Batteries and Charging

[PhilMac]

I have an '08 Keystone Hornet that most of the time I have parked at my hunting camp for weekend use. I just upgraded to a 3 stage converter and I have a honda eu2000 for charging. My 12v deep cycle has died and I was contemplating upgrading to 2 deep cycle 12v batts. My question is if this will power my furnace over night? I can run the honda to charge them up during the day but was just trying to avoid running it all the time. If they will be enough to power the furnace overnight how much time would it take to bring them back up to charge? My idea would be to use it over the weekend and then charge them with the generator before I leave for the week. Also, would it be beneficial to get a small solar panel to maintain them and if so what size panel? During hunting season I will be there every other weekend.

[Aluminum_Siding]

I have Keystone Passport 2910. I have 2 new deep cycle 12 volt. When fully charged it'll run the furnace for the night about 10 hours. When we wake up the furnace is running a bit sluggish and the batteries will be down around 30%. In the morning the EU (same as yours) will get them back up to 90+ % in about 1.5 hours. I also run the gene for another 2 hrs in the evening for the kids to watch movies in the TT and this is when we use the most power. At this time i'll also get the heater going with the gene going to take the chill out. When we cut the gene the batteries are at the 90+ and again the heater runs the night set at 62. on a 30-40 degree night. In the am the batteries will be close to dead again and we repeat they cycle. I bought a voltage meter that plugs into the trailer cigarette lighter outlet.

[Unyalli]

Understood

-Jeff

[PhilMac]

Unyalli, i appreciate your information however you do not know the extent of my power needs. I do not believe I blew an enormous amount of money for my generator. I wanted something that would last, be easily portable, power home appliances in the event of a power outage, use little fuel and a generator that didn't sound like a harley. At night I run many lights and appliances to power a community campground. While you did show a comparable inverter generator for $600, every piece of information I have found and everyone I have talked to suggest the Honda hands down over any other unit. If you reread my original post you will see I did not ask for alternatives to my honda generator. In my original post i was inquiring about the best battery set up for running a furnace at night so i wouldn't have to run my generator and whether a small solar panel would be good to keep the batteries topped off. I am pleased with my generator and I am not interested in returning it.

[Unyalli]

I went back and reread your original post and you blew an enormous amount of money on that Honda generator. Can you return it? For the $1000+ you spent you could have a nice solar charger and generator.

Solar Kits with free shipping

2000i inverter generator free shipping $600

3500w A/C capable generator free shipping for $350

1200w gen free shipping $215

-Jeff

[westend]

With two 6v's and using the furnace for a weekend, I'd aim for about 160W of solar. Solar Blvd has the folding panel kits and offers free shipping. That may be a good fit for you. The cool thing about solar is once you have it up and running, there is not a lot of maintenance involved, just check the battery water level every few months. The 6v's like a big charge every so often, up to 15v+ to knock off any sulfation and get the electrolyte stirred. An inexpensive stand-alone battery charger can get that job done.

[PhilMac]

well maybe this question has a more straight forward answer...I will go months at a time possible during the off season that i wont be using the batteries. Will a simple trickle charger keep them in good shape or do i need something a little more fancy that will put a load on them at certain times?

[Unyalli]

PhilMac wrote:
Any thoughts on the solar panel for maintaining?

This question will open a huge can of worms. It can get quite involved.

Want to watch a fun little video? Click here

-Jeff

[PhilMac]

Just called my local sams and they do stock them so I am good. That is the route i will go. Any thoughts on the solar panel for maintaining?

[BarneyS]

According to the link given above, The GC2's are not available in Alabama- at least for store delivery through the website.
Perhaps they might be in the store though.
Barney

[Unyalli]

Sams Club GC2

The GC2's are TRUE deep cycle batteries. For the price you won't beat them. Most Autozone/Walmart etc RV Marine batteries are not true deep cycle.

Do you want to learn?

Deep Cycle Battery FAQ

12 volt life

[PhilMac]

My converter is a 60 amp. I am a sams member so I can get them there. So 2 6v in series is definitely better than 2 12v's parallel? I would not be running anything other than the furnace at night, I will run the generator till i go to bed. If I need anything else i will fire the generator. So will I have a need for a solar panel to maintain?

[Unyalli]

RV/Marine batteries in general are not deep cycle batteries.
Do you have a Sams Club or Costco membership? Here is what you want. 2 GC2 6 volt golf cart batteries connected in series to give you 12 volts. You can see the 4 gauge battery cable connected from one battery positive to the other battery negative.

[jake2250]

2 deep cycles will be adequate for running your heater at night, just don't run the heater continuously, we camp just on batteries and set the heater to take the chill out. it runs approximately about an hour or so combined in the eavning, heater will come on and run for a few minutes then shut off.. batteries will be low in the AM,, should charge back up with a good battery charger in a couple of hours and you should be good to go again next night..

[Golden_HVAC]

Hi,

Depends on the capacity of the battery, charger, and how large the wire is between the charger and battery.

Lets say that you have #8 or better #6 wire between the battery and charger. #8 can carry 40 amps, #6 about 60 amps. You are good there.

A 45 amp charger came with my motorhome, you might have anything from 30 to 65 amps capacity, I have a 70 amp charger built into my inverter/charger.

Lets say that you pick out 28 pound group 24 battery with a 65 amp hour capacity. It will recharge in about 2 hours. But two of them will not keep the furnace running all night along with lights and other stuff.

Lets say that you pick up some 45 pound group 27 batteries with a 95 amp hour rating. You will get longer run time, and probably still have power in the morning after running the furnace all night. And be able to keep the RV around 65 on a 35F night. They should recharge in about 3-4 hours (for the pair) with a 45 amp charger.

What I would recommend is a pair of 67 pound golf cart batteries. Their capacity is 220 amp hours, and you need two of them to get a 12 volt battery bank. It will hold much more water than the pair of group 27 batteries, and if you get there on a Friday night, charge about a hour, then charge another 3-4 hours on Saturday, they will fully charge. An hour charging Sunday before leaving and it will fully charge again. Leave the battery disconnected on the days you will not be there, use a disconnect on the negative terminal.

Your RV has a basic load, about 24 amp hours per day. It will run the refrigerator, CO detector and propane leak detectors on that much power. If you leave the - terminal connected, it will discharge the battery in about 2-5 days. If you have a single 120 watt solar panel, in the summer it should keep the battery full, even if the propane and CO detectors are left on.

It is best to warm up the RV while the charger is on - if possible. This prevents you from needing to discharge the battery just after shutting off the generator.

Another way to warm the RV is a Olympic Catalytic Heater. You would leave a window and roof vent open about 1/2" and then run the 6,000 Btu heater on all the time - all night long. This will give you silent even heat all night, without any battery use at all. Did I mention it is quiet, will not wake you, and not use any 12 volt power?

I would still upgrade to the pair of golf cart batteries.

Fred.