Battery size/charging/life

[Hilldweller]

My Conqueror Compact came with a Panasonic battery, shore power/charger, and no instructions.
For 6 months I've been charging the battery the day before a trip and the battery has held its own for as long as 5 days ---- but only powering a pair of florescent lights.

But we just got an Edgestar 43 and I did a trial run with it. With the fridge 50% full (water bottles) and already at 36 degrees, I plugged it into my trailer yesterday and let it run. Temperature was set to 41 degrees and the garage ran from about 55 to 70 degrees during the day.
The fridge kicked the battery in a little under 13 hours.

Is there a pair of batteries that will power this thing (in Georgia) for a good 3 days without recharging? I don't necessarily feel like getting a generator yet (or solar).
Anybody suggest a good brand and size? Weight will matter to me.
And I get a discount from Optima or any of the other brands that Johnson Controls owns.

 

[Tucson T4R]

Do you know how many AH your Panisonic battery is? That would help you understand where you currently are and how much you need to step up to get the capacity you want/need.

I am running two 105 AH Deka grp 31 batteries in my trailer (purchased from the AT boys) for a total of 210 AH. That gives me all I need for 3 days when running everything, lights & heater at night and 84 Qt Waeco fidge 24 hours/day in desert heat.

Any idea what the amp draw is on your fridge? That may be key to figuring out what battery capacity you really need.

 

[Hilldweller]

From their website:
Energy guide:
Energy requirements: DC 12/24 Volts, 4.5 Amps/2.5 Amps
AC 115 Volts/60Hz, .75 Amp
65 Watts
http://www.edgestar.com/products/fridgefreeze/fp430.asp

Not sure about the amperage of the panasonic battery; I'm pretty sure that it started life in the 100+ ah range --- can't tell what it has now.
I used to have access to intelligent battery testing equipment; all I have now are o-scopes, signal analyzers, gas/liquid chromatology & mass spectrometers...

I'm thinking about a pair of Optima blue tops?

 

[Tucson T4R]

Some folks have lost faith in Optima in recent years but not everyone. :elkgrin:

Some other brands to check are Deka, Odyssey, and the Sears Diehard version I think they call it the Platinum series marine which is made by the same company as Odyssey. All of these are AGMs and are good choices for repeated draw downs.

 

[Martyn]

Bill

It's hard to know what state the batteries that came with your trailer are now in. We'd just be guessing if we tried to work it out.

My suggestions are you replace what you have with a group 31 Deka AGM valved battery.

Then replace the battery charger with a "smart" marine grade unit. They are smart in that they will charge the battery to capacity and then put it on a maintenance schedule. This stops the plates from getting a sulphur build up.

Charging the batteries just prior to a trip, running them down on the trip, trickle charging them on the way home from the vehicle, and then storing them with a low charge is disastrous for the battery.

We have single and double smart charges if you need one. I'd recommend you pick up a battery locally.

 

[Hilldweller]

Then replace the battery charger with a "smart" marine grade unit. They are smart in that they will charge the battery to capacity and then put it on a maintenance schedule. This stops the plates from getting a sulphur build up.

I suppose it was naive of me to assume that the supplied charger already was of the smart variety...?

I'd need to rewire all of the breakers if I got another charger, wouldn't I? It has shore power/charger/breakers...

 

[mtnbike28]

Is Battery Tender OK?

I threw a battery tender on my trailer... is it considered "smart"?
Bill, please keep this updated, I am curious what you do...

 

[Martyn]

I threw a battery tender on my trailer... is it considered "smart"?
Bill, please keep this updated, I am curious what you do...

Bill, that would be my suggestion as well, add the smart charger, and disable the other charger if possible.

 

[Hilldweller]

Bill, that would be my suggestion as well, add the smart charger, and disable the other charger if possible.

I've got a Battery Tender smart charger that I had bought for my motorcycle.

What about shore power? I was never quite clear about how to go about plugging the trailer in at a campground and running off that?
I've emailed Conqueror again requesting a manual or something. I'm pretty sure that Dean wired the charger; it seems to be working correctly though. What's wrong with the onboard unit? Concern about over-charging?

 

[Titanpat57]

Bill

If I would've had the room I was considering 2 6v (golf cart)batteries. I think it''ll push you out past 230ah. I settled for a Grp 29 that is around 85-90ah I believe. I ran my shore power to a panel that then goes to a 45 amp converter for my 12v needs, which for now are minimal. I included 12v outlets on the outside and inside. The AC has a 20 amp fused GFI in and out also. Lighting circuts are toggled from the panel inside, and both sources have mains that can be shut off to ensure no "accidents". I have links with some very helpful scymatics if you need them. Check out the helpful links at the trailer tech section of i8mud

Good luck and I love your trailer..that may very well be my next one.

PS The 45 amp converter also maintains the battery when it's plugged in.

 

[mtnbike28]

Shore Power

Bill,

I believe when connected to shore power you are not going through the charger... it is not till you flip the charge switch while plugged in that is starts charging the battery. I don't think we have to disconnect anything, just don't flip the switch to charge the battery. If you do use the built in charger, I was told if has no ability to stop charging and will overcharge.

Thanks Martyn on the Battery Tender note.

 

[Hilldweller]

Bill

If I would've had the room I was considering 2 6v (golf cart)batteries. I think it''ll push you out past 230ah. I settled for a Grp 29 that is around 85-90ah I believe. I ran my shore power to a panel that then goes to a 45 amp converter for my 12v needs, which for now are minimal. I included 12v outlets on the outside and inside. The AC has a 20 amp fused GFI in and out also. Lighting circuts are toggled from the panel inside, and both sources have mains that can be shut off to ensure no "accidents". I have links with some very helpful scymatics if you need them. Check out the helpful links at the trailer tech section of i8mud

Good luck and I love your trailer..that may very well be my next one.

PS The 45 amp converter also maintains the battery when it's plugged in.

I'll need to look at your build.

Are the golf cart batteries that good? Will I really get more amperage from two 6's in series rather than two 12's in parallel?

I'll need to get into my panel as well. It's got breakers to all of the hella plugs and switches for shore power.

I tried running the fridge off of shore power with the charger off; no go...
I want a manual.

Thanks gents. I really do want something "smart" so I don't have to watch it constantly. The battery tender I have was meant for a 20 ah m/c battery...

 

[mtnbike28]

manual

I e-mailed Conqueror again today asking for one.... did anyone try to contact the Conqueror dealer in Canada?

How do you tell what Battery Tender you have? Why would it matter?

 

[762X39]

Are the golf cart batteries that good? Will I really get more amperage from two 6's in series rather than two 12's in parallel?

I am waiting to pick up my 2 new 6 volt "golf cart" batteries as soon as I get back into town. Yes they really are that much better. The small golf carts batteries are 230 amps while the large (L16's I think) are almost 400 amps. It takes a monster 12 volt battery (the size of 2 X 12 batteries put together) to equal the current capacity.

 

[Hilldweller]

How do you tell what Battery Tender you have? Why would it matter?

Amperage.
Using the Overland Journal water analogy, it's like filling a pool with a squirt gun.
My Battery Tender is a 2 amp unit.

The small golf carts batteries are 230 amps while the large (L16's I think) are almost 400 amps. It takes a monster 12 volt battery (the size of 2 X 12 batteries put together) to equal the current capacity.

Series it is; sweet.

Martyn, would a pair of these 6-volters in series charge in 5 hours with your 20 amp smart charger then? This would seem ideal; these batteries were made for serious abuse...