adamis wrote:
Unless I am missing something, it doesn't seem like there are really any high current components to a camper other than possibly the jacks. Perhaps the furnance blower and water pump but even then, thouse items are cylical. For those with battery monitors, how many amp hours do you typically pull in a day? My current batteries on my most recent trip to Tahoe lasted nearly a full week with a 20 watt solar panel and 30 minutes once on the genset.
Even if I got just 2 or 3 days using one of these battery solutions, I'm thinking the tradeoff in volume and weight savings would be well worth it. Couple it with a 200 watt solar panel and I have to think you would be covered power wise. Heck, you only really need the battery to last through the night if you have a large enough solar array to top up during the day.
If we flip the equation from trying to maximize our battery capacity for multi-day stints to minimizing our consumption and optimizing the system to sustain for 24 hours with a full recharge what is really necessary?
Depends on what you are doing. When we were camping a couple weeks at a time we could stretch a couple group 27 batteries to do minimal things with only the trickle charge while driving.
Full timing we don't drive as much and need more. it would be nice to be able to run anything we want most of the time. Toaster oven, AC etc... This will require a big system which is too heavy for a TC using std. batteries, but very possible with lithium and large solar array. Currently we have 500 watt and 425 AH which has worked great using only small draws like crock pot and fridge when sunny. I would like to get as close as possible to doubling those numbers. Lithium has the advantage of being able to disharge more fully and much lighter and more compact. Just super pricey.
