AnswerID: 127452 Submitted: Tuesday, Aug 30, 2005 at 15:25
Alloy c/t
replied:
80 series turbo diesel auto ,standard alternator , 80amp hr Fullriver AGM as start batt , AUX batt 80amp Fullriver AGM through Rotronics weekender RA100H , 8mmsq +and - wire from aux to 50amp anderson at rear of vehicle , also 3x
waeco style +1 engle style socket feed thru separate fuse/s from same wire ,,,,,,anderson plug to camper trailer feeding 3x 80amp hr Fullriver AGM batts supplying 3x3 banks of
waeco style sockets ,,, ,,, 1x64 UNISOLAR +1x 120 KYOCERA solar panels free standing up to 30mtr from camp thru 8mmsq cable to Steca 2020 controller to anderson plug ,, Scorpion 950 2stroke generator + CTEC XS7000 charger for when the sun dosnt want to play ,,,,,,, USAGE = 1X 80LT
Waeco fridge/freezer set to run at -10 in freezer and 3-4 in
fridge ,, 1x 15lt Engle set to run at 2-3deg for beer ,, up to 5x 12v fluro , occasional cd/radio used for
weather reports ,, have never run out of power "yet" ,,always leave home with batts fully charged and always get home with batts fully charged , works for me.
Reply 10 of 13
FollowupID: 381987 Submitted:
Tuesday, Aug 30, 2005 at 17:46
Alloy c/t posted:
Mainey , I'll so called stick my neck out and not only suggest but stand up and be counted ,, AGM batts ,be they fullriver or any other brand do the "job" better than deepcycle and /or starting batts , run them down /charge them up / no bull involved ,good enough for NASA to go into space is good enough to go
camping anywhere , solar panels because of ease/price/quite and restrictions of gen sets in some areas , ,,,, Steca for the fact I can tell exactly how much power in and more importantly used in any given time frame [my choice] , ,,,,, 8mmsq wire on all = NIL voltage drop , I solder + crimp ALL of my connections myself ,, I refuse to drink hot beer ,so the
Waeco for swmbo+child /food ect , baby Engle for drinks ,,, gen set and charger are now used only "if" needed , can charge batts quicker by running lead to c/t anderson plug from vehicle anderson plug and just starting vehicle and idle for20/30 min = fully charged ,as said works for me.
FollowUp 2 of 3
FollowupID: 381999 Submitted:
Tuesday, Aug 30, 2005 at 18:25
Jimbo posted:
Agree with alloy on the ability to charge AGM's from the car.
My 64 watt Uni Solar does the trick nicely when the sun's out. A couple of weeks ago when we went
camping in the cold and overcast I just idled the car a couple of times to keep power up to the battery.
For this reason I wouldn't bother with a generator when I've got an alternator under the bonnet which will do a better job.
I've found in my testing that the AGM absorbs about an amp per minute from the alternator. I've also found that if the
weather is so bad my panel isn't working, then the
fridge isn't drawing much power. I'd say 20 to 30 amps max in a 24 hour period. Thus idling the car for 15 minutes in the morning and again at night will do the trick.
Last November, before I got my panel I went away for 5 days and the temp varied from 25 to 35. I got by running the
Waeco 80 by idling the car 3 or 4 times a day. It did work but got to be a pain. Hence I invested in a panel.
This is the BIG advantage of an AGM battery.
Cheers,
Jim.
FollowUp 3 of 3