Single Battery Enough?
Last night it was my first time using my 2015 Lance 865 dry camping. Single factory battery setup. I keep the camper plugged in at home and the truck charges the camper battery. Pulled into our site b...
Forum Discussion
Reddog1 wrote:
I think the statements of not running the fridge on 12-volts are absolutely valid. There are several ways to camp in cold weather with one battery, but in my opinion running the furnace all night is not one of them. I also question a second battery being a solution. I do agree one battery is not adequate with your present setup, especially in cold weather.
If you add a second battery, with no other changes, you may last the night. The question is, how are you going to charge both batteries for the next night? It does not make sense to add batteries with no way to charge. I am aware you can use your truck, but I think it is limited unless you have modified its charging system.
With a generator running several hours a day, and you have a smart charger, then you could charge the batteries daily. But then why add a second battery if you charge daily.
My suggestion is to change your primary lights to L.E.D.s. Install a Wave3 heated (uses no battery), use the furnace as a backup for the Wave3, never run your fridge on 12-volt. If you need inverters bigger than 100 watts, leave the appliance at home.
Bottom line is that it is much easier, and probably cheaper to save energy than it is to make it. You are not through simply be adding a second battery, there is support equipment required.
Wayne
I agree with Wayne here. A 2nd battery will give you that 2nd night but then you somehow have to charge both. So anything longer than a weekend you are going to have to drive or come up with other charging methods.
I added the 2nd battery as I have a 12 volt compressor fridge that will kill one battery in 24 hours in hot weather. But I also have 100 watts of solar and I added external terminals to charge the battery with a stand alone battery charger hooked to a small generator. This method charges the batteries much faster than using the house trickle charger/converter.
If I am planted somewhere for a spell I start the generator and use the battery charger every AM while I do breakfast and my morning routines. The solar keeps up until the sun goes down.
