Weekend camping - Fridge use
My wife and I have a Flagstaff Microlite 23LB. We go camping at a few campgrounds throughout the year that don't have any hookups. All we really want to use is the lights (minimally), the water pump, ...
Forum Discussion
Check to see if your battery is a marine starting (hybrid / dual purpose deep cycle & starting for boats) battery or if it is a true deep cycle only battery. Marine starting batteries are only meant to be discharged to 50 percent without damaging them. Deep cycle batteries can be discharged down to 20 percent.
A lot of dealers either don't really know the difference or just buy what is cheapest in bulk and push them.
The dealer I bought my trailer from (the largest in my area) is still pushing marine starting batteries. I stopped in to look for a part and was talking to one of the regular parts guys about going with solar on a trailer I will be building. I mentioned some batteries I just recently purchased and he started in about how lousy they were and how great the batteries they sell are. I stepped over and looked at them and i told him they were marine starting batteries and not true deep cycle batteries. He told me he used them on his boat and never had any problem with them. Well duh! It's a boat not an RV.
As mentioned above Google "12v side of life" parts 1 and 2, there's great info there.
If your only weekend camping your cheapest option will probably be 2 larger true deep cycle only 12v or 2 6v golf cart batteries. Second cheapest option is a small generator to recharge the battery.
A lot of dealers either don't really know the difference or just buy what is cheapest in bulk and push them.
The dealer I bought my trailer from (the largest in my area) is still pushing marine starting batteries. I stopped in to look for a part and was talking to one of the regular parts guys about going with solar on a trailer I will be building. I mentioned some batteries I just recently purchased and he started in about how lousy they were and how great the batteries they sell are. I stepped over and looked at them and i told him they were marine starting batteries and not true deep cycle batteries. He told me he used them on his boat and never had any problem with them. Well duh! It's a boat not an RV.
As mentioned above Google "12v side of life" parts 1 and 2, there's great info there.
If your only weekend camping your cheapest option will probably be 2 larger true deep cycle only 12v or 2 6v golf cart batteries. Second cheapest option is a small generator to recharge the battery.
