Deputy Chief P.O.
Linden, California
Senior Member
Joined: 07/31/2006
View Profile
 Offline
|
How long do you typically charge your batteries daily when dry camping?
|
jwmII
out west
Senior Member
Joined: 05/12/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
All day with the solar panels. When the batteries get enough the charge controller shuts the panel down. If the batteries need more charge the controller turns the panel (s) on.
jwmII
|
JUrban
Delaware
Senior Member
Joined: 06/28/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Really depends on how low they were, what I'm using, and how the solar panels are doing. No fixed answer, but at least till I get to float charge.
John
2008 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40' QSP
2006 Chevrolet Colorado Toad
BlueOx Aventa LX Tow Bar
SMI Air Force One toad brake
Copilot Live Laptop 10 GPS
|
tomlang
Los Angeles area
Senior Member
Joined: 06/11/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
There are a lot of variables to tack down before anyone can give a true answer.
In my 20 year old Winnebago with two batteries in parallel and an old-style converter/charger, it might take a full day (24 hours) of charging at a uselessly low charge rate to recharge the batteries.
In my new to me 5 year old Foretravel, the three humongous batteries in parallel can probably be recharged in a couple of hours by the very smart 3-stage charger built into the inverter.
I read somewhere that Monaco recommends two hours of generator time daily to keep the batteries charged when dry camping.
* This post was
edited 07/06/08 03:27am by an administrator/moderator *
Tom and Lynne
Tom is an Electronics Engineer, Lynne a retired teacher.
old rig is a 1988 Winnebago Superchief, currently on tour with the Blue Turtle Seduction (band)
new rig is a 2003 Foretravel 38' U295
|
Diplomat Don
Moorpark, Ca
Senior Member
Joined: 04/09/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Deputy Cheif P.O.....We go to Yosemite every year at Thanksgiving. The blower on the heater puts a huge drain on the batteries overnight. It runs most of the night. We also use the lights, water pump and TV during the day.
In the morning, I turn the heater up to 70 and start the generator. I let it run for 2 hours and can typically get the batteries bach up to just short of float charging.
Don & Mary 
2005 Monaco Diplomat 36SKT
400 Cummins 
2007 Dodge Dakota 4WD
|
|
|
alcolby
yuma az.
Senior Member
Joined: 09/20/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Your analogy will work for understanding the controller, but, the panels are always on, if they see sun.
The controller interrupts the circuit when the batteries are charged.
The only way to turn the panels "off" is to remove any light hitting them.
Al C
jwmII wrote:All day with the solar panels. When the batteries get enough the charge controller shuts the panel down. If the batteries need more charge the controller turns the panel (s) on.
|
smkettner
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
About two hours a day under heavy use. If they are real low in the morning I may run it an hour or two then. If the furnace or other draw will be on at night I charge for two hours right up to quiet time in the evening. Voltage at 11.8 to 12.2 the generator can get started. If it gets down to 30 to 40 amps charging the generator is shut off.
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
|
Deputy Chief P.O.
Linden, California
Senior Member
Joined: 07/31/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Part of our problem is that in the past we have woken up (after using the propane heater @ night) with an extremely low battery that won't start the generator. We have to let the motorhome motor start to charge the batteries enough to start the generator. We do not have an effective gage to measure the current charge of our batteries. I know this is a dumb question, but I know you experts will come up with a better way of doing business than we are currently practicing. Suggestions welcomed.
|
smkettner
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
How much battery do you have and what is charging them?
|
Tom_Anderson
Danville, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 04/23/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Deputy Chief P.O. wrote:Part of our problem is that in the past we have woken up (after using the propane heater @ night) with an extremely low battery that won't start the generator. We have to let the motorhome motor start to charge the batteries enough to start the generator. We do not have an effective gage to measure the current charge of our batteries. I know this is a dumb question, but I know you experts will come up with a better way of doing business than we are currently practicing. Suggestions welcomed.
Most motorhomes that I've seen have a switch that will momentarily connect the chassis and house batteries together so you can "jump start" yourself if need be. That would let you use your chassis battery to start your generator. If you don't have one, you could probably have one installed pretty reasonably.
|
|
|
