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Hodge-PODge View Drop Down
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Joined: 11 Apr 2011
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Posts: 539 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Another generator question
    Posted: 25 May 2011 at 11:17am
I don't know very much about inverter generators so I have a question -- okay I have FOUR questions!  A campground I am interested in has no water or electric hookups.  Generator use is permitted up to 4 hours per day and not at all after 8 pm. 
 
1)   How long will one deep cycle battery last while camping if frugally using a couple of lights, water pump, and  the Fantastic Fan (at night)?
 
2)   If you are camping for 3 or 4 days and your battery runs down, will the inverter generator recharge the Pod's battery?  If so, what size generator is best, and how long should it have to run to recharge the Pod's battery?
 
3)   Along the same line, if you have a big enough generator to run the air conditioner (AC) in the middle of a hot day, will the Pod's battery still recharge at the same time while running the AC off the generator?
 
4)  If you have a generator with a 30 amp plugin, is there ANYTHING ELSE you should do besides plug the Pod into it and start the generator?  (Wouldn't want to screw up the Pod's electrical system!  Cry)
 
Folks, I'm a blank slate in regard to generators!  I appreciate anything you can do to educate me.
2011 RP 177, the Hodge-PODge
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Snowbound View Drop Down
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Posts: 270 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 May 2011 at 12:41pm
Diane,
  We had some of the same questions so what we did was camp with no electric. We used the lights sparingly, turned on the fan a couple of times but left the vent open until it started to rain, tried to remember to turn off the water pump when we went to bed (forgot one night) or when away for the afternoon. We had upgraged our battery one size when we bought the unit. It still had plenty of power for the slide out when we broke camp and when we parked it in the driveway.
  We would prefer not to have to lug a generator around. We have not tried the A/C yet.
B
Tom and Bette
in our 177 "The Gastropod"
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Posts: 539 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 May 2011 at 1:53pm
Snowbound, that's good advice.  You realize I'm camping in the south in the summertime?  Mostly in the mountains.  Used to be it was always cooler there, but that's not been the case the last few years.  It's been as hot there as anywhere else.
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Posts: 767 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 May 2011 at 2:19pm
1)   How long will one deep cycle battery last while camping if frugally using a couple of lights, water pump, and  the Fantastic Fan (at night)?

A group 24 battery, in good condition, should last 2-3 nights.  A group 27 should last 3-4 nights.  Lights are the worst draw.  Try to keep your light usage to 2 bulbs for 2 hours every day.
 
2)   If you are camping for 3 or 4 days and your battery runs down, will the inverter generator recharge the Pod's battery?  If so, what size generator is best, and how long should it have to run to recharge the Pod's battery?

You goal is not to fully recharge your battery using your generator.  Instead, you'll want only to bulk-charge it to 75%-80% of capacity.  Just plug your R-POD into your generator for an hour and that'll do it.

Note: fully charging your battery will take 8-10 hours.  That last 20% takes quite a while to squeeze in.
 
3)   Along the same line, if you have a big enough generator to run the air conditioner (AC) in the middle of a hot day, will the Pod's battery still recharge at the same time while running the AC off the generator?

Yes.  Charging a battery requires very little power.
 
4)  If you have a generator with a 30 amp plugin, is there ANYTHING ELSE you should do besides plug the Pod into it and start the generator?  (Wouldn't want to screw up the Pod's electrical system!  Cry)

Actually, start the generator FIRST and let it run for a minute or two before plugging in your R-POD.  Make sure that the A/C is turned off before you plug in.  Also, make sure that your water heater is not on electric before plugging in.

If you just want to charge your battery, you only need a small, 1000 watt generator.  You can use a 15/20 - 30 amp adapter without trouble.  Equally, if you purchase something like the Yamaha 2400 to run your A/C, you can use that same adapter without problem.  Just don't run the A/C at the same time.
Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
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Posts: 539 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 May 2011 at 2:35pm
Thanks, Craig.  The info about recharging with a 1000 watt generator was helpful, especially.  I know the generators that will actually allow you to run the A/C are pretty expensive.  You're a great teacher!  I will print off your instructions.
Diane
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 May 2011 at 3:29pm

If you are going to run your A/C you may find you have to turn off the eco setting on the genset, some of them just can't catch up from an idle.  Then again you may be ok.

If you want to get the most from your deep cycle battery, you should read this FAQ:
 
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 195 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 May 2011 at 5:30pm
All good information.  I've found that my Yamaha 2000i inverter generator won't handle and run my A/C, so before I go out to Death Valley, I plan on buying the second Yamaha 2000i coupler genny so that I can run the A/C in my unit.  I ran the A/C today and it only took about 20 minutes to lower the interior from 80 degrees to 68 degrees, so I am confident that I could easily squeak out a full tank of gas (with this and the charging use in mind) about 3 days of short genny use.  
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Posts: 767 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 May 2011 at 7:36am
Originally posted by secretbard

I plan on buying the second Yamaha 2000i coupler genny so that I can run the A/C in my unit.

Before investing in a second generator, you may want to read a recent thread about hard start capacitors (link).
Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 May 2011 at 7:08am
As usual, Outbound covered the subject very well.  I also like one of his prior posts regarding changing out at least some of the light bulbs to 4 watt bulbs (available in the landscape lighting section of your favorite home improvement store).  I tried to go even smaller still, using automotive #168 bulbs (@ 2.7 watts each - if memory serves).  These may not be bright enough - depending on your usage, however.  I would say they are roughly the same as having a candle lit.  The LED bulbs use about 1/10th the power but, at approx. $25-30 each, I just don't consider them practical.
 
As Snowbound mentioned, remember to turn things off - like the water pump and that darned TV antenna amplifier ( I always forget to turn it off).  Also, I only turn on the water heater when needed.  The lighted switch uses power, plus it is well insulated enough that it will keep the water fairly hot thru the day for dish washing.  Also, keeping the bath vent open will help with natural convection, in removing heat.
 
Of course, (the obvious) a shady campsite is a real plus.
 
Good luck on your first outing!
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