Which batteries will work?

[dig4gold]

Camper is getting 2 new batteries. But my dilemma is how much battery do I really need? I now have to run the generator every night for medical equipment. All we ever do is boondock/dry camping. Seems like expensive Deep cycle are not necessary with the generator running every night charging the batteries.
Whadaya think? Affordable car batteries or what?

Arctic Fox 990 w/Onan generator

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Wow hard decisions with incomplete data input


Where do you recommend I pick up my crystal ball, people?

If your medical equipment includes an oxygen concentrator then a generator is mandatory if the setting is 1.2 liters/min or higher.


But this is only a question before guessing a valid answer.

[Lwiddis]

“You can't count on enough sun and solar to do this, so just make a plan to run the APU a couple or three hours every day“

Baloney! If anyone has solar and still runs their generator 2 to 3 hours a day when not using A/C they have a lousy solar system.

[Matt_Colie]

As what you are describing is running a P/Cpap overnight, and the power consumption of most of these (that I have located) is too high to run from any convenient battery bank more than over night. If your uncle is Daddy Warbucks, maybe you can afford enough lithium to do two days, but you are still stuck having to fire the APU regularly.

My suggestions based on what I learned helping a good friend with this very same issue but about a year gone....
- Change the house back to a pair of GC2s (probably should do anyway)
- Search up a device with lower power requirements and can run from the 12V system
- Swap in a good converter/charger. It should be at least 3 stage. Progressive Dynamics and Iota are two names I know.
- Install a REAL battery monitor that reports everything that matters. These will probably be either Bogart Trimetric or Victron Energy. The sub 50$ things on EBay have so far been unreliable.

You can't count on enough sun and solar to do this, so just make a plan to run the APU a couple or three hours every day that you are not on shore power. No matter what the state of the house bank, getting it from 90% to full will take a couple of hours. (This can't be rushes - Chemistry.) But if you plan things right, you can be a 90% by bed time and 60~70% in the morning and then you have all day to recover the bank.

Matt

[theoldwizard1]

opnspaces wrote:
If you have an extra inch or two above your batteries then the hands down way to go is the Costco or Sams Club dual 6 volt batteries. They are basically the same price as 12v automotive batteries and have a lot more amps on reserve for when the generator is off.

Actually 6V golf cart batteries are LESS than standard car batteries. About $90 with trade-in.

I am not sure what medical device you are using, but if you are running a CPAP, you can but a power adapter so it can run directly off of 12VDC. Much more efficient than running off of an inverter and you will be able to sleep all night on a full charge of these batteries WITHOUT the generator.

[wa8yxm]

What kind of medical equipment if I may ask (If you do not wish to answer I will understand)

Most of that can run easily off a PSW inverter and with enough storage you don't need to run the Genny
You can get GC2 Pairs for about the same price as Group 27 pairs but while a Group 278 MARINE/deep cycle is just under 100 amp hours (200 for a pair) with perhaps 20-25 usable amp hours each the GC-2 can be 210-220 or 230 amp hours (mine are 230 and half of that (115 in my case) usable that is over 2x the usable power for the same price...

THIS is why I like GC-2 pairs by the way. True you need to water'em (Distilled only) from time to time but the difference in cost is amazing.

[Lwiddis]

“I have a solar that trickle charges”

No one who has suggested solar is talking about a solar “trickle” charger. Those can maintain batteries..not fill them.

[Lantley]

dig4gold wrote:
I've tried much of the aforementioned things. Inverters, adapters, I have a solar that trickle charges, and I know running a gen is what I have to do. I've seriously considered a small gen instead of the Onan, quieter and plenty of power. Save on propane too.

Unless you are using lots of power, Like the kind of power it takes to run an air conditioner than a genset is not necessary and a good solar set up with plenty of batteries is he preferred method to have reliable power.

[wanderingaimles]

What does the "medical equipment " require?
If it is a CPAP or BIPAP two GC-2 should work well with 200-300 watts of solar if possible.
If its for an O2 concentrator, I've seen in here that they use quite a bit more.

[dig4gold]

I've tried much of the aforementioned things. Inverters, adapters, I have a solar that trickle charges, and I know running a gen is what I have to do. I've seriously considered a small gen instead of the Onan, quieter and plenty of power. Save on propane too.

[Boon_Docker]

Way better than car batteries and most reasonably priced choice, get yourself a pair of GC2 (6 volt) batteries.

[wopachop]

Theres always the Honda 2200 generator option. We boondock too. Lots of my friends setup the small honda instead of running their larger onboard genny. Over time the gasoline saving must be huge.

[midnightsadie]

you need two agm batteries for boon docking. lot of power , deka is one good brand. or you can go wal mart deep cycle marine on the cheap side. remember this ,theres only three battery makers in the U.S they just slap different names on them and change the prices.

[opnspaces]

If you have an extra inch or two above your batteries then the hands down way to go is the Costco or Sams Club dual 6 volt batteries. They are basically the same price as 12v automotive batteries and have a lot more amps on reserve for when the generator is off.

[Lwiddis]

"I now have to run the generator every night for medical equipment. All we ever do is boondock/dry camping"

With adequate batteries and solar charging you would rarely need to run your genator. Start with an energy survey to determine how many AHs you use, multiply by 1.5 or 2.0, buy batteries with at least double that amount, get solar panel watts at least equal to the total AHs of the batteries....and go from there!