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09-27-2015, 08:02 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,813
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Dry Camping Tonight
I am dry camping for a few days. The park has quiet hours. At what voltage should I start the generator? At what voltage should I turn the generator off? I have wetted cells, and have a residential refrigerator.
2015 Newmar Ventana 3636, Cummins ISB
2014 JKU Wrangler, SMI AF1, Blue Ox Baseplate and Tow Bar
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09-27-2015, 08:14 PM
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#2
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,201
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You should run the generator a couple of hours right before quiet hours start -and then a couple of hours in the morning while making breakfast. Most battery banks are sized to provide power for 8 hours.
It's better for the batteries to stay above 80% charged, and never go below 50% if you can prevent it.
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09-27-2015, 08:26 PM
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#3
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,201
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The voltages are only relevant if the batteries are at rest (no charging and no loads)....
If you do much dry camping, you should get a battery meter like this one, which will keep track of EXACTLY how charged or discharged the batteries are by monitoring the current flow both into and out of the batteries.
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09-27-2015, 08:29 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Forest River Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: S florida now Cocoa
Posts: 286
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why dry if in a park?
__________________
Rick & Barbara
"98" 30 'Coachmen C Santara FL (front lounge) V 10
TST tpms, ScanGauge 2 cats Tyler,Lucy
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09-27-2015, 08:34 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,813
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pasdad1
You should run the generator a couple of hours right before quiet hours start -and then a couple of hours in the morning while making breakfast. Most battery banks are sized to provide power for 8 hours.
It's better for the batteries to stay above 80% charged, and never go below 50% if you can prevent it.
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I will run the generator as you describe. What is the full charge voltage? 80% voltage? Just want to know what is the acceptable range when looking at the monitor.
2015 Newmar Ventana 3636, Cummins ISB
2014 JKU Wrangler, SMI AF1, Blue Ox Baseplate and Tow Bar
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09-27-2015, 08:36 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,813
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Santara
why dry if in a park?
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I am in a State Park with limited hook-ups. Unfortunately, I didn't get a site with hookups.
2015 Newmar Ventana 3636, Cummins ISB
2014 JKU Wrangler, SMI AF1, Blue Ox Baseplate and Tow Bar
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09-27-2015, 08:44 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,813
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pasdad1
The voltages are only relevant if the batteries are at rest (no charging and no loads)....
Attachment 108153
If you do much dry camping, you should get a battery meter like this one, which will keep track of EXACTLY how charged or discharged the batteries are by monitoring the current flow both into and out of the batteries.
Attachment 108155 |
Perfect. I will get one of those meters. The chart is just what I need.
This park has quiet hours from 8pm until 10am. So there are 14 quiet hours. Guess that I will have to manage my usage!
2015 Newmar Ventana 3636, Cummins ISB
2014 JKU Wrangler, SMI AF1, Blue Ox Baseplate and Tow Bar
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09-27-2015, 08:45 PM
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#8
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,201
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HavingABlast
I will run the generator as you describe. What is the full charge voltage? 80% voltage? Just want to know what is the acceptable range when looking at the monitor.
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Look at the chart I uploaded.....while charging the voltage could read above 14.4 volts. The batteries have to be at rest for several hours to get a "true" voltage vs state of charge reading....therefore voltages are just a close estimate.
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09-27-2015, 09:04 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,813
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Thanks again. I will watch the voltage a bit more carefully going forward to get a better handle on what is acceptable and what isn't. We are still on our maiden voyage. We haven't done multiple days without shore power yet. Learning new things each day.
2015 Newmar Ventana 3636, Cummins ISB
2014 JKU Wrangler, SMI AF1, Blue Ox Baseplate and Tow Bar
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09-27-2015, 09:15 PM
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#10
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,201
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Turn off the ice maker in the freezer to conserve power....it uses a resistance heater to release the ice from the mold. If you don't open the doors, even turning off the refrigerator for hours is an option, as they are so well insulated that the temperature warms very slowly.
Something like this would allow you to monitor the temperatures.
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09-27-2015, 09:57 PM
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#11
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RV Nut
Newmar Owners Club Winnebago Owners Club Nor'easters Club
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,932
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HavingABlast
I am dry camping for a few days. The park has quiet hours. At what voltage should I start the generator? At what voltage should I turn the generator off? I have wetted cells, and have a residential refrigerator.
2015 Newmar Ventana 3636, Cummins ISB
2014 JKU Wrangler, SMI AF1, Blue Ox Baseplate and Tow Bar
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I set my AGS to 12.1 volts with the quiet hours set as well.
BTW, if you fully charge them up in the morning (2 plus hours) and then run the generator about an hour or so at dinner time, you will have no issues at all.
Our 2015 all electric Ventana 4037 goes boondocking all the time. It is better at battery management than any propane/electric coach we've ever had. We have 8 AGM batteries.
__________________
2015 Newmar Ventana 4037 - All Electric
2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon TOAD
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09-27-2015, 10:50 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,813
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pasdad1, thanks for the tip on the ice maker and the monitor to add to my "wish list" 👍
Newmarpusher, thanks for the tip on setting the AGS for 12.1v and adjusting for the quiet hours.
2015 Newmar Ventana 3636, Cummins ISB
2014 JKU Wrangler, SMI AF1, Blue Ox Baseplate and Tow Bar
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09-28-2015, 07:00 AM
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#13
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,201
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09-28-2015, 07:47 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 355
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Great thread!
Good info here. But that brings up a few other questions for me.
We'll have 8 AGM batteries. Let's say that you turn generator on for an hour in the early evening and then turn it off. According to what I've read here, you would like to keep the batteries from dipping below 50%.
If I run some of my LEDs, flush the toilet a few times, run a fan and watch a TV (with satellite receiver on)...how long will the batteries "last"? Is there a formula (SoMuchBatteryCharge minus (X watts times Y hours) = ?? Get the idea?
Thanks!
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