Electrical Mod -- Feedback Requested

[FT4NOW]

I think Fran hit on the answer. When she asked what was going on (not knowing what the Kill-A-Watt was) I explained what it does and also about the duty cycle issue. She looked at me (with that look all wife's have perfected) and said, "That's because you didn't have enough in the refrigerator. If you put more items in it the refrigerator will stay colder longer." When I did the original how-long-will-the-batteries-last test I had maybe six cans of soft drinks in the 'frig. Doh!

-Howard

Remember, your wife is ALWAYS right. Mine reminds me all the time.

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[Ditchdigger]

I got my solar all install and turned it on the other night, and left the refer on elec.,the batteries were at 13.6 volts when I went to bed, and at 1:30 am the batteries were at 10.8 and I had to go and start up the generator. The next night I put the refer on gas, and when I went to bed the batteries were at 13.4 volts (cloudy day) and it went all night and when I got up in the morning the batteries 13.2 volts. So I think these RV refer take a lot of juice.

[gengiant]

I got my solar all install and turned it on the other night, and left the refer on elec.,the batteries were at 13.6 volts when I went to bed, and at 1:30 am the batteries were at 10.8 and I had to go and start up the generator. The next night I put the refer on gas, and when I went to bed the batteries were at 13.4 volts (cloudy day) and it went all night and when I got up in the morning the batteries 13.2 volts. So I think these RV refer take a lot of juice.

That's the beauty of the propane/electric RV fridges over their residential cousins. One would need a huge battery bank to boondock using a residential fridge.

[jamesrich82]

That's the beauty of the propane/electric RV fridges over their residential cousins. One would need a huge battery bank to boondock using a residential fridge.

I have a residential fridge and without power input I can go 22 hours before I need to turn on the gen. I'm in the process of installing solar which will remove the need for the generator at all, but I'm only running 3 12v batteries. If you have a properly sized battery bank and solar setup, you can easily boondock with a residential fridge

[Ditchdigger]

I have a residential fridge and without power input I can go 22 hours before I need to turn on the gen. I'm in the process of installing solar which will remove the need for the generator at all, but I'm only running 3 12v batteries. If you have a properly sized battery bank and solar setup, you can easily boondock with a residential fridge

How many batteries will you have to have? Part of the battery usage on mine is when the refer starts up it causes the inverter to heat up then the fans cut in and they use power, and that is what ran the batteries down. I have 4 Battle Born's, hopping to get 2 more.

[jamesrich82]

Currently running 3 battle borns

[gengiant]

Currently running 3 battle borns

At 100Ah each, that'll give you 240 usable Ah. And they will re-charge quickly on solar! I cannot wait to upgrade from the crappy single OEM battery installed by GD. For now, however, I need to stick with four 6V batteries on account of cost. That'll give me a little over 200 usable Ah, though not nearly at the same charge rate that's possible with the Lithium batteries.

[jamesrich82]

Per battleborn, you can discharge to 90% without issue, so more in the 280 range. Are you running 200ah 6v batteries or are they 100ah?

[gengiant]

Per battleborn, you can discharge to 90% without issue, so more in the 280 range. Are you running 200ah 6v batteries or are they 100ah?

90%? Nice! I picked up four Trojan T105 batteries on sale. They're rated at 225 Ah each at the 20-hour rate, so with two in series parallel to the other two in series, that would give me 450 total Ah, about 40-50% is usable without shortening the life cycle of the batteries too much. According to Trojan's specs, the T105 can be discharged 80% without causing "damage" to the battery. But that reduces the life cycle of the battery significantly.

[howson]

BL: Pleased with my setup. As a reminder, my system has 400aH (four 100aH Battle Born batteries). Here are my notes from two days of towing:

12 May
5:45 - Unhooked shore power @ 5:45 am. Upon departure battery capacity was 97%. Refrigerator was pre-cooled and stocked.
9:48 - 85% battery capacity, 84 degrees ambient (per truck's display)
12:30 - 64% left, 88 degrees ambient
14:30 - Arrived @ campground, 47% left, 91 degrees ambient

18 May
5:45 - 100% capacity, 64 degrees ambient
9:00 - 93%, 83 ambient
12:40 - 66%, 91 ambient
3:30 - 42%, 97 ambient

Conclusion
Four batteries ended up being perfect to ensure there is some reserve capacity should there be unforeseen delays, etc. The truck supplements the batteries while underway with ~6 to 9A of 12vDC through the 7 pin cable, but an additional supplemental charge source (either from the truck, generator, or solar) would be needed if I wanted to "boondock".