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Topic: Battery Updates and Charging - Solar - Inverters (Read 6272 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Battery Updates and Charging - Solar - Inverters

Reply #125 –
Quote from: craneman –
When did Aqua Hot switch to propane from diesel?

Oooops. Corrected. ^.^d
Peter and Patty
2004 4020 U320 PBBS
2017 17' Casita Spirit Deluxe
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
Montague, N.J.

Re: Battery Updates and Charging - Solar - Inverters

Reply #126 –
Testing running 1 AC unit off the inverter

I have the coach off-grid right now and with the inverter on. It seems that both AC units on the U320 are running off 20A breakers and plugged into the phase in the Main electrical panel that is not connected to the output from the inverter. The Xantrex 2.5 is right now just inverting for one leg of the main panel.

I have a 50A subpanel with just one of the phases. That one has the breaker for the microwave. The microwave is on, getting power from the inverter, which tells me that circuits that should run off the inverter should go into that subpanel.

Unfortunately, I still need to get the toilet running before I get on the road tomorrow. I may not have time to get to the AC panel today to verify this and to do the required wiring.
Peter and Patty
2004 4020 U320 PBBS
2017 17' Casita Spirit Deluxe
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
Montague, N.J.

Re: Battery Updates and Charging - Solar - Inverters

Reply #127 –
Got front air conditioner running off the inverter. I finally got the toilet issue fixed.

I moved the 20A breaker for the front air conditioning unit, from the Main panel to the subpanel  that is connected to the output of the Xantrex.

It draws about 12.6 A at 119Vac. That's 1500 watts. That's about 125 A at 12V. For the 1490 AH battery bank, for 5 hours that's about 40% DOD.

Ready to rumble tomorrow.


Peter and Patty
2004 4020 U320 PBBS
2017 17' Casita Spirit Deluxe
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
Montague, N.J.

Re: Battery Updates and Charging - Solar - Inverters

Reply #128 –

With inverter efficiency you will be at about 1800 watts load on the batteries. I would measure inverter current draw with fan on high - on my '91 A/C was running about 150 amps on my inverter and alternator going down the road. Be sure inverter has adequate ventilation running 1800 watts continuously. I added a blower in my inverter bay vented to the outside.

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Peter and Tammy Fleming
1991 U300 GV 40 - Sold, owned for 4 years
Downsized to Roadtrek Popular 210 class B

Re: Battery Updates and Charging - Solar - Inverters

Reply #129 –
Successfull and very satisfactory test. At least for the way I plan to use the coach. I'll have more details later. I'm entering this message with the phone. Painful for when typing a lot. So I'll keep it short for now.

Ran 1 AC with the inverter from 3 battery banks totaling just over 1000 AH. The other bank switched and dedicated to 12V needs.

AC running at full blast for 4 hours. Most of the time, inverter was drawing about 180 amps. Just over 2 kw. Total draw of 758 AH. Battery voltage went down to 36% SOC. Voltage down to 11.79V. I stopped the test after the Xantrex control panel started beeping with a blinking red light.

With the 1 AC running and a 12V fan on the dashboard it was a very comfortable ride. Didn't even have to run dash AC. Temperatures in TN were in the high 80s with over 93% humidity.

That night, got to a campground and batteries were nearly charged full by next morning.

 I wonder how much I'm saving by not having to run the diesel generator?

 
 
Peter and Patty
2004 4020 U320 PBBS
2017 17' Casita Spirit Deluxe
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
Montague, N.J.

Re: Battery Updates and Charging - Solar - Inverters

Reply #130 –
Good first day...

10K generator fuel consumption at full load is estimated at 0.5 gl/hr.  So if you spent an extra $1500 to be able to use your batteries and inverter to run an AC then it will take 1000 hours at current fuel prices to break even.  Not including the significant wear and tear on your batteries and inverter. Discharging your batteries to 36% SOC and 11.8v won't help with battery lifetime.

I wonder if an hour of AC (both) on generator (and charging batteries) when you start out and cooling demands are highest would get you more time with less battery demand once the coach is cooled down.



Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Battery Updates and Charging - Solar - Inverters

Reply #131 –
Peter,

From your profile picture I know that you are still relatively young.

My guess is, that you during your lifetime will never financially break even, if you do a rigorous financial cost/benefit analysis.
But a financial analysis does not measure the peace of mind knowing you have a reliable system, and most importantly, does not  measure the satisfaction you got from taking your considerable subject knowledge and applying it.

And it also does not measure the value of information you dispursed to your fellow Forum members.

I learned all sort of things following your post.

Regards

Klaus
The world is not interested in the storms you encountered, but whether or not you brought in the ship.
Raul Armesto

2003 U 320 4020 Unit 6145