Battery Power Feedback
Submitted: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 20:57
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235ram
Hi
I want to put a battery in my camper trailer and l am told that a wet cell CANNOT be placed inside the camper trailer. It doesn't have a boot so would l be better mounting it on the frame or use a dry cell 80-100amp battery that l am told is quite safe to have inside. I have a newish small on road Jayco and pull it with a commodore wagon.
l assume that the standard battery in the commodore wouldn't last long given l need to rum a 12v 4.1 amp sleep apnoea machine at night. That and lights that is all. Fridge of course is gas. There is room for a battery under the
seat in the van but wet cell is a no no. So any suggestions would be gratefully received
Russell
Reply By: Jedo_03 - Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 21:39
Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 21:39
Hi RAM
You answered your own questions
- you could mount a wet-cell externally in a protective box
- a sealed battery (AGM) is the go for inside use but twice the price of wetcells...
- your bipap/c-pap running at approx 4 amps per hour would consume (hrs x 4) amphours: eg 8 hours = 32Ah, plus lights, may put a strain on your cranking battery.
- you also need a means to charge the second battery - either dual battery system setup with isolator and appropriate cabling - and/or battery charger (if you have access to 240v) - or $olar power...
I'm no expert - just what I've learned...
Jedo
AnswerID:
363415
Follow Up By: Matt(WA) - Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 22:09
Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 22:09
There are some good deals around for batterys. Last week I got 2 remco 100ah agm batterys for $300 each. Also picked up a delkor 100ah sla for under the bonnet for $230. So if you
shop around a 100ah agm will be fine for in your van.
Matt
FollowupID:
631078
Follow Up By: 235ram - Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 23:39
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 23:39
this sounds ok will check it out.. even a larger or second battery under the bonnet might be the best option...
Russell
FollowupID:
631243
Reply By: Foxhound (WA) - Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 21:41
Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 21:41
I cannot see why you cannot put a wet cell battery into your camper trailer, as long as it is fitted into a proper battery box to contain any acid spill. I run two 130 amp hour Trojan deep cycle wet cell batteries in the boot of my caravan, have done for years with no ill affects whatsoever. I also depend on a CPAP machine and run this through a 240 volt inverter from the above batteries as
well as fridges and other bits and pieces for the caravan etc. A CPAP machine will only need one deep cycle battery to run it successfully. It doesn't matter whether it is fitted into the camper trailer or as a second battery in your vehicle, it will work quite successfully in either.
AnswerID:
363416
Follow Up By: 235ram - Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 21:57
Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 21:57
thanks Foxhound
actually to keep costs down as i suggest that the times without power i may consider a second battery for the vechile. my cpap machine is 12 with a transformer do you use a pure sine wave inverter?
thanks for your help..
FollowupID:
631074
Follow Up By: oldtrack123 - Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 21:42
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 21:42
H i Foxhound
The problem with acid spill is a minor one . The real problem is IF the battery compartment is not
well ventilated [when using wet cells], including at bottom, hydrogen gas can build up & cause a major explosion or fire Unless using fully sealed batteries the battery compartment MUST be
well ventilated.
FollowupID:
631231
Follow Up By: Foxhound (WA) - Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 22:27
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 22:27
Quite right and something I did not mention. The battery box must be ventilated as you said, however a battery in good condition and not overcharging will produce only a very small amount of Hydrogen gas and will not be a problem. I have seen some caravan manufactures mount batteries under beds, of course to ignite the gas you must have a spark or flame of some sort. Not saying mounting batteries under beds is a good idea but the risk of explosion is very small.
FollowupID:
631237
Reply By: ABR - SIDEWINDER - Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 21:42
Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 21:42
Hi Russell
You have answered most of your own questions.
I would recommend an AGM sealed battery for your application mounted in the space you already have available. You may need to consider how you plan to charge the battery again the next day.
Regards
Derek from ABR
AnswerID:
363417
Follow Up By: ABR - SIDEWINDER - Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 21:45
Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 21:45
3 answers in 3 mins.
Great, what more could you ask for.
FollowupID:
631068
Follow Up By: 235ram - Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 22:03
Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 22:03
I am new to this and am blown away with the response and help. thanks all.. Sidewinder yes i think the dry cell is the way to go but would be costly. the way the Jayco is set up is that while under way the car charges the van battery, only have to by one and plunk it under the
seat and plug it in then an inverter, but the cost, so it might have to wait or just a seconnd vehicle battery.
thanks heaps
FollowupID:
631076
Follow Up By: Foxhound (WA) - Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 22:44
Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 22:44
I have used a CPAP for over 10 years now and am on my second machine. They will work very
well on a modified sine wave inverter but current draw will depend on what machine you have and if you are running a humidifier. You may need to do a check on current draw before you decide what size inverter you need.
FollowupID:
631081
Follow Up By: Foxhound (WA) - Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 22:52
Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 22:52
Just reread your follow up, you mentioned your CPAP is 12 volt with a transformer. In that case you will need to run it on straight 12 volt as a modified sine wave inverter will not run effectively through a transformer,you would need a pure sine wave and they are costly.
FollowupID:
631085
Follow Up By: 235ram - Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 22:56
Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 22:56
thanks Foxhound
my cpap is also my second machine and a resonalbly high tech german auto pressure machine with humidifier. so perhaps a dc to dc converter?? are they costly? will check them out in the next couple of days..
thanks heaps
FollowupID:
631086
Follow Up By: Foxhound (WA) - Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 10:02
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 10:02
Don`t quite follow you there 235, if it is 12 volt machine it should run straight off the battery. The transformer you mention would be there to convert 240 volt AC to 12 volt DC when running off mains power
FollowupID:
631121
Follow Up By: 235ram - Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 17:29
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 17:29
yes thats right except wouldn't battery 12v not be stable as it flattens. I thought that my machine would want a stable source? to be honest though i don't realy know.
Chears
Russell
FollowupID:
631185
Follow Up By: Foxhound (WA) - Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 21:43
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 21:43
If you run your machine off a decent 12 volt supply, eg a 80 Amp/Hour deep cycle battery you should have no problems whatsoever. Providing you have a good recharge source each day there should be no problems. I have been running my machines for years off 12 volt supply from a second battery in the vehicle and works fine.
FollowupID:
631232
Follow Up By: 235ram - Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 23:37
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 23:37
thanks for that. actually i might go that way, that is a second battery for the car..
thanks heaps
FollowupID:
631242
Reply By: vk1dx - Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 07:47
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 07:47
A bit of a novice and not fully aware of all the regs.
Just though it may be an idea to check the insurance fine print. If you were to put the battery inside and it was not fully compliant with the road/rego rules you may be risking invalidating any insurance.
They don't need much to say "bad luck".
AnswerID:
363440
Reply By: Von Helga - Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 09:55
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 09:55
235ram,
You need to consider the explosive gases produced by the battery if you put a battery inside your camper trailer. Obviously the physical mounting of the battery is a consideration as
well.
It is interesting that as I type this reply the
Battery Power article from this site is staring me in the face, have read of it.
Cheers
Trevor
AnswerID:
363448
Reply By: Rangiephil - Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 09:57
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 09:57
BTW European style wet cells have a drain /vapour pipe that can be vented to the outside.
My BMW has the battery in the boot, so it must be legal to have a wet cell as long as it vents to the outside.
However an AGM is a probably a better solution.
Regards Philip A
AnswerID:
363450