Newbie boondocker questions

Topic: Newbie boondocker questions (Read 4195 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #50 – August 27, 2012, 08:59:35 am

Wow, a six year old battery is a really long lasting battery in my experience, at least with car batteries it would be. The oldest car battery I ever had went seven years. I always buy top of the line Interstate car batteries with a fresh date code. I did some more research on the inverter and discovered that all microwave ovens have an inverter in them, even the 12 volt DC microwave ovens. All CRT type televisions have an inverter in them, but some of the newer LCD televisions can run on 12 volt DC directly. I don't watch TV so it's irrelevant information for me but maybe it will benefit others? Probably every other device, including the ice machine apparently, can be replaced with a 12 volt DC device that doesn't use an inverter. My air compressor sounds terrible and as soon as it dies I intend to install a 12 volt DC model to replace it. As it is now I have to set the airbags down when I'm boondocking without power, even if I'm on an uneven campsite, so a 12 volt DC compressor would be a nice upgrade... (pun?)

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #51 – August 27, 2012, 09:14:53 am

Not sure if someone already mentioned this, but an autostart kit for your generator would be an excellent solution. When the batteries get to a certain point, the generator starts automatically and recharges the batteries. When the batteries charge to a certain point, the generator automatically stops. Camping World as well as PPL and others have these systems.

Hope this is helpful.

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #52 – August 27, 2012, 09:46:24 am

I got a Magnum Energy AGS-S from Defender Marine. The installation took a few of hours "puttering." I was able to make the installation inside the coach with crimp style spade connecters. It connects to the generator controls on the dashboard. Cost was under $300 for AGS and all other supplies.

Our coach had generator autostart as original equipment, but it had been removed. There were problems with units installed in 1996-7. Current technology is much better.

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #53 – August 27, 2012, 10:47:35 am

Replacing all your appliances with DC models will work but you will need to increase the wire sizes substantially. The power draw of the appliances will not change but the current will go way up (because the voltage went way down).

I always thought that the air compressors were 12VDC already.

Craig

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #54 – August 27, 2012, 12:01:17 pm

Quote from: wa_desert_rat – August 27, 2012, 10:47:35 am

I always thought that the air compressors were 12VDC already.

I know of only one electric air compressor on my coach. It is the auxiliary compressor for the HWH leveling system. It is a 12VDC unit. It hardly ever runs.

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #55 – August 27, 2012, 01:06:11 pm

I think I would get thrown out of the campground if my noisy diesel generator autostarted itself during quiet hours. They have only certain hours of the day that you can run the generator so I'll have to abide by their rules. I believe a previous owner replaced the compressor with a 120 volt AC model. All the airbags are old and leaking. I need to have them changed but I didn't have the money when I was at Foretravel factory service in Nacogdoches recently, so I purchased a new airbag to carry with me as a spare in case one blows out on the road. The air compressor runs a lot due to the old airbags and it sounds like the compressor is about to come apart, probably from high hours. I'll look at it today and check the oil unless it's one of those oil free compressors or something? I'll install a 12 volt DC compressor as soon as this one dies... maybe I'll even order it now and carry it around with me. This compressor only has to survive until Friday morning and then I'm boondocking without power for the rest of the time I'm in Maine, probably over a month. I realize 12 volt DC requires much larger wiring than 120 volt AC. I'll run a separate heavy gauge wire with an in line fuse near at the batteries for each device I install.

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #56 – August 27, 2012, 02:22:10 pm

Quote from: RRadio – August 27, 2012, 01:06:11 pm

I think I would get thrown out of the campground if my noisy diesel generator autostarted itself during quiet hours. They have only certain hours of the day that you can run the generator so I'll have to abide by their rules.

Magnum AGS has a setting for quiet hours. The other option is to turn off the autostart function during quiet hours.

I added the autostart module primarily for protection of the batteries in case we are running on batteries in an area where running the generator is not a problem. We sometimes park overnight in rest areas, casino parking lots, truck stops, etc. In hot weather, the generator runs all night. In cold weather, we run on batteries. Knowing the autostart module is watching the batteries is comforting.

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #57 – August 28, 2012, 05:54:46 am

RRadio, replacing everything with 12V and the larger wire required would be a chore as well as $$. The bottom line here is you have to manage your use of electricity, and unless you have a whole bunch of solar panels you are going to end up running your generator a couple of hours a day anyway, especially if you use the microwave, coffee pot, and ice maker.

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #58 – August 28, 2012, 07:30:34 am

I'm gonna turn off the ice machine and inverter on Friday when I go without power for over a month. The convection oven apparently doesn't work, but I never use a microwave anyway, so I may remove it and install a "real" light or perhaps a range hood over the gas range, which I do use. I don't watch TV either so if I remove the TV and the convection oven I should save about a hundred pounds and gain space for something I do use. I make coffee in a percolator on the gas stove. I only need to install a 12 volt DC compressor. Everything else will work fine on batteries without the inverter... I dunno why I have a 120 volt AC compressor? I was looking at it yesterday and it appears to be the factory installed original. I'll ask Foretravel about it next time.

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #59 – August 28, 2012, 09:25:17 am

I carry a 120v pancake compressor to set my tire pressure. I have been in situations where I need air in a tire and the locals don't have the means to inflate my tires at the proper pressure. This compressor however is on a separate circuit breaker and is only on when I need it.

Roland

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #60 – September 04, 2012, 05:57:10 pm

Apparently I use so little electricity that I have little to worry about. I've been boondocking since Friday and running the genset even two hours seems to be overkill. My main electric consumer is my laptop computer which is plugged into the dashboard cigarette lighter socket with a 12 volt DC power adapter. I converted the dashboard cigarette lighter socket to the coach batteries. It was previously connected to the cranking battery. I presume the lighter socket behind the small TV in the bedroom is already connected to the coach batteries instead of the cranking battery. I'll verify that on the drawings before I use it, if I ever do. I emptied the ice machine and discovered its ice cube bin fits inside the gas freezer, which was probably a case of good planning on someone's part, and I appreciate the convenience. I could live without the ice machine and just buy a bag of ice when I get groceries and put the ice in the bin. I'm not using the inverter at all without the ice machine. I hate that the convection oven is useless without 120 volt AC power. It is apparently broken anyway so I may remove it tomorrow and install a 12 volt DC light directly over the gas range. I never use a microwave anyway. I was considering installing a 12 volt DC range hood over the gas range but I really only need a light. I want to install a 12 volt DC light inside the oven also but I haven't thought that all the way through yet, so I'll wait for another time. The 120 volt AC air compressor is the original as installed by Foretravel. When it wears out I'll replace it with a 12 volt DC compressor so I can use the airbags to level the coach on uneven campsites when boondocking without power. Fortunately the campsites I've had without power are nearly level anyway, so the compressor isn't really needed. I set the coach down all the way as soon as I find the most level spot on the campsite... I'm at St George Lake state park in Liberty Maine currently by the way, and it's nice... So basically I've only run my genset a couple of times since I've been boondocking in Maine, the first time for a couple of hours, which was overkill, and the second time for about one hour, which might not have been quite enough to fully charge the batteries but it was more than enough charge to make it through another night. On the days when I'm driving somewhere I don't bother to start the genset at all. The batteries are so lightly discharged that the alternator is doing fine charging them. Maine is a cool climate, even in the Summer, so I doubt the alternator will get hot charging the lightly discharged coach batteries... This is all I've learned about boondocking without power for now.

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #61 – September 04, 2012, 06:09:17 pm

It is not the weather that heats it up but the alternator looks to a low charge situation and bulk charges running full out...

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #62 – September 04, 2012, 06:48:21 pm

I think 2-3 100 watt solar panels would help you a maintain your house and start battery's. Remember when in service the refrigerator should be kept level or you can have big problems that's one of the reasons for the 12volt air compressor. Gam

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #63 – September 04, 2012, 11:36:40 pm

Our experience boondocking has been much like yours. If we don't use the ice maker, coffee maker, microwave or the Dish Network DVR and TV's we can go as much as three days before the 12V drops below 12.4 no load volts. My two lifeline batteries were installed in 10/2004 are apparently are still performing very well. We have installed LED bulbs in all of the lights we typically use. When the batteries are at 12.3 it takes three to four hours to reach almost a full recharge (13.1 V @ <10 amps). I try to never go below 12.2 volts. When I shut off the generator it will stabilize at 12.7 Volts for a long time.

It appears you have already figured most of this out. Just enjoy!!!

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #64 – September 05, 2012, 02:09:05 pm

Solar panels wouldn't help me because I camp in the shade whenever possible. I think I'm gonna be okay just because I don't use much electricity and my batteries are new. I'll probably continue to run the genset an hour or two each day except the days I'm driving somewhere. I ran it a little over two hours today so I could use the central vacuum. I haven't been using the inverter at all, and I honestly don't miss the ice machine at all. I doubt I'll even replace it if it ever dies on me. Seems like I could buy a lot of bags of ice at the grocery store for that amount of money and hassle. The thing still has water in it, probably coming out of the insulation shell. I've had the door open drying it out since Friday.

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #65 – September 05, 2012, 03:51:35 pm

RRadio

A 120v compressor will provide a higher volume of compressed air than a 12v compressor. My shop compressor uses 240vac @ 9.5 amps and produces 6 cfpm at 90psi. My portable (household) compressor uses 120 vac @ 13amps and produces 4 cfpm at 90psi. My Foretravel 12v compressor uses 12vCD @ 10 amps and produces 0.4 cfpm at 90 psi. I carry the 12v, 10amp compressor and a 120VAC, 13amp compressor in my Foretravel. I also carry a 12v, 10amp compressor in my Suzuki 4x4. I have modified the air bag lines in my Foretravel by adding schrader valves to allow filling like a tire. I also modified the air line from the 12v compressor to allow airing up the air bags from a 120VAC compressor, and also the main air lines to allow airing up the air brakes from the 120VAC compressor. This allows me to air up quietly and then run the Cummins M11 for just a short warm up before pulling out (people hate diesels at 6am).

For camping, I shift the coach around to get as level as possible before dumping the air in the airbags. I can normally get as level as needed using level indicators near the driver seat. Then, if neccessary, I use (a pair of) 2 inch diameter aluminum pipes which are 6.25 inches long and other small plates or hard wood to block up the low corner of the motorhome. A pipe which is 6.25 long will provide almost full air bag extension when positioned over the metal donut which is 2 feet inboard of the airbag. It will provide almost no lift when positioned near the airbag. I dump all the airbag air to settle on the stops as low as possible so that the exit step is close to the ground. I can then sit level for weeks without using a compressor.

If just stopped for overnight, I leave the HWH level system "ON" and use the 12v compressor if neccessary.

Note that if you elect to air up brakes with a 120VAC compressor you must use a water seperator and dessicant to get very dry air.

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #66 – September 05, 2012, 05:06:52 pm

That's a great idea that I hadn't thought of, blocking up the suspension and letting the airbags down... I'll investigate that more thoroughly when I get a chance to think it through clearly.

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #67 – September 05, 2012, 07:07:46 pm

I use 6 1/2" 4x4's to keep the coach off the tires. You can also put one on it's side and the other on top of it to give you 10" clearance if you need to go under the front or back.

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #68 – September 06, 2012, 12:34:03 am

We leave the HWH system on for weeks at a time and I never hear the 12V compressor come on. Of course our air bags were replaced in 2009 so they don't leak at all.

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #69 – September 06, 2012, 06:45:31 am

I noticed that letting all the airbags down except for one rear corner uses a lot less air than keeping all four corners up. My airbags are over 20 years old and they need to be replaced... as soon as I can afford to that is. I'm carrying a new spare airbag with me just in case I blow one on the road somewhere.

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #70 – September 06, 2012, 09:55:05 am

Quote from: Kent Speers – September 06, 2012, 12:34:03 am

We leave the HWH system on for weeks at a time and I never hear the 12V compressor come on. Of course our air bags were replaced in 2009 so they don't leak at all.

Our experience is similar. The 12V compressor seldom runs under any circumstances. Also, I often operate the HWH in manual mode or turn it off after leveling. The coach stays level for weeks. I expect many leaks that people attribute to the air bags are at the "six packs" rather than at the bags. Several of our air bags are looking ragged on the surface, but there is no evidence of any leaks.

There is a discussion of air leaks and the six-packs here: AIR LEAKS!!!

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #71 – September 06, 2012, 03:45:52 pm

If you do block the suspension with wood, be aware that hardwood is much stronger than softwood and all wood will crush much easier across the grain then along the grain. To be safe, insert the wood blocks, dump the air, and check the blocks before climbing under the coach.

Also be aware that if the rear of the coach is high, the rear most airbags will be longer than the front most airbags on the rear suspension. I carefully check the gap difference when inserting my aluminum pipe blocks and normally add a 1/4 inch thick aluminum plate to one of the pipes. I discovered this by accident because I could move one of the pipes after dumping the air from the airbags such that just one pipe on the blocked corner was holding the weight. I believe that some folks use just one block at each corner, however, I am uncertain what effect the resulting twisting forces will have on the suspension so I use two blocks on each corner.

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #72 – September 11, 2012, 06:03:59 pm

On my first two coaches I always turned off the 12 volt pump but with slides you need it to make sure the bladders remain full.

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #73 – September 11, 2012, 09:05:19 pm

Small point, When I had Cummins man crawl under the coach to replace the cracked brass 3/8," Tee, I did not have my safety stands along, so he got a hydraulic bottle jack, placed it between the frame members, took up the slack, dumped the air, all was fine. I love em skinny high speed young men (kids) who act like they enjoy their work, guess it reminds me of me 50 yrs ago. That was at Cummins Souix Falls, SD
PTL
Dave M

Re: Newbie boondocker questions

Reply #74 – September 11, 2012, 09:27:30 pm

Quote from: Dave M – September 11, 2012, 09:05:19 pm

I love em skinny high speed young men (kids) who act like they enjoy their work, guess it reminds me of me 50 yrs ago. That was at Cummins Souix Falls, SD
PTL
Dave M

Dave,
I never knew you were "skinny"! :-)

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