John & Angela wrote:
Nfrank wrote:
I've installed dual 6v golf cart batteries, a 2300 watt inverter, and two 100 Watt solar panels on my travel trailer. Sometimes if my campsite is shaded after a few days my batteries can't handle making my coffee with my 1500 Watt Keurig. My temporary solution the other day was to idle my truck and run my jumpers to the batteries to make my coffee. Only took about 4 minutes of idling.
My question is does anyone do this to charge their batteries completely? I have a F-150 Ecoboost. How much current can I charge in to the batteries at idle? How long would this take? My thinking is that my truck is honestly just as quiet as a Honda 2000 and I'd only need to do this a couple of times a year. If this works well maybe I'll do some nice electrical work to avoid using jumper cables.
Yes, kinda, sorta. In our E350 based 22 foot motorhome we installed a 2 or 4 gauge wire (can't remember) directly from the alternator to the input of the inverter (via high current catastophic fuse of course) which of course is also connected to the batteries. When we run the inverter on heavy loads we sometimes idle the V10 during the operation and then 10 or 20 minutes longer if the solar output has been low due to weather. I have measured the current coming from the alternator and it varies anywhere from 12 to 40 amps. I am told the v10 uses about 1/2 gallon per hour on idle. Dead quiet. Makes a good generator. (we dn't have one). Not worried about wearing out the motor. Its kinda why we bought it. Seems to me we have over 160000 on the odometer. Still running strong.
Trying to say this nicely, but 12-40 amps from the alt is way out of whack.
Do the math... Not just 12v x 12 amps = 144 watts or 12v x 40 amps = 480 watts, but more like 14v x 12 amps (168) or 14v x 40 amps (560 watts).
So your big V8 is putting out 560 watts?
It should be rated at over 120 amps which is roughly 1600 watts or more.
Either your alt is not putting out or your battery is not requiring the load......or the wiring is insufficient.
