would dramatically increase efficiency

I'd pay a pretty penny for a fuel cell to replace the generator.

I wonder what they charge for this fuel cell.

Ethanol based but at least one forum member uses it and is very happy with it.

Ethanol Fuel cell for rv's/ marine

One truck camper installation:

Efoy Fuel Cell in Truck camper

pnichols wrote:

I reviewed the brochure for that propane fuel cell and it looks like it might have great potential for use in an RV.

According to it's specs, it'll even run about 4 hours on one of those little green 1 lb. disposable propane bottles!!

Note that it runs at only a 40 db sound level. That's 13 db less than an idling Honda EU2000i portable inverter generator ... hence for all practical purposes it is "silent".

I wrote them to see if I could get a price and also mentioned that the RV market is starved for a product like this. Depending on the price points and manufacturing costs, they could sell these things like hotcakes.... if there are no major issues. Apparently they were DARPA funded and the portable model is intended to be used by soldiers to cut down on the battery weight they currently have to carry.

Freep wrote:
I'd pay a pretty penny for a fuel cell to replace the generator.

I wonder what they charge for this fuel cell.

I reviewed the brochure for that propane fuel cell and it looks like it might have great potential for use in an RV.

According to it's specs, it'll even run about 4 hours on one of those little green 1 lb. disposable propane bottles!!

Note that it runs at only a 40 db sound level. That's 13 db less than an idling Honda EU2000i portable inverter generator ... hence for all practical purposes it is "silent".

Give where you live that is a great decision.

It boils down to what suits your camping style. My general advice is use what ever voltage will allow for the greatest amp-hour capacity.

Photomike wrote:
I went with 4 - 6V on my current RV and so far not an issue but also most of the time lately I have been plugged in so cannot say it is a fair test. I did so for those cold winter nights that I want to run the furnace and not worry about the power as what I have should do a night with lots left over.

Reason for 4 is so I have a redundant battery or two.