dry camping battery recharge

[doonoak]

Hello all!
 
I have a stupid question!!! I am about to go on a weekend dry camping trip. I have a Coleman with a deep cycle battery 12 volt size (24?)  I plan on using basicly only the 12 volt lights inside the camper, a 12 volt fan if I need and a small 12 volt tv set used in moderation.  NO microwaves..so heaters of coarse. no waterpumps.  So heres my question.  how long will it take to recharge the battery I have a volt meter so I wont totaly drain the battery.  I dont have a portable generator.  The only way I plan on recharging is rehooking up the battery to my tow vehicle and running the engine.  I know the coleman has a recharge system built in the the 12/120  converter. so how long would I have to do this and how many times?
Mick
2001 coleman cheyenne

[ForestCreature]

By all rights you should be able to make it thru the weekend without recharging, use the light sparingly and  run the television off d cell batteries of you can.  If you find you need to recharge it does takes a while charging off the TV.
 
 Back when our Solar Panel got smashed by a bear we had to rely on the TV, all that idling isn't that great for it and it took a few hrs (we were also running a furnace tho)
 
 Where ya headed?
 

[doonoak]

By all rights you should be able to make it thru the weekend without recharging, use the light sparingly and run the television off d cell batteries of you can. If you find you need to recharge it does takes a while charging off the TV.
 
Back when our Solar Panel got smashed by a bear we had to rely on the TV, all that idling isn't that great for it and it took a few hrs (we were also running a furnace tho)
 
Where ya headed?
Green Lake in the waterloo state rec area just form Fri thru sun.  My wife is 7 and a half months pregnent.  She dosnt really wana go so Im gonna slap the canoe on the truck hook up my popup and get away for the weekend this will be the first time going pop uping at green lake I dont know if youve ever been there its a primative campground pit tiolets and a pumpwell in the middle but its really cool and mostly secluded  during the week days and even when it's full during the weekends if you get in early on friday morning you can get a great spot on the lake or alot of good spots a bit further back.  Ive been a tenter since before I was born but when my grandmother passed away she left us a little something and I wanted to find someway to include my hotel luving wife!
Thanks for your reply.
Mick

[ForestCreature]

We haven't been to Waterloo yet,sounds worth checking out! We spend lots of time in the Pigeon River forest northeast of Gaylord and some around the Grayling area. For quick 2 night weekends we've been going to Holly Rec.. not quite like the forest but it's closer.
 
 I'd of loved to camp in a PU when I was 7mos along, did it in a tent :yikes:
 
 Happy Camping
 
 
 

[aw738]

Automotive alternators are not and never have been designed to charge batteries. There sole purpose is to maintain the charge in a FULLY charged battery. General Motors alternators are by far the worst at even doing that. If a General Motors vehicle is left idling long enought (this would probably be an unrealistic amount of time) it will actually drain the battery in the vehicle. The reason for this is at idle the output is not equal to or greater than the demand the vehicle puts on it. This is perfectly acceptable condition according to GM. An other problem with the GM and Ford alternators is that if they (the alternator) does not read 12 or more volts from the battery the voltage regulator will not energize the alternator.

[mike4947]

Actually if the battery is below about 11 volts it won't kick over the alternator. But at that level it won't start the vehicle anyway.
But the alternator circuitry is designed to rapidly recharge the battery from the high load caused by starting the vehicle and then to provide the amperage needed to run whatever equipment is operating. The battery is just along for the ride, unless the alternator speed/output is to low.
As for idling dawing down the battery, most any vehicle with everything turned on such as winter with the heater motor going, headlights on, wipers on, etc will draw down a battery.

[dee106]

we carry two batteries, and while we are out and about we charge a battery  to have a backup.

[Ted]

we carry two batteries, and while we are out and about we charge a battery to have a backup.

Dee and Ken, how do you have the hook up arranged for that? I am not very electrically gifted, so I do rely on those who are to help me learn.  I am planning on dry camping this fall for the first time.  Probably first time will only go for a 3-day weekend.  I worry about running out of battery power, perhaps unnecessarily so for a 3-day weekend.
 
I have a Yuma 2002 with a 12 volt deep cycle and a Tundra 2002 (V8).

[Dwayne N]

As a former Michigander, camping wasput in my blood early by my Mom who would take us from Irish Hills to Mexico, to Montreal in our camper.

Now that I'm a bit older, I've opted to go all out and make my own solar panels.  Boy, we could have used these when I was a kid!!!  

For a lot less than I could by them, I was able to pick up these two panels from a solar designer.  He just happened to have a few laying around.  They can kick out 180 watts at 10 amps.  

I then fitted them together with piano hinges so that they will fold in half, added some support arms to the back so I can angle them toward the sun and wired them to charge two 110 amp hour deep cycle batteries.  One is shown in the photo.  The wiring to the batteries from the panels is a simple 10 gauge, 100 foot long extension cord.

I also added a 3000 watt inverter (not shown) so I can run standard appliances like our coffee pot, computer, battery chargers, tv and such.  It's amazing how much brighter the lights are with this setup.

All in all---it wasn't cheap.  But at about $950.00, it's cheaper than the generator I was looking at.  Cheaper than the 180 watt panels at the RV centers that cost around $1,800-$2000.  Much lighter and quiter than a generator.  As a matter of fact, almost no sound at all.  I had numerous park Rangers comment on them.  And no fuel to run it.

Now I just need to make a mount for the top of the camper so that it will charge the batteries while we're in transit from sit to site.

[tlhdoc]

I carry 3 batteries at times.  The simplest way to use a second battery is to buy a second set of the Fleetwood battery wires.  Connect the wires to the battery and set it on the ground next to the tongue.  When you want to switch batteries just unplug the battery in use and plug the second battery in.  I set the second battery inside the PU (front center) when towing and then set it outside when we get to the campsite.  You can also remove the wires from the first battery and switch them to the second battery when you need to change batteries.  The more complex way to use two batteries, is to wire the two batteries together.  Positive to positive, negative to negative, and just have one of the batteries hooked up with the Fleetwood battery wires you already have.