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Generators and Battery chargers

Started by PITPOP27, Jan 30, 2006, 02:11 PM

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PITPOP27

Ok So I'm totally lame (and man you guys can lose me QUICK) But what is the difference (yeah talk to me like I'm 4 please!!!) between Generators and battery chargers and what I need while dry camping with a pop that has a tank and two batteries.  Will have to run the furnace when I can to keep warm, but interior lights can be optional as We have lanterns and such....

So like I said I'm new, don't know ac dc crud.  Just want to know what we need to buy extra to survive this trip!

solar Bunk ends?
Generator?
Battery charger?

Which would be the most important if you could pick one to buy for a 5 day dry camping trip?

fritz_monroe

Quote from: PITPOP27solar Bunk ends?

My understanding on this is it's basically an insulator with a reflective material on one side.  This side reflects back some of the heat in the summer.  If this is wrong, blame it on my newbie-ness. ;)

The thing that gets me is apparently there are some solar battery chargers out there, but I can't seem to locate the threads.  These solar bunk ends throw off the search.

ForestCreature

Quote from: fritz_monroeThe thing that gets me is apparently there are some solar battery chargers out there, but I can't seem to locate the threads. These solar bunk ends throw off the search.
Try this thread  or this one  :)

tlhdoc

Quote from: PITPOP27Ok So I'm totally lame (and man you guys can lose me QUICK) But what is the difference (yeah talk to me like I'm 4 please!!!) between Generators and battery chargers and what I need while dry camping with a pop that has a tank and two batteries. Will have to run the furnace when I can to keep warm, but interior lights can be optional as We have lanterns and such....
 
So like I said I'm new, don't know ac dc crud. Just want to know what we need to buy extra to survive this trip!
 
solar Bunk ends?
Generator?
Battery charger?
 
Which would be the most important if you could pick one to buy for a 5 day dry camping trip?
12 power = battery power = (DC direct current) as long as we are talking about a 12 volt camper battery
 
110 = AC alternating current (what you have at home in your wall outlets)
 
A battery/12 volt/DC power will not operate the regular 110 outlets (like at home) in the trailer. The trailer has to be plugged in to a regular household type outlet, to use the household outlets in the trailer.
 
solar bunkend covers are a reflective cover that you put over your bunkends to help reflect heat from the sun away from the camper keeping it cooler (summer use). If you put the reflective side down and the colored side up they help keep some heat in the bunkend (cold weather use)
 
Generator produces electricity by burning fuel, usually gas, diesel or propane
 
A battery Charger is used to recharge the 12 volt/DC power in you battery by turning AC/household current into DC current. You can't use one unless you have regular household current to plug the battery charger in.  You can plug the battery charger into a generator to recharge your battery.
 
How cold will it be where you are camping? Do you expect to run the furnace a lot? Your needs and the size of the battery and amount of propane will determine how long your battery and propane will last.
 
The appliances in your camper water pump, lights, and furnace fan all use 12 volt/DC/battery power.
 
The furnace also uses propane to produce the heat, the electric fan blows the heat into the camper. The furnace uses a lot of battery power and propane.
 
The refrigerator will run on propane/DC power=battery/AC power=household electric. Running the refrigerator on DC power will drain the battery in a few hours. If you can't plug the camper in to an electric outlet run the fridge on propane. It doesn't use much. Also you will not hear anything running when using the fridge. There isn't a compressor. If you can plug the camper in at home for 12 to 24 hours before you leave to precool the fridge.
 
IF the camper is plugged into an electric outlet the power converter will turn the household/110 AC power into DC/12 volt power to run the lights, water pump, furnace fan.
 
So if you can't take a chance on running out of battery/DC power, a generator will allow you to use a battery charger to recharge the PU's battery.
 
A second battery may be the way to go, I have 3 that I take on long trips.
 
I hope this helps.:)

PITPOP27

wow who knew I typed this earlier and didn't subscribe to it what a dork....so how do you charge the batteries before going on a trip with a battery charger?  If so what type of Battery charger do you have and where did you purchase it?

tlhdoc

Quote from: PITPOP27so how do you charge the batteries before going on a trip with a battery charger? If so what type of Battery charger do you have and where did you purchase it?
Yes you use a battery charger.  I have a 3 stage "smart" charger that I purchased at Wal-Mart.  The brand on mine is Vector, but the same company makes chargers under other names too.:)

wavery

This was the best deal that I have found on Smart Chargers. A few of us here have purchaced from this guy and are happy with our chargers. I don't think that you can beat the price. I got all 3 of mine 2 days after I paid for it. I bought 2 of them as Christmas gifts (am I cheap, or what :p ).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Schumacher-12-8-2-Battery-Charger-12-Volt-A-car-boat_W0QQitemZ6033124059QQcategoryZ50391QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

PITPOP27

Thanks Wavery!  Placed a bid last night, and will know if we won in 8 hours.   ;) went thrifty and wouldn't pay his pay now price :p .  He has so many I figure if I lose the bid I'll buy another at his pay now price!

This is exciting news, because when we go to Yosemite, the other half of our group stays in housekeeping (which has electricity) so  my hubby will plug in one battery to the charger while we are using the other (our PU came with two).  Does this sound like a good idea? I'm telling you WE ARE GREEN!  :D

chkster

The Kipor 2000TI generator comes with a 12VDC/8.3 amp outlet with a special setup to charge a battery.  I use a "smart" three stage charger at home, for maintanence of the battery.

PITPOP27

Quote from: waveryThis was the best deal that I have found on Smart Chargers. A few of us here have purchaced from this guy and are happy with our chargers. I don't think that you can beat the price. I got all 3 of mine 2 days after I paid for it. I bought 2 of them as Christmas gifts (am I cheap, or what :p ).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Schumacher-12-8-2-Battery-Charger-12-Volt-A-car-boat_W0QQitemZ6033124059QQcategoryZ50391QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Is that the exact model you got?  I hope cause that's the one we are getting....good deal!

wavery

Quote from: PITPOP27Is that the exact model you got?  I hope cause that's the one we are getting....good deal!
That is the same one that I got. I'm happy with it :D . So is my brother, a Friend of mine and a few other people on PU Times.

Good luck with it. You'll probably receive it in a few days. The guy usually ships it right away.

PITPOP27

Thanks!  Should make things easier for sure!

PITPOP27

Quote from: PITPOP27This is exciting news, because when we go to Yosemite, the other half of our group stays in housekeeping (which has electricity) so  my hubby will plug in one battery to the charger while we are using the other (our PU came with two).  Does this sound like a good idea? I'm telling you WE ARE GREEN!  :D

Well does it?  WIll it allow us to use what we want when we want?

tlhdoc

Quote from: PITPOP27Well does it? WIll it allow us to use what we want when we want?
No you will not be able to use what ever you want when you want, you will only be able to use DC/12 volt/battery power.  Depending on what you are using you could still drain the battery.  Anything that produces heat will cause the battery to drain quickly.  If you run your refrigerator on DC power you will drain the battery in a few hours.
 
If you are talking about lights, water pump, furnace, etc and you will be recharging the battery every day or two, you will be fine.:)

wavery

It would be a good idea to charge both batteries fully. Leave them over night then check out both batteries with a hydrometer before you go. There is nothing more frustrating than taking 2 batteries (thinking of everything) and finding out that one or both are bad. That happened to my brother on our last Dana Point camp out. Thankfully Costco was just around the corner. You don't have that option at Yosemite.

http://www.rpc.com.au/reindex.html?http://www.rpc.com.au/products/batteries/accessories/hydrometer/hydrometer_faq.html

Fill the batteries to the full mark with distilled water. Keep the tops clean and dry. You may even want to take some distilled water with you if you plan on charging the batteries over and over.