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Topic ClosedOff grid camping tips

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StephenH View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Off grid camping tips
    Posted: 16 Feb 2020 at 10:41pm
If you are going to go with 2 six volt batteries, be aware that together they will weigh about 120 lbs. I did use them and could get multiple nights, even when I had to run the furnace. However, I recently converted from the six volt batteries to a single 100 Amp LiFePO4 battery. It is expensive, but will give me essentially the same usable power I had with the six volt batteries since it is not good to run the lead-acid batteries below 50% charge and the LiFePO4 batteries can be used until they are shut down by the integrated Battery Management System (BMS). That means that almost the total capacity can be used and the battery will still have thousands of charge/discharge cycles. The battery should be good for long-term use. If you are really concerned and can afford it, go with a pair of LiFePO4 batteries and connect them in parallel (make sure parallel is possible with the brand if you do this. Some are okay in series but not in parallel). You will have much more capacity with much less weight. My LiFePO4 battery weights about 30 lbs, so I am saving about 90 lbs by doing the conversion. See my mods for details of this conversion. It is another option. I don't know how expensive this battery "generator" you are looking at is, but if you are going to spend a lot of money, changing the RPod's battery likely makes more sense except that the portable unit is portable. However, it may not have nearly as much capacity.
StephenH
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Markie View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Feb 2020 at 8:38pm
You can add a second 12volt battery and that will help but its not a good idea to match a brand new battery with an older one. You should have two new ones. If you're gonna purchase another battery you may want to consider going to two six volt batteries. Others podders have posted on the forum that they recommend two six volt batteries wired in series.They create more current and will last longer than two 12volt batteries.   I don't have any experience with that setup personally but it makes sense. Search the forum for six volt battery upgrade for more info.   
Mark & Vicki
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Medicine Wolf View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Feb 2020 at 8:10pm
ok thanks..What about getting a second battery? would that help matters any?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Feb 2020 at 8:04pm
Dont think the furnace will run all night on battery boon docking and it is really loud for sleeping. For heat I use a little buddy propane catalytic heater. Place it close to my bed at night. turn it off when I get in bed and in the morning start it to take the chill off. Be sure to crack a window a bit for ventilation. The heater has a low oxygen shut off but always ventilate. The gas generator is the way to go boondocking. Hondas or yamaha are good. They weigh about a manageable 40 lbs.  Make sure you get at least the 2200 watt so you can run AC in the summer or in the southwest. A 2000 watt isnt quite enough to start the AC compressor. Another thought on staying in a park. Weekend campers reserve electric sites way in advance so electric sites can sometimes be hard to find. You may end up taking a nonelectric site and need a generator. When reserving a site be sure and ask if generators are allowed.    
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Feb 2020 at 3:27pm
right....at rv parks I am set with the infrared heater...Its when I am not at RV parks that I am trying to figure out....I have a very small camper(16ft) so just am not sure what my needs are going to be until I'm out and about....Maybe if its cold(ill be traveling April-june/july in the southwest, colorado mtns etc....) ill just got to an RV park that day....trying to avoid carrying gas/ generator etc....
My thought on the Honda unit was to use it for a night or 2 for phone/tablet charging and then recharge it when I have hookups...Like I said I don't plan on spending more than 2 nights without hookups...So hard to really know what I will need when I'm not hooked up....Any idea how long the furnace will run off pod battery?
Same for internet...Do i get a verizon hotspot mifi or use my phone? Decisions, Decisions
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Feb 2020 at 2:20pm
Originally posted by Medicine Wolf

What about this for a gen? no gas required and good reviews

What Stephen said.  It might be good for a very limited time, like maybe a tailgating party, but you need some way to create new electricity, with solar or a gasoline powered generator, for example.

As for your infrared heater, if it runs on 120 volts, it won't run at all on your Pod battery.  Not for 2 seconds.  It might be very good when you have hookups though.  You're already paying for electricity so why not use your electric heater instead of your propane furnace?

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StephenH View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Feb 2020 at 1:36pm
Originally posted by Medicine Wolf

https://www.amazon.com/Jackery-Portable-Emergency-Generator-Alternative/dp/B07NS7F1FW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

what about this for a gen? no gas required and good reviews
This "generator" is nothing of the sort. It is a Lithium battery pack. What happens when it runs down and needs to be recharged. You would still need a real generator to recharge both it and your RPod's battery/batteries. You would be better served by getting a real generator. If I did not already have the Generac iX2000, I would look for a dual-fuel generator and run it on propane so I would not need to carry gasoline along also.

The only other viable alternative is solar. Thankfully, prices for solar panels are coming down, but not yet to the point where I am willing to get a solar setup to carry since solar would be insufficient to run the AC without adding multiple batteries and multiple hundred watts of solar.
StephenH
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Feb 2020 at 1:23pm
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jato View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Feb 2020 at 12:57pm
Would be a good idea to invest in a cheap voltmeter from harbor freight or something similar.  Usually run around $5 that will do the job.  After a 2 amp trickle charge (24-36 hours) my 12 batteries will read at least 13.2 volts or more and when boondocking (example fall camping in RMNP when night temps in the Rockies are in the mid 40's I get a good 3 days out of each battery, and that is using the furnace a fair amount.  After charging your battery check the voltage with a voltmeter.  Let it rest for a few days and check it again - it should read the same, if not take it to an auto parts store and have them put a load test on it to see how good a condition it is in.   In the summer months we get 7 - 10 days per battery or more when not using the furnace.  Our 12 volt Interstate, group size 24's are just over 9 years old and have been very dependable.
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Medicine Wolf View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Feb 2020 at 12:31pm
I don't plan to use the TV at all..Ill just use my ipad... I will need heat though..I have a space heater...infrared...Will it run off battery for an entire night? Or should I just use the furnace? 
My battery is 3 years old but Ive hardly used it since ive been plugged in at an rv park for the last 2.5 years..Should I get a new one?
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