Newbie Question

[Executive45]

Newbie question here: We are in a position where we will be staying at an Elks Lodge for three days. While we've spent the random single day without hookups this will be the longest we've gone "off the grid" so to speak. I'm looking for some advice on how you guys run your generator and inverter so as to keep you batteries up.

I have a 3000W inverter
10000W Generator
4 battery bank..all new batteries
45W solar panel
Residential fridge

We will be running the residential fridge of course and maybe a couple hours of TV at night. (DW watches, I don't, so only 1 TV)

Am I over thinking this or should I just let the coach's electronics do it's thing. The intelletic will kick on the genset if the batteries get too low and the EMS will keep the amps in check. OTOH, I don't like to stress out the equipment so should I run the generator for a couple hours each morning? TIA for any help...Dennis

[Executive45]

Ivylog wrote:
Dennis, since you took out your 1200 and replaced with a 197, do you have four golf cart batteries?

I've always had four GC batteries T-105...everything I read said that would be enough, especially the way we normally travel. So far it's worked well.

I left the inverter on all night with only some minor things left on, refrigerator of course, along with our computers to charge and our cell phones and Ipads. This morning the RC 7GS showed batteries at 80% with 1.4 hours to full charge. I think I'll sleep better tonight..:W.

Thanks for all the info everyone. You guys/gals are great!....Dennis

[Ivylog]

Dennis, since you took out your 1200 and replaced with a 197, do you have four golf cart batteries?

[Executive45]

Thanks everyone so far. We are at the Elks Lodge now and all seems to be well. Batteries are at 85%, I'm running the genset while DW watches her shows. We'll turn everything off when we retire for the night. I'll do the 2 hours in the AM for breakfast. Guess I'll know more when I get up in the morning to see how it fared overnight....thanks again...Dennis

[2gypsies1]

I think his issue is having the residential refrigerator. We boondocked all the time but didn't have this refrigerator.

How often to run the generator having the residential refrigerator?

[rgatijnet1]

Just firing up the inverter will use more power than using the TV. The inverters waste a lot of power doing their thing. Be sure to turn the inverter off when not needed and you can last a long time. If you have to have the inverter running for the refrigerator, than you will need the generator whenever you can to keep the batteries at their peak.
Not sure about your engine alternator but many times you can run your engine to charge the batteries quicker and use less fuel than with the generator.

[Mr_Mark1]

Dennis, our Dynasty had 8 house batteries and 2 chassis. When I would boondock in Quartzsite with my friends, I would run the genny two hours in the morning and two hours at night. We also had the auto-gen start but it never came on.

Four batteries might be a little short on power. You will find out soon enough. Running the generator all day won't hurt anything as they love to run.

Good luck, let us know how you do with your boondocking!
Mark

[wildmanbaker]

We boondock a lot and have a large Dometic ref. that is a power hog compared to the one we replaced it with. We had a 70 amp converter that would take over 3 hours of charging to bring the 2 golf cart batteries back to full. We have a Solar panel controller that measures battery voltage all the time and charge rates from the panels. The converter would never get to 13.3 volts while running the gen for only 3 hours. You have a better 12 volt system than we do, so once you get accustomed to how it works without shore power, I think you can relax.

[gsander1]

My rig is similar to your so I'll tell you what works for us. We have 800 ah battery bank while your is probably about 1,000 ah with four 8Ds. We have neither a residential fridge nor a solar panel. You barely have a solar panel as 45 amps is insignificant for anything but maintenance charge. Our gen is a 12.5kwh and inverter is a 3,000. We have auto gen start as do you.

We normally start the generator in the morning while showering and making coffee and breakfast. Run the gen again in the evening for dinner and a pot of decaf. Otherwise we let the gen start manage the system. We leave the inverter on even though that consumes some amp hours. We go as long as a week in this fashion and seldom have the AGS start the generator. We set AGS to 12.1 VDC for start and run for two hours with 120 amp inverter/charger.

In your situation, if you did as we do, I think you will need a little more recharge because of your residential refer. I think the AGS will start the gen each night for a couple of hours.

[MagillaGorilla]

I've boondocked next to someone that ran their gen for the 3 days they were there. Not once did they ever shut it down. Seemed wasteful to me.

You have a meter in your MH. Run the gen until the batteries are full, then stop because you are done. 🙂

[wolfe10]

Run generator anytime you have a heavier load than just residential refrigerator and TV.

Also run generator if batteries get down to 12.2 VDC (at rest-- under heavy load does not count). Stop running generator if just to charge batteries when amps drop off below 30 amps charging. Said another way, the most efficient use of generator to charge batteries is to discharge to 50% (12.2 VDC) and recharge to 85%..... Yes, if doing this for more than a week, best to bring to full charge once a week, but suspect that will happen the next time you are on shore power or are driving all day.

Be sure the inverter is set to 50 amp on power share/power save to maximize charging amps.

[JimM68]

Dennis, my setup is similar but not as big.
When we do the nascar races, 3-4 days boondocking, we run the genny for an hour in the morning and an hour at dinnertime.

There is always plenty of power to make a pot of coffee, microwave the DW's cup of tea, and run the hair dryer all on battery in the morning.

we have a magnum inverter with auto gen start, so far I don't trust the auto start.

[Ivylog]

Dennis, what size are the four batteries? Assuming four golf cart I'd say it's going to take two hours at night (start when the DW is going to use the micro) and one hour in the morning when turning on the coffee maker. If you are away from the MH most of the day then only an hour at night may be enough generator time.
You need to come over to the dark side of boondocking more often as it's easy to do with a big Monaco.

[2oldman]

I'd run the gen whenever you can and not disturb anyone. By the way, that's a big one.

The 45w panel isn't doing much of anything.