squirescampers
Derry, NH
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smkettner wrote:squirescampers wrote:Any suggestions on recharging without having a generator?
Jumper cables direct battery to battery is your best bet but it takes some time like an hour or two to get a decent charge on. Or try talking to a neighbor that is running a generator to let you either parellel charge your battery or use an extension cord to plug in the main connection to let the converter charge.
Thanks for the reply.
Should I buy an inverter to run off the car and charge the batteries with my 10 amp charger, or just run battery cables?
Leaving Sunday for this trip.
How accurate is the monitor panel inside. It is showing my new batteries at 2/3 charge after I charged them when bringing them home from the store.
How do I tell if the batteries are taking a complete charge?
I charged them Wednesday night. Last night I put on the 10 amp auto charger for the heck of it, and it was not showing 'complete charge'- It wanted to run for couple hours. Is this normal?
Because their Walmart Batteries I am worried if their defective or?
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smkettner
Southern California
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Inverter will work but ultimately will only give 10 amps to the battery as that is the capacity of the charger. You will need about 400 watts to run the charger. Still bring the jumpers as you may need a jump at some point. The jumper cables will carry much more amps at first but will taper fairly quick (30 minutes?) and then the 10 amp charger might be better. When the trailer battery is super low the jumper cables will be faster initially.
You might be better with the built in converter to charge the battery off an inverter powered by the tow vehicle. You may need 1000 or 1200+ watts to power it depending on the make and model. Post your converter make and model for best info.
I find my panel is fairly accurate. 2/3 is not charged. Plug the trailer in at home with an adapter for at least 24 hours before you go. When the panel says 1/3 charge left it is pretty low and desperately needs a charge. A $20 digital multimeter will be far more accurate. Sears or other brand is fine.
A complete charge is 12.65 volts after resting disconnected 24 hours. Or you will need a hydrometer which is messy.
The ten amp charger can be left on for at least 24 hours with no harm. If it is an automatic charger then it can be left on indefinately. The last 15% of charging takes 3 to 8 hours so yes what it said was normal. Remember a group 24 has 85 amp hours and if it is 75% discharged you need 60 amp hours back in. With 10 amps that is 6 hours minimum and since that last portion takes longer it can be 12 hours.
Usually you will not charge to 100% while camping. Rather you will bounce from 30% to 70%. Just make sure you give a full 48 hour charge whaen you return so the battery gets back to tip top 100%.
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Chuck_S
Broadview Hts, OH, USA
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Don't think you can charge a battery in "a couple of hours."
It's all about amphours. Say your little Group 24 battery is dead. You'll need to put 70 or 80 amp hours back into it. A 10 amp charger has a maximum charge rate of 10 amps into a low battery. As voltage climbs that rate drops until near the end you're only getting an amp or two. The lower the battery voltage the faster you can transfer power.
Even in a perfect world it would take 8 hours at 10 amps to put back 80 amp hours. In our imperfect world I'd charge a dead battery 24 hours.
Don't be deceived by your 12v battery experience in your car or truck. While it takes a lot of amps to start it, they're only being used for seconds. 300 amps for 12 seconds (a lot of amps for a long time) is only 3600 ampseconds or 60 ampminutes or one (1) amp hour. Your car alternator is only designed to replace that much power.
-- Chuck
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squirescampers
Derry, NH
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Thanks for everyones help on this post.
The week was a total success. We had plenty of battery juice. I did charge it a bit with the jumper cables for 45 minutes, then put the charger on with an inverter for 2 hours on the 3rd day. The battery reading was 2/3 on the monitor panel, but figured it wouldn't hurt to top it off. It seemed to work.
The campground- Myles Standish State Park in Plymouth MA was very nice, clean, and couldn't go wrong for $14/ night!
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JSGlow
Carol Stream, IL
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Glad you had a good trip. I didn't read the thread in detail but gather you learned a lot about dry camping and power limitations. Those that come from a tent camping background understand life without electric. To run power consuming "toys" (like the furnace), one needs power. It reminds me of that great scene in Apollo 13 where they are trying to engineer the "power up" sequence for re-entry.
JSGlow
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cacutlers
So Cal
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My family of 4 just finished a week at the beach and I only switched to the 2nd battery on day 5 because I figured why not. any way if you conserve and we do, in warm climates you can go for days. During the winter So Cal style we can last 4 days on 2 batteries using the furnace only to warm the camper up not during the night and watching many movies. We have dry camped for weeks on end moving from campground to campground and charging while towing. We will usually spend up to 4 nights in any given spot. Monitor your families leaving lights and such on and you should be fine.
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Canadian Karebear
Saint Albert Alberta
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We boon-docked with one deep cycle battery for 3 days with no problems. We ran the furnace (set at 60) each night, minimal use of lights, and no issues.
I figure if we are camping why would I need a TV? Why use the Microwave or anything else that would draw power? You know you have to conserve your power, you don't have a choice.
Conserve your power and you should be fine.
If your trailer has brakes (7 pin plug), chances are you can charge the battery while you are driving to the desination (if the battery is hooked up and the fuse is good). Make sure there is enough distilled water in the battery, get a good battery tester (the gauge in the trailer isn't always accurate), and a few good sleeping bags/blankets so the furnace doesn't run all night.
Basically you are outside all day and the only time you are inside is when you are headed for bed *unless it's raining*.
It did rain for us that weekend that we boon-docked but a good board game later, and the sun came out and we were back outside.
Why do folks think that camping is all about sitting in the RV and watching TV? I could do that at home for less!
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bikendan
Napa, Cal.
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Canadian Karebear wrote:
If your trailer has brakes (7 pin plug), chances are you can charge the battery while you are driving to the desination (if the battery is hooked up and the fuse is good).
this isn't necessarily true. most tow vehicles alternators don't put out enough juice to charge the trailer battery.
people who think that they can re-charge their battery at a campsite, usually are disappointed.
from what i've read, you need a thicker wire from the alternator to feed more juice to the rv battery from the alternator.
Dan- Firefighter , Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur , Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever , 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche LS, 2007 Rockwood Roo 23SS w/Equalizer and Prodigy, and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes
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Chuck_S
Broadview Hts, OH, USA
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To do more than trickle charge the trailer battery from the tow vehicle you need a special, separate alternator dedicated to that task. The truck alternator limits its voltage to the trickle charge range. Figure on an amp or so. Takes hours and hours to recharge a battery.
-- Chuck
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cacutlers
So Cal
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Canadian Karebear wrote: Why do folks think that camping is all about sitting in the RV and watching TV? I could do that at home for less!
I don't think enjoying movies while snuggling in the rv in the cold weather is wasted time. The family is still together unlike at home. I find it very interesting how some people are willing to suggest that a tv in the rv means thats all you do or that your wasting money by enjoying a movie together while camping. To each his own is what I say.
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