Another in the series of
Hilldweller Presents Boring Annecdote Theater:
We took a roadtrip in May, Georgia to VA, MD, WV, back to GA ---- scenic 2-lane roads mostly, maybe about 200 miles of dirt. The equipment was what you all know I have, the PW, the teardrop, two Optimas running an ARB 50 quart fridge, a bunch of LEDs, and the Fantastic Fan once in a while. Additional assets were one campground with power on days 3-6. The rest of the 17 days was just the truck to charge things.
I brought two meters, the onboard charger, my Optima charger, & the generator. I monitored things and then started to play around --- predicting how long a drive I'd need for full charge. A little math here and there and adjusting the speed and I was able to fully top-off those batteries every time. My wife kept asking me, "what are you doing back there?"
I was checking the state of charge, ajusting my route and driving style to time my charging.
I know. I'm a nerd. I can't help it. I considered this fun and part of the enjoyment of the trip.
The real power-hog was the Fantastic Fan; it sucked juice faster than the electric blanket we use in winter.
Again, I'm just relating my experiences here. I'm NOT a battery expert; I attended one 8-hour battery class 12 years ago for one of my electronics certifications. I went to OptimaJim for advice and sympathy when I was building the new trailer and he pointed me towards resources to help me decide which battery to buy. He didn't push the Optima product line at all but he did give me links to
Power Pack Nation. I asked the poor guy to join this forum...