otrfun wrote:JimK-NY wrote:When we had our two GC2's we were happy just to power our microwave. When we upgraded to a DIY 200ah Lifepo4 pack, it was a game-changer. It had more than double the useable AH vs. our two GC2's. Weighed 90 lbs. less, and was far from "huge"---BMS & cells fit inside a small Group 24 battery box. On top of all this, the Lifepo4 also produced excellent voltage stability while under heavy load from 100-10% SOC (12.8v/100a/100% SOC; 12.2v/100a/10% SOC). Discovered it would power our a/c (120vac, 10-11a) with ease. We're able to get 90 min. of runtime (100% to 10-15% SOC with compressor on 100%). No, not practical for cooling the camper while dry camping, but it's an awesome convenience when we take short breaks while we're on the road. Our a/c only takes 5 min to make a very noticeable difference inside our truck camper even on a hot day. No generator rumble or noise to contend with, just turn on the a/c and relax. When we get back on the road our dc to dc charger charges the Lifepo4 back-up in time for our next break.
. . . It would take a huge battery bank and solar system to try to use batteries for running an A/C unit. Even a microwave is more than I would want to power unless it is just for a short use in reheating coffee or the like.
JimK-NY wrote:When we had our two GC2's we were happy just to power our microwave. When we upgraded to a DIY 200ah Lifepo4 pack, it was a game-changer. It had more than double the useable AH vs. our two GC2's. Weighed 90 lbs. less, and was far from "huge"---BMS & cells fit inside a small Group 24 battery box. On top of all this, the Lifepo4 also produced excellent voltage stability while under heavy load from 100-10% SOC (12.8v/100a/100% SOC; 12.2v/100a/10% SOC). Discovered it would power our a/c (120vac, 10-11a) with ease. We're able to get 90 min. of runtime (100% to 10-15% SOC with compressor on 100%). No, not practical for cooling the camper while dry camping, but it's an awesome convenience when we take short breaks while we're on the road. Our a/c only takes 5 min to make a very noticeable difference inside our truck camper even on a hot day. No generator rumble or noise to contend with, just turn on the a/c and relax. When we get back on the road our dc to dc charger charges the Lifepo4 back-up in time for our next break.
. . . It would take a huge battery bank and solar system to try to use batteries for running an A/C unit. Even a microwave is more than I would want to power unless it is just for a short use in reheating coffee or the like.
JimK-NY wrote:
I am totally puzzled. What are you going to do with a large sign wave inverter powered by only a 200 AH battery bank?
I lived full time for a while and have spent at least 1000 nights in my RV. I have gotten by with a 175 watt, non-sign wave inverter that is only rarely used because I could not find a 12v alternative for charging my camera battery.
It would take a huge battery bank and solar system to try to use batteries for running an A/C unit. Even a microwave is more than I would want to power unless it is just for a short use in reheating coffee or the like.
blaczero wrote:Itinerant1 wrote:
My Magnum 3000w inverter has 2a idle draw with enough batteries and solar it's not a big issue just leaving it on 24/7. If you're going to be switching it on and off then it shouldn't matter unless you forget to turn it off.
How much PV wattage do you have?
Itinerant1 wrote:
My Magnum 3000w inverter has 2a idle draw with enough batteries and solar it's not a big issue just leaving it on 24/7. If you're going to be switching it on and off then it shouldn't matter unless you forget to turn it off.
blaczero wrote:A parasitic current of 1a is suspiciously low for a 3500w inverter. Got to wonder if that’s a true, unrestricted rating. Some manufactures use a so-called “power saver” mode to reach low parasitic ratings. In this mode small loads (such as a phone charger) are ignored. Only larger loads will activate the inverter.
. . . The 3500w inverter I got is listed as 1a idle draw . . .
