how much power do i need
Submitted: Friday, May 12, 2006 at 12:13
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lost
a few quick questions for all you
bright sparks out there.
Im going to fit dual batterys to my camper trailer,im looking at buying 2x 120amp fullriver batterys, they will be charged off the 4wd when on the move, and be charged off maybe a CTEK multi xs7000 charger when near 240 volt.
The questions that i have is il be running a engel 60ltr combi, and are wanting to know how long i would get out of the batterys running the engel(with it being only opened late in the arvo's) and if what im looking at getting is overkill or should i look at some other set up.(bigger amp batterys)
also is the charger going to be big enough to charge the batterys or should i look at buying the xs25000 charger.
Im hoping to get around 3-4 days from the batterys, am i dreaming?
thanks all.
Reply By: shaggy - Friday, May 12, 2006 at 13:00
Friday, May 12, 2006 at 13:00
Hi, 3 or 4 days will be easily done. If its warm weather. In cold weather you should get more then a week. Charger is big enough, its voltage that does pushes current in, not the size of the charger. A smaller charger will just take longer. A 10 amp charger will take probably 48 hrs to charge 2x120 amp batts from close to empty. However, your alternator will do it much quicker...but at a cost of doing more damage to batteries due to high current
Cheers
AnswerID:
172289
Reply By: fatz - Friday, May 12, 2006 at 13:06
Friday, May 12, 2006 at 13:06
Currently run two 110amp trojans in the camper trailer. run some low draw lights and a 50 ltr waco. can get at least 6 days up to 7 weather dependant.
Cant help with the charger, I run a battery fighter at
home but it only puts out .75 amp and takes 3 to4 days to fully rechage.
AnswerID:
172290
Follow Up By: V8troopie - Friday, May 12, 2006 at 14:46
Friday, May 12, 2006 at 14:46
fatz, I think you are pushing it a bit with your little charger. If you do the figures, the most it could supply in four full days is 72 amp hours.
Unless you have an exceptionally efficient Wayco (unlikely) then your batteries will not get fully charged in 4 days after you run had run them down with the fridge for 6-7 days.
Klaus
FollowupID:
427915
Follow Up By: fatz - Friday, May 12, 2006 at 15:48
Friday, May 12, 2006 at 15:48
Yep, you are correct, but I also have a triple battery charger in the cruiser that charges the trailer while traveling as
well. the battery fighter just keeps them topped up.
FollowupID:
427926
Reply By: Drew - Karratha - Friday, May 12, 2006 at 15:41
Friday, May 12, 2006 at 15:41
I have the 60l Engel Combi, and it really depends on how you are going to use it as to how long the batterys will last. If you intend to have the freezer section
well below 0 degrees C, then the batterys wont last that long at all. If you can cyrovac your meat and have the freezer operating just above 0, you will extend your battery life considerably...
Hope this helps
Drew
AnswerID:
172315
Follow Up By: fnq triton - Friday, May 12, 2006 at 16:50
Friday, May 12, 2006 at 16:50
who or how do you cryovac your food, i'm interested in finding out how it's done or who can do it
FollowupID:
427935
Follow Up By: Keith_A (Qld) - Friday, May 12, 2006 at 17:28
Friday, May 12, 2006 at 17:28
Main use of cryovac is for meat.
It is a vacumn process to exclude all air when packaging meat in plastic.
Result is extended life when refrigerated. You will have seen bacon and other small goods packaged in this manner.
Most local butchers will do it, for a small extra cost
FollowupID:
427942
Follow Up By: Drew - Karratha - Monday, May 15, 2006 at 09:50
Monday, May 15, 2006 at 09:50
Woolworths / Coles usually do it for free, or you can buy a Vacuum Sealing machine from Retravision / Harvey Norman etc for a couple of hundred
FollowupID:
428377
Reply By: Alloy c/t - Friday, May 12, 2006 at 17:04
Friday, May 12, 2006 at 17:04
Question to throw back to you , how many amps per hr does your Engle use ??? by the Engle blurbs should be round 1.9amps per hr once the unit is down to temp , 1.9 x 24hr = 45/46 amps give or take 10/20% for ambient temp variations and you can start to see how much power you need , to give your batts any chance of achieving the longevity that they are capable of you should not discharge below 50% ,,ergo 2 to 3 days for the Engle pre chilled and batts starting fully charged..
AnswerID:
172331
Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Friday, May 12, 2006 at 20:55
Friday, May 12, 2006 at 20:55
Lost,
I doubt that the XS7000 will have enough grunt for 2 x 120 amphr batteries. I have one, and it's a great little charger, but takes 15 - 20 hours just to bring a 100 amphr battery up to float. And that's with no load.
Go the bigger one.
Hooroo...
AnswerID:
172373
Reply By: Jimbo - Friday, May 12, 2006 at 21:09
Friday, May 12, 2006 at 21:09
I've read some of the responses and fair dinkhum, some people don't understand electrics.
Proviso 1. If you ever hope to get some life out of your AGM batteries, NEVER discharge them below 50% of their capacity. Hence you have 110 amps available. I personally prefer to discharge them less than that.
Given you have 110 amps available; the Engel will draw about 50 during an "average" day, say mid 20's. In summer, on a hot day, it could draw as much as 100 amps. In the guts of winter you may only draw 30, but it would be a bloody cold trip.
In essence on a trip in Autumn weather, two days would be the max before you start hurting the battery.
Solar, or a gennie and decent battery charger is the way to go. You can of course run your engine to help charge via the alternator. It's a very effective "generator".
AnswerID:
172380
Reply By: lost - Saturday, May 13, 2006 at 17:07
Saturday, May 13, 2006 at 17:07
thanks for all the info, il be looking into it all a little harder next week and then go bi the batterys and charger that i work out that will suit.
i wont have solar but are taking a small cheap genny with me so i can run the charger off that if i have to
thanks
AnswerID:
172535