GATORB8
Member
H2O Update
So I attempted to cancel the Ironman tank over Christmas via email (phones weren't open and no way to do it online), and received what I thought was a confirmation email. Then.... I got the shipment confirmation today.
Fortunately, I think I finally might have figured out how to make it work, fitting it in the frame opening was what was screwing me up. I'm going to drop it to basically hang it directly under the frame. This will give me the 2" to play with for plumbing on top, and the ability to locate the plumbing in the kitchen bulkhead.
There's a slight chance I could make it fit longitudinally, allowing for two 13 gallon tanks, but that will basically run all the way to the rear of the frame, and with no dimensions I'm not sure the fill will clear the rear crossmember, and it will move the weight rearward and I'm not sure I'll have the weight to counterbalance and get the tongue heavy enough. Another option would be running a tank in front and in back of the Timbren crossmember. It gets here this weekend, so I'll be able to play with it and mock it up in person.
Electrical
I've been trying to take advantage of some of the year end sales. I did not think I would end up going Lifepo4, but found a deal I felt ended up being closer to the cost of AGM (at least using the 50% DoD rule).
I had been looking closely at Renogy and was thinking I'd go with their 200AH AGM originally (https://www.renogy.com/deep-cycle-agm-battery-12-volt-200ah/) figuring realistically I'd be able to get closer to 75-80% DoD. After more and more research (I'm sure I've barely scratched the surface) I ran into some recommendations for Ampere Time lithium batteries. Ampere Time has been rebranded as LiTime, and during the year end sales, I decided to go ahead and pick up a pair of 100AH Lifepo4's from them at $300 a pop. Adhering to the 50% DoD rule, a single one of these 100 AH Lithiums is equivalent to the 200AH AGM, and is actually $60 cheaper than the Renogy AGM (at least for the battery). Used their Amazon store since I trust it more. https://www.litime.com/products/litime-12v-100ah-lithium-lifepo4-battery
Of course Lithium does change a few other things. I'll need to control the battery box temperature (or not use it) below freezing, note these cheap batteries do not have low temp protection. I'm planning on a temp controlled tank heater or similar to make that work for cheap. Battery monitoring via voltage is no longer possible (kind of inaccurate for SLA's anyway), couldn't find anything competitive with the Renogy Monitor for sub $100-150, so I went ahead and ordered their 500 amp monitor/shunt for $75 https://www.renogy.com/500a-battery-monitor-with-shunt/.
Shore Charging: I've decided that the NOCO Genpro10x1 I have already is going to be sub-par for this setup. I may as well crank up the juice since I can. That sale is over, but the NOCO Genpro 10x3 (30 Amp) is actually a good deal and is the same price as their 20 amp unit on Amazon for $230.
Here's my delimma, Renogy has a combo ATS/Inverter/Charger on sale right now for right at $600. https://www.renogy.com/2000w-12v-pure-sine-wave-inverter-charger-w-lcd-display/. This will be tough to beat, compare to the less powerful NOCO for $230 + a decent 2000W Pur Sine for $370, you get the remote and an ATS (Normally $100+) included. Two issues with it, first it's massive, second the damn thing only works to 104* F. What happens in the desert, I guess I could make the tongue box an ice cooler for it, but that's not a great solution for boondocking.
I know I'll need a pure sine inverter to future proof this thing with thoughts of remote work with laptops and starlink, but I'm pretty sure I could get by with a smaller inverter for that. To accurately size an inverter I need to figure out one more thing...
HVAC
Geese, this is way tougher than just googling a 12V AC, unfortunately. Could use some input here, between living in the south, a love for the desert, and my inability to comfortably sleep at temp extremes, I WANT AC.
1. ClimateRight has an interesting solution, but they've decided to put it on potentially permanent hold:
Plus the power issues I mention next as it's similar in draw.
2. Window Shaker on a PSW Inverter. Of course this will take some design work and will most likely end up ugly as hell. Looks like I'm looking in the 425 W range plus inverter inefficiency, so something like 40 AMP load for only the AC which means I need more battery and a ton of solar if I ever want to use it off grid. Or use a generator which I hate to do camping.
3. DC Portables. Looks like the options are the Zero Breeze at $1k + a 24V converter, or the EcoFlow Wave which is more powerful at $1,500. The Zero Breeze is probably in the lead right now, with 240W should be reasonably sustainable with a couple hundred watts of solar.
4. 12V Rooftop. Seem to be overpowered and extremely expensive.
So I attempted to cancel the Ironman tank over Christmas via email (phones weren't open and no way to do it online), and received what I thought was a confirmation email. Then.... I got the shipment confirmation today.
Fortunately, I think I finally might have figured out how to make it work, fitting it in the frame opening was what was screwing me up. I'm going to drop it to basically hang it directly under the frame. This will give me the 2" to play with for plumbing on top, and the ability to locate the plumbing in the kitchen bulkhead.
There's a slight chance I could make it fit longitudinally, allowing for two 13 gallon tanks, but that will basically run all the way to the rear of the frame, and with no dimensions I'm not sure the fill will clear the rear crossmember, and it will move the weight rearward and I'm not sure I'll have the weight to counterbalance and get the tongue heavy enough. Another option would be running a tank in front and in back of the Timbren crossmember. It gets here this weekend, so I'll be able to play with it and mock it up in person.
Electrical
I've been trying to take advantage of some of the year end sales. I did not think I would end up going Lifepo4, but found a deal I felt ended up being closer to the cost of AGM (at least using the 50% DoD rule).
I had been looking closely at Renogy and was thinking I'd go with their 200AH AGM originally (https://www.renogy.com/deep-cycle-agm-battery-12-volt-200ah/) figuring realistically I'd be able to get closer to 75-80% DoD. After more and more research (I'm sure I've barely scratched the surface) I ran into some recommendations for Ampere Time lithium batteries. Ampere Time has been rebranded as LiTime, and during the year end sales, I decided to go ahead and pick up a pair of 100AH Lifepo4's from them at $300 a pop. Adhering to the 50% DoD rule, a single one of these 100 AH Lithiums is equivalent to the 200AH AGM, and is actually $60 cheaper than the Renogy AGM (at least for the battery). Used their Amazon store since I trust it more. https://www.litime.com/products/litime-12v-100ah-lithium-lifepo4-battery
Of course Lithium does change a few other things. I'll need to control the battery box temperature (or not use it) below freezing, note these cheap batteries do not have low temp protection. I'm planning on a temp controlled tank heater or similar to make that work for cheap. Battery monitoring via voltage is no longer possible (kind of inaccurate for SLA's anyway), couldn't find anything competitive with the Renogy Monitor for sub $100-150, so I went ahead and ordered their 500 amp monitor/shunt for $75 https://www.renogy.com/500a-battery-monitor-with-shunt/.
Shore Charging: I've decided that the NOCO Genpro10x1 I have already is going to be sub-par for this setup. I may as well crank up the juice since I can. That sale is over, but the NOCO Genpro 10x3 (30 Amp) is actually a good deal and is the same price as their 20 amp unit on Amazon for $230.
Here's my delimma, Renogy has a combo ATS/Inverter/Charger on sale right now for right at $600. https://www.renogy.com/2000w-12v-pure-sine-wave-inverter-charger-w-lcd-display/. This will be tough to beat, compare to the less powerful NOCO for $230 + a decent 2000W Pur Sine for $370, you get the remote and an ATS (Normally $100+) included. Two issues with it, first it's massive, second the damn thing only works to 104* F. What happens in the desert, I guess I could make the tongue box an ice cooler for it, but that's not a great solution for boondocking.
I know I'll need a pure sine inverter to future proof this thing with thoughts of remote work with laptops and starlink, but I'm pretty sure I could get by with a smaller inverter for that. To accurately size an inverter I need to figure out one more thing...
HVAC
Geese, this is way tougher than just googling a 12V AC, unfortunately. Could use some input here, between living in the south, a love for the desert, and my inability to comfortably sleep at temp extremes, I WANT AC.
1. ClimateRight has an interesting solution, but they've decided to put it on potentially permanent hold:
Plus the power issues I mention next as it's similar in draw.
2. Window Shaker on a PSW Inverter. Of course this will take some design work and will most likely end up ugly as hell. Looks like I'm looking in the 425 W range plus inverter inefficiency, so something like 40 AMP load for only the AC which means I need more battery and a ton of solar if I ever want to use it off grid. Or use a generator which I hate to do camping.
3. DC Portables. Looks like the options are the Zero Breeze at $1k + a 24V converter, or the EcoFlow Wave which is more powerful at $1,500. The Zero Breeze is probably in the lead right now, with 240W should be reasonably sustainable with a couple hundred watts of solar.
4. 12V Rooftop. Seem to be overpowered and extremely expensive.
You can't really do much when it's brutal hot anywho.
