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Post by Teachndad on Dec 28, 2018 13:36:07 GMT -8
Hi Friends,
We are heading out next week for 3 nights in Joshua tree national monument. Nights will be down to 28 degrees and we will be camping in my 85 pop up. We have one of those small fan driven propane heaters that are built in to heat the interior.
I generally charge the battery 2 to three times a year. We use the pop up now only once a year for the past 3 years. The battery has never been discharged past 50 percent. Once it came close to 54 percent.
I went out to charge it today and the charger showed 70 percent. Within 45 minutes it was up to 93 percent.
The battery is dated July 2015. I am wondering if I can get by on this battery running the heater in the evening hours 6 to 10 pm.
Thoughts on whether I should replace it or yah Rod, you can make it?
Thanks,
Rod
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Post by danrhodes on Dec 28, 2018 14:43:30 GMT -8
Take it to an auto parts store for a load test? Hi Friends, We are heading out next week for 3 nights in Joshua tree national monument. Nights will be down to 28 degrees and we will be camping in my 85 pop up. We have one of those small fan driven propane heaters that are built in to heat the interior. I generally charge the battery 2 to three times a year. We use the pop up now only once a year for the past 3 years. The battery has never been discharged past 50 percent. Once it came close to 54 percent. I went out to charge it today and the charger showed 70 percent. Within 45 minutes it was up to 93 percent. The battery is dated July 2015. I am wondering if I can get by on this battery running the heater in the evening hours 6 to 10 pm. Thoughts on whether I should replace it or yah Rod, you can make it? Thanks, Rod
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Dec 28, 2018 15:11:40 GMT -8
For lights and charge ports I think you'd be fine but a heater will really run a battery down fast.
Are you sure a battery will work for the heater? You've tried it?
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Post by Teachndad on Dec 28, 2018 16:01:32 GMT -8
Thanks Dan for the suggestion to take it for a load test. I didn't know they did that. If my back would hold up, I could easily do that. I am trying to minimize the moving of the heavy battery. I am down to one son who might be able to lift it, but he's not quite there. One has a broken wrist and the other has a mountain biking overuse injury.
As for NCcampers question, the heater is the original heater in the trailer. We have experience using it. Just using it evenings on prior trips of the same duration and limiting lighting, we have managed to use less than 50 percent of the batteries capacity. It's off when we sleep. The heater has a thermostat which stops it running continuously to save power.
Rod
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roadtripper
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Post by roadtripper on Dec 28, 2018 21:35:17 GMT -8
Rod, you should be able to figure it out on paper. If you know the amp hour capacity of the battery and your daily amp use ( amps per hour times minutes or hours used per day for each item...lights, heater, pump etc) you’ll have your answer. Always nice to have a little to spare and to not take the battery down too far. And you can always plug into the car and start it up for a few minute charge. J. Tree is an awesome place. Thanks
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Jan 8, 2019 16:40:00 GMT -8
Like Dan said, heater fans run batteries down quick. Even new ones. And if you are talking about NEXT weekend for your Joshua Tree trip, well it just closed down due to the government shut down.
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kirkadie
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Post by kirkadie on Jan 8, 2019 20:35:29 GMT -8
Do you keep the tow vehicle connected to your pop up when you park? If so, and your gas tank shows plenty when you set up camp, you should be able to recharge that battery in the morning if you start the engine before you start the coffee pot and get that heater going off vehicle battery excess till the tootsies are warm, then let the engine continue to recharge for another 1/2 hour or so to top it up for lights and radio, no?
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jeremiah
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Post by jeremiah on Jan 9, 2019 6:34:30 GMT -8
I never expect too much from a battery. We use it for very few lights and that's it. That way I won't be disappointed
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Post by bigbill on Jan 12, 2019 16:27:44 GMT -8
It sounds like you have done this before with no battery problems, if so you are probably going to be ok. If the battery has been staying up between charges the same as it always has I wouldn't be to concerned. I take care of my batteries and usually get 7 to 9 years use before replacement. If they start to fall off more between uses then that is your first signal replacement time is near.
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