not enough power for boondocking - Printable Version
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+--- Thread: not enough power for boondocking (/showthread.php?tid=890)
RE: not enough power for boondocking - folivier - 07-10-2013
Please post your results Chester. We may have a slight delay going to the icefields and boon docking. I'm anxious to see how 3 batteries keep up the fridge. This winter I plan to replace all the house batteries. AGM's are the usual suspect but I've been researching Lithium's. Balqon has 1000 amp/hour cells (each cell is 3 volt nominal so would take 4) for ~$740 each. I would need 4 cells, a Battery Management System, Remote Display, either a new inverter or a separate charger, and various wires. I figure the total would be about $4000, not much more than AGM's. This would give me the same 800 usable amp/hours as AGM's. The advantages are Lithiums are much smaller, lighter, and recharge 2-3 times faster.
So I need stats to determine how large a bank I want.
RE: not enough power for boondocking - Ozarkguy - 07-10-2013
Forrest if you have the Amana w. ice maker it will average about 90 watts depending how many times you open the door (bulb) so with your 3 batteries fully charged to the float level u should see about 33 hrs time.... but you will also use lights and water pump..No? TV? what else?? Microwave uses about 1100+ watts....It will all mean less time.. I was reading that the refer takes about 1000w on startup (surge) so door open time has effect...
RE: not enough power for boondocking - Ozarkguy - 07-10-2013
Ok I through some info for you explorers Hope it helps..
RE: not enough power for boondocking - les korcala - 07-11-2013
Makes sure when you dry camp swith your pumps to auxiliary pumps , compressor 120-12V we have same coach 2001 and our battery are shot! we can go for about 12 hrs max,
We run additionally big freezer in the bay area.
Switching to reserve pump and small compressor will drain slower your battery, and yeah! we run gen as much as we can!!!
RE: not enough power for boondocking - Chester Stone - 07-12-2013
Checked all batteries with a load tester, and all are OK, but I did find a loose connection at the final negative cable going to the coach. I am trying to equalize, but have not been able to accomplish this yet. Could a loose negative connection be the problem? Out for the weekend, but will try again next week.
RE: not enough power for boondocking - Richard - 07-13-2013
Bad grounds are always an area to examine. Grounds are just as key as positives in a 12v system. You can disable the ice maker by raising the arm tricking it into thinking the bucket is full. The ice maker uses a ton of power because there is a circuit that heats the ice mold to get them to release.
You said you tried to use the coffee maker on the inverter. That is a HUGE power draw.
RE: not enough power for boondocking - folivier - 07-13-2013
Is there any way to turn off the defrost cycle on the Amanas?
RE: not enough power for boondocking - Richard - 07-13-2013
Yes, but you have to pull out the fridge, read the schematic and unplug the defrost circuit
RE: not enough power for boondocking - lbrachfe - 07-13-2013
Good to know about the "Ice Maker" drawing so much current. Thanks Richard
RE: not enough power for boondocking - folivier - 07-13-2013
Ha! After repeatedly pulling and pushing Tom's new fridge I don't think I'm ready to pull mine out.
BTW Tom's new fridge looks great! He has it cooling down now. I'm sure he'll put up a detailed post soon.