Re: battery change questions

On Fri, 2 Aug 2024 14:07:23 -0400,
  bfh <redydog@rye.net> wrote:

 George Anthony wrote:

On 8/2/2024 10:59 AM, Ted Heise wrote:

On Fri, 2 Aug 2024 13:02:29 -0000 (UTC),
   Ted Heise <theise@panix.com> wrote:
>

  All good thoughts, and reminds me I haven't said much about my
  use case.  We tow a Lance 1475 with the Acadia Denali, and my
  interest is being able to camp off the grid (e.g., National
  Forests) so we can have some freedom in where we go (i.e., not
  be bound by campground reservations) and to not be packed in
  with lots of other campers.

 
 Flatspotting.
 

  As far as electrical usage, the fridge is fair size for a small
  trailer but can run on propane.  The AC won't run at all on 12
  V, so that leaves microwave, electric kettle (for Aeropress
  coffee), furnace fan, lights, and charging of phones and
  laptops.  We have a newish 100Ah LiFEPO4 battery, and my guess
  is it might not last a full day.  Hence the need for some
  additional power source.  I need to try it out without shore
  power, so plan to try next camping trip.  Probably at a place
  with shore power, but just not connected until/if needed.

>
Okay, I'm a dumbass.  I just realized that unlike other options
(the trailer battery, a DC-Dc convertor, solar), a generator will
let me run 120 V things.  Duh.

 
Yeah, it will be almost like on shore power unless you think
you will be able to run your AC and/or microwave ... unless
you go with a larger, i.e., costlier, generator. For pretty
much everything else, these less expensive models should serve
your needs. You'll just have to manually regulate your demand
by turning off and on higher demand loads. Toaster, hair
dryer, coffee pot, maybe water heater.

Good info, thanks.  The microwave is listed as 900 watts, so it
should run okay on any of these smaller generators.  The AC is a
Coleman-Mach 4800 series.  I couldn't find a lot of detail, but it
seems as if it may have anywhere from 9 amp draw (14 at start) up
to 15 (with 20-25 at start).  So if it's the lower values
something like the Westinghouse iGen 2550DFc (or even a little
lower power) ought to run it?

https://www.amazon.com/Westinghouse-Outdoor-Power-Equipment-iGen2550DFc/dp/B0CB99QS6S?th=1

From some forums, it seems I need to look under the cover on the
top of the unit for a plate with all the electrical details. 
Assuming that's true, it should make clear whether it's possible.

 I got my unasked question answered about the fridge, but don't
 most TT water heaters also run on gas?

The unit has a Truma Combi Eco Plus furnace/water heater, and it
can run on propane, electtic, or a mix of both. 

 Back in a previous life, we did a lot of flatspotting and got
 along fine without a generator, but we didn't have a microwave,
 electric coffee pot, or a toaster.

The wife and I are spoiled, what can I say.    :)

But how did you charge the trailer battery?

--
Ted Heise      <theise@panix.com>       West Lafayette, IN, USA