vcorkett
North Vancouver
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Joined: 01/07/2008
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We are planning a 5 month trip round BC and are just about to pick up our trailer tent. Having checked out some of the campsites we would like to visit we are finding that the ones that appeal to us tend to be the ones without any hookup facilities.
We are completely new to all of this - the trailer tent is being fitted with an RV 27 battery (whatever that is ??). We don't intend to use much electricity - the main use will be the fan on the furnace.
Any idea how long we could dry camp for with just the battery?
Would a solar panel or a generator be the best way to go?
We have looked at some generators but are a bit concerned about (a) how heavy they are (we are rather tight on the weight issue) and (b) whether they would be noisy and disturb other campers. However, we aren't sure how much more 'life' a solar panel would give our trailer tent battery.
Any advice?
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mike4947
N. Syracuse, NY
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Joined: 08/26/2002
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moved from folding trailer forum
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bldrbuck
colorado
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Joined: 02/11/2001
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In general if you are only going to have a generator or solar, I recommend a Honda EU200I or a Yamaha EF2400I They are very quiet and should fill your needs. Here is a web site that covers almost all aspects of camping. Read it at your leisure.The 12volt Side of Life
93 Ford F350 Turbo Diesel, DRW, Crew Cab. PullRite Hitch. 90 Nomad 28' 5er, 375 Watts Solar, 2800 Watt Yamaha Generator, 1750 Watt Inverter, 4 Trogan T105 Batteries, Spare tire and wheel and folding ladder. Me, wife and 2 spoiled Maltise furkids.
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hwybnb
Southern California
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Joined: 05/02/2001
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A generator will cost a lot less and be more dependable as a source of power. If you are going to have one RV 27 battery a Honda EU1000 will provide all of the power you need for recharging. It is smaller and lighter than the 2000, and less expensive.
Give some thought to the type of battery charger you will use. The direct current charging capability of the EU1000 is too low, as is the capability of the typical converter in tent trailers. A stand-alone 20 amp automotive battery charger will do a much better job. A better solution might be to upgrade the converter to a Progressive Dynamics 9130 or similar with a three-stage charger.
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old guy
Oregon (pronounced Or e gun)
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One 12 V battery will not last more than two days max when using the furnace fan. Furnace fan are electricity eaters. In fact it may be only one night with one battery. I used to have two 12v's and they just barely lasted two nights.
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smkettner
Southern CA
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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A group 27 will last 24 to 48 hours if you use the furnace much. Have extra blankets or sleeping bags to minimize furnace usage. Keep the thermostat low (55/60) at night or consider just turning it on in the morning to warm up. Get a second group 27 mounted on there if possible. Get a generator rather than solar as it will be more reliable to provide power at any time when needed. 1000 watts is enough to power a converter with up to 45 amps charging. Some converters can charge a battery in 2 to 3 hours and others take 12 to 24 hours. The good converter put the voltage up to 14.4 range when needed for fast charging. If you are driving a lot that will also provide some charge to the battery. Honda/Yamaha/Robins-Subaru are your quietest generators.
2001 F150 SuperCrew 5.4 Lariat Offroad 4x4 Tow Package 4.10 Truetrac
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
12K SuperGlide, KGE3000Ti 2.3kw rated 2.6kw max
Frank's voltage booster, Prosine 1800 powered by 4 GC2 batteries
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vcorkett
North Vancouver
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I've just seen this generator on the internet
Yamaha Inverter Generator EF1000iS
S P E C I F I C A T I O N S
TYPE INVERTER
MAXIMUM AC OUTPUT 1000 watts
RATED AC OUTPUT 900 watts
RATED / MAXIMUM AC CURRENT 7.5 / 8.3 amps @ 120V
VOLTAGE STABILITY +/- 1%
12 VOLT DC OUTPUT +/- 0.1HZ
RATED AC OUTPUT 8 AMPS
ENGINE YAMAHA OHV MZ50 AIR COOLED 4 STROKE SINGLE CYLINDER
DISPLACEMENT / HP 50cc / 2.2 hp
Its a bit pricey at $670 dollars buts its only 28lbs dry weight. Would that do the job do you think ?
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smkettner
Southern CA
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The yamaha 1000 will work great.
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Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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Hi,
I would consider the Honda 1,000 watt or 2,000 watt generator. If you later upgrade to a larger trailer and decide to run a air conditioner, then you might want to use twin 2,000 watt for enough power to run the air conditioner.
Also the 2000 watt will run the microwave but the 1000 will be marginal at running the microwave and battery charger at the same time. Both are under 50 pounds and are very quiet - if you get the inverter model.
Here is a place you can find lower cost Honda online. You have to call them for the price, Honda does not allow posting the prices online.
Mayberrys.com
Fred.
Money can't buy happiness but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche or Country Coach!
If there's a WILL, I want to be in it!
Improve a life KangenPowerTeam.com Akaline Water.
I havn't been everywhere, but it's on my list.
Escapees.com
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Joined: 12/01/2005
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old guy wrote:One 12 V battery will not last more than two days max when using the furnace fan. Furnace fan are electricity eaters. In fact it may be only one night with one battery. I used to have two 12v's and they just barely lasted two nights.
I agree 100%, however, I made the same rash statement in another thread and somebody whined at me, saying his 4 = 6volt batteries could run the furnace much longer. 
bumpy
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