|
|
11-28-2016, 10:00 AM
|
#29
|
Senior Member
Excel Owners Club Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Posts: 6,807
|
I agree totally with installing a battery monitor first. I did exactly that when I installed a Trimetric to begin gathering real data about my battery usage well ahead of the solar install. That information may be getting old, but I think it puts a lots of good stuff all there in one place from someone that seems to have been there and done it. If anyone knows of a better comprehensive document I'd love to see it.
Yes you can run AC IF you can afford enough lithium ion batteries and support equipment, then you can run anything. But you also have to have enough clear roof area to install solar panels to recharge all of those batteries and enough load capacity to carry all that weight. You'll give up lots of storage space that you might want to store other stuff in. I believe it can be done for the right price, but very few of us have those deep pockets. I'll just wander someplace cooler and spend my money on other things. But, hey, if that's someone wants then go for it.
__________________
Fred & Denise (RVM157) New Mexico
2007 Excel Classic 30RSO & Coach House 272XL E450
2007 RAM 3500, Diesel, 6Spd Auto, SWD, 4x4, CC & LB
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
11-28-2016, 12:18 PM
|
#30
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 128
|
I just want a setup that:
Have enough ummph to occasionally run my wifes Resmed CPAP ALL night
And keep my batteries maintained during outside storage thru the winter months
All at a reasonable price.
|
|
|
11-28-2016, 01:06 PM
|
#31
|
Senior Member
Excel Owners Club Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Posts: 6,807
|
Regardless of load the potential pitfalls are the same. A poorly designed/installed system small or big will not deliver as expected. Choose wisely.
Happy and safe travels.
__________________
Fred & Denise (RVM157) New Mexico
2007 Excel Classic 30RSO & Coach House 272XL E450
2007 RAM 3500, Diesel, 6Spd Auto, SWD, 4x4, CC & LB
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
|
|
|
11-28-2016, 04:54 PM
|
#32
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 128
|
I am looking for recommendations and suggestions here, in order to limit those "pitfalls". I've been reading all the postings here as well as articles suggested. And am grateful for all of you sharing your knowledge and experience.
So? anyone have any suggestions for a simple little system for me?
|
|
|
11-28-2016, 05:08 PM
|
#33
|
Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,198
|
Thinking of solar
Quote:
Originally Posted by hoggem
I just want a setup that:
Have enough ummph to occasionally run my wifes Resmed CPAP ALL night
And keep my batteries maintained during outside storage thru the winter months
All at a reasonable price.
|
Check out this thread......another member did almost the same as you want.
http://www.irv2.com/forums/showthread.php?t=318097
Note....if your batteries when fully charged won't power a CPAP all night ....then you have
to get new batteries.....solar doesn't produce power at night. 🙂
|
|
|
11-28-2016, 06:32 PM
|
#34
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 128
|
I plan on replacing the batteries, I have two house batteries and considering adding a third.
I am going to check to see what inverter I have and possibly upgrade that as well.
thanks for the link, very helpful
|
|
|
11-28-2016, 08:11 PM
|
#35
|
Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 88
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by hoggem
I plan on replacing the batteries, I have two house batteries and considering adding a third.
I am going to check to see what inverter I have and possibly upgrade that as well.
thanks for the link, very helpful
|
according to the below you should only need at most 47AH to power your cpap for 8 hours. Sounds like either your batteries should all be upgraded or you aren't charging them properly. Most likely the problem is both. The "good" ones that my local RV dealers used were 65AH marine batteries. One of those can get you through the night. You'd be below 50% and killing your batteries over time but it would still work.
No matter how good your batteries if your current setup is not charging them you won't make it through the night.
I would start with a Trimetric battery monitor to see what is happening before you spend a lot of money on other stuff that you might not need.
My residential fridge draws ~5 times the power of anything in the screen shot and my 2 6-volt 210ah batteries run it through the night.
Screenshot by Lightshot
__________________
2014 F350 King Ranch Dually, 2015 Augusta Luxe 40RE
Magnum Inverter + BMK, Trimetric TM2030, Go Power 120 watt portable solar, WifiRanger, Weboost 4G-X, TireMinder TPMS
|
|
|
11-29-2016, 02:15 AM
|
#36
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 577
|
My suggestion is first start off with some solid batteries of sufficient (or over size) and then add solar as convenient.
Certainly you can stay with 12 volts - invert to AC - convert back to 24 volt DC - into CPAP, OR you could switch to a 24 volt battery bank and just directly drive the CPAP from the battery pack. Given that you have other 12 volt appliances, perhaps staying with 12 volt makes sense.
You can either spend the next 2 months:
- Reading about solar
- Reading about AGM vs flooded lead vs LiFe
- Optimizing the purchase to the nearest $0.01.
OR
The simple version.
- Unless you are willing to spend $15K on a battery pack, then don't fall in love with LiFe packs. They are marvelous, and I have them, but they aren't cheap. They really only make sense when you want / need air conditioning running from the battery pack.
- You can buy either a single 12 volt, bigger battery, or 2 each, wired in series, 6 volt bigger batteries. Either way, they will charge up faster, and last longer than what you have now.
The main difference in what you buy depends on what fits into the compartment, and how much each one weighs. A large 6 volt battery weighs about 100 lbs, and you need 2 of them, or a large 12 volt battery weighs close to 200 lbs.
Flooded batteries are nice, but require more maintenance. I suggest buying AGM, even though they are not perfect.
|
|
|
11-29-2016, 02:26 AM
|
#37
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 577
|
There are a number of good quality lead acid batteries on the market. Common suppliers are Trojan, Rolls, Lifeline, River something. I don't work for any of them, but these are well known, good quality suppliers.
Let's take some examples for your system, just for simplicity, let's use the Trojan product line:
8D size, 12 volt battery:
8D-AGM | Trojan Battery Company
This is a very nice, competitive battery. Technically it holds 3 KW-HR, but you can realistically use 1 KW-Hr of it. Let me know if this is too confusing of a statement.
Note that it weighs 160 Lbs and will cost about $500 or so. If you see an 8D battery for sale that cost under $200, it is not the right kind for what you need.
If it turns out that it still is not enough, you can just wire two of them in parallel.
|
|
|
11-29-2016, 02:37 AM
|
#38
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 577
|
Another option for even more capacity is to use two large 6 volt batteries wired in series.
Just for convenience, using Trojan as an example:
Reliant AGM | Trojan Battery Company
Notice the Trojan reliant L16−AGM battery. Two of those in series make a very healthy battery pack. They are around $5-600 each, 16 inches tall, and 100 lbs each. These are about the limit of conventional lead technology. If these don't power what you need, then it is time to think about LiFe.
Note- Rolls and others also have competitive technology and pricing, I am just using Trojan as an example.
Get someone to help carry and mount those monster size batteries into what you are already doing, then think about solar, especially if you are living in MI in the winter.
|
|
|
11-29-2016, 02:53 AM
|
#39
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 577
|
Regardless of brand, lead acid batteries need some care. If you let them discharge below 50%, then the lifetime is shortened. They like to operate from 50 - 100% state of charge, and like to be really well charged up.
I am not sure what generator + charger you have, but this is the next step - get a good, powerful charger. With the two battery options listed above, you can charge the single 12 volt 8D at around 30 amps and the dual battery set at nearly 50 amps.
Charge them for at least 1 hour every day that they are used.
|
|
|
11-29-2016, 04:40 PM
|
#40
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 577
|
I also saw a Crown, size L16, 6CRV390 for around $500. They are 6 volt, so you would need 2 each in series.
About 125 lbs each.
|
|
|
11-29-2016, 05:05 PM
|
#41
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 128
|
I have a 7500 gas onan genset don't even know where to find the "charger" or what it would look like for that matter.
going to replace my group 27 batteries with some reasonably priced deep cycle marines
living on the other side of the lake in balmy Illinois
|
|
|
11-29-2016, 05:13 PM
|
#42
|
Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 88
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by hoggem
going to replace my group 27 batteries with some reasonably priced deep cycle marines
|
Marine batteries are cheaper but not great for RVs unless you stay plugged in.
Choosing the Best RV Battery: Which is Right for You?
Marine Batteries - So-called “marine” batteries are an attempt to make a compromise design that combines the characteristics of starting and deep cycling. As with most compromises, they aren’t great for either need, but they may be suitable for some RV battery situations.
__________________
2014 F350 King Ranch Dually, 2015 Augusta Luxe 40RE
Magnum Inverter + BMK, Trimetric TM2030, Go Power 120 watt portable solar, WifiRanger, Weboost 4G-X, TireMinder TPMS
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|