Boondocking help

Anmacc2 wrote:
Here's the problem! I only have one 12 volt battery and it has to last 48hrs to run the control panels and alarms. Will I make it? What can I "do" to make this work? Thanks for the help!

Yes I think you will make it. Get a voltmeter and watch your voltage.

You should start fully charged at 12.7 and get down a bit as you go. 12.2 is getting low and below 11.9 is too low.

You could unplug tonight and see how it goes 24 hours but then get plugged back in so you will be fully charged for the off-grid adventure.

The 12 Volt Side of Life

Good advice above. If your battery is in good shape, you should be able to go 48 hours if you use your lanterns instead of the TT lights. Use the suggested voltmeter to check your battery every a.m., and if it gets toward 12 volts, use the suggested jumper cables to charge it from your TV. I love my solar setup!

Anmacc2 wrote:
What can I "do" to make this work?

The obvious solution is to invest in a second battery. ;). And yes, turn off the fridge climate control heating element.

We boondock a lot in the adirondacks. We used to have trouble making the battery last even though we used no dc powered devices (lights, water pump, radio, etc.) the only things we used were the co detector and the refrigerator (on gas). Turned out the refrigerator had a heat element in the door to prevent condensation and it could not be turned off. Check your manual to see if your heater element can be turned off. If it can't, you can disconnect the wire providing power to the heater. Search this forum for instructions to do it if you can't figure it out from your manual. Without the heater we have never had condensation problems. In Michigan I doubt you would either.

Before we got solar I would use jumper cables from the truck to trailer batteries and run the truck for 30 minutes each morning.

Do you battery a big favor and get a volt meter, you can get one for $10 or less. Do not let your battery get below 12 volts.

Yep, charge with Tow vehicle. Where are you camped?

Easy answer is buy a 1000 watt inverter generator. Possible answer is buy two date matched deep cycle batteries to replace the one you have. Best answer was a modest solar system but you don't have time.

Maybe, how about jumper cables to recharge battery from your tow vehicle?