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Bchtravlr · 10-02-2017, 08:20 PM

We are making our first real pleasure trip next week and and will be leaving early am with a 7 hr drive to reach our destination. Our coach is stored 3 mi from home, unplugged using a solar charge. I want to turn on the refrigerator 12 hours before we leave to cool it down so when we depart early in the am, we can put foodstuffs in a cool refrigerator. We don't have experience with the house batteries capacity.

1) Can we expect the house batteries to run the refrigerator for the 12 pre trip hours without the batteries draining completely? I plan to run the refrigerator on the inverter while we travel.

2) I am assuming that as we drive our 7 hr trip, the house batteries will recharge, and continue to keep the refrigerator cool, but we will be on a full 50 amp hookup once we arrive at our destination. Is this a correct assumption?

Thanks in advance for your input.

NealC · 10-02-2017, 08:29 PM

It depends on your inverter controller but I have a ME-ARC50, you may have the ME-RC50 and I don't remember the options on it but you could setup AGS so that when your house batteries fall to a certain level the gen will start and recharge them. I've done this with my setup but it's a bit more advanced with the ME-ARC50 with ME-BMK (battery monitoring kit) installed.

You should be good with refer only I'm thinking but pay close attention to any other inverter controlled outlet that may be drawing power. If you have any power hookup capability even if 120V/15-20A outlet you should be okay.

Bushy · 10-02-2017, 08:37 PM

I'm assuming that you have an all-electric coach with 8 house batteries. They should be quite capable of energizing your fridge for the twelve pre-trip hours. As the previous poster suggested, if you are concerned about it, you could set your auto gen start to automatically fire up if the battery status drops to a certain level. I would think that if your fridge is the only item drawing on your batteries, they should be quite capable of keeping your fridge going.

RB

101stveteran · 10-03-2017, 07:13 AM

If it's any help, during the power loss after the hurricane I had our 16 dutchstar with the 8 batteries powering up the refrigerator/freezer, small window AC unit in the house, tv, dometic in bus basement as well as the all important kegerator. Went for about 4 hours before generator kicked on. Pretty impressive.

C.Martin · 10-04-2017, 06:35 AM

If we run nothing but the fridge and residual drains,,,like the microwave clock...a couple of security cameras, and a WiFi booster/router...we avg. 10.8 aH drain per hour.

Each 6 v pair of GC2s are probably giving you 220-232aH of storage. It is a common practice not to drain them more than 50%

So, 50% of 220aH is 110aH...,and let's say, for ease of calculation your drain is 11aH per hour...

110aH divided by 11aH/hr = 10 hours...

So, in theory...

2 batteries = 10 hrs
4 batteries = 20 hrs
6 batteries = 30 hrs
8 batteries = 40 hrs

This would be no other loads...starting will fully charged batteries...and they are relatively new and well cared for (capable of thier rated storage capacity)

If you have the AGS, you can set it to start whenever your house bank reaches a certain voltage. The manual gives you some targets depending on what percentage discharge you are comfortable with. Like Neal, I've added the ME-BMK and ME-ARC advanced remote...so I prefer to use the State of Charge to trigger the AGS.

I think you'll be fine. Just turn off lights, fans, entertainment center, water pump, ice maker, etc...

C.Martin · 10-04-2017, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 101stveteran

If it's any help, during the power loss after the hurricane I had our 16 dutchstar with the 8 batteries powering up the refrigerator/freezer, small window AC unit in the house, tv, dometic in bus basement as well as the all important kegerator. Went for about 4 hours before generator kicked on. Pretty impressive.

Kegerator? Now we're talking...!!!!

101stveteran · 10-04-2017, 06:41 AM

Really comes down to the health of the batteries. As they get older capacitance diminishes. If you don't do any maintenance such as cleaning corrosion or topping off the water level battery performance is hurt.

"007" · 10-04-2017, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 101stveteran

Really comes down to the health of the batteries. As they get older capacitance diminishes. If you don't do any maintenance such as cleaning corrosion or topping off the water level battery performance is hurt.

I would add length of time in storage with out at least 110 volts into coach so BIRD OR B.I.M Systems to maintain your batteries and how you made sure you had all parricidal drains disconnected.
While your driving all batteries will be recharged by alternator both chassis first than house when the coach is plugged into 110 works in reverse controlled by your charging system.
If you could take coach home and plug in 24 hours fridge would cool while batteries are being recharged.
More info on batteries.
All the links below in my signature have info for your Newmar.
Good luck and enjoy your trip.