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Post by bigbill on Nov 11, 2013 6:48:07 GMT -8
I was thinking about what type of 12 volt supply and charging system I could install to allow me to have 12 volt lights until I got setup and connected to a 110 shore line. My requirements are small in size, no fumes, protected from stuff getting damaged by contact with batteries, inexpensive, and dependable,and safe. I only plan on running a few led lights inside trailer on 12 volts. It occurred that harbor Freight sells a 900 watt jumper/auxiliary power pack that is totally encased for $39.00 on sale and you have a agm battery with charger ready to go. Plus if you needed to jump start your tow vehicle you could just lift it out, unplug the charger cord and the supply cord then jump start your vehicle. This unit would take up almost no space inside trailer compared to a conventional battery/charger setup. Just me thinking out loud.
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cowcharge
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Post by cowcharge on Nov 12, 2013 7:11:53 GMT -8
If they're starting batteries, they won't like being deeply discharged. But I guess it depends how many ah they hold and how miserly your lights are. Oughta work.
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Nov 12, 2013 7:40:42 GMT -8
If they're starting batteries, they won't like being deeply discharged. But I guess it depends how many ah they hold and how miserly your lights are. Oughta work. I almost made that same comment, Cow. I have experience with a starter battery that did not serve me well. I went to buy a Blue Top Optima at Advanced Auto and they had just sold the last one and assured me the red top was the same thing without the extra posts... nope. 4,000 miles down the road I stopped at Auto Zone and they tested it and it was OK, but I did the research and found that I had been sold a starter battery.  Still haven't told my husband. |
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Post by bigbill on Nov 12, 2013 9:05:50 GMT -8
I buy the yellow 900 watt unit that also has a port to run TVs and such as I mention above I have run them way down and plugged them in and they come back up. I don't think this system would be good for a person wanting to run a furnace all night and uses such as that if they were living off grid. I am thinking of the person who pulls in after dark and needs 30 minutes of light while the are setting up and getting plugged into shore power or the person who is just stopped at night and wants to get in the trailer and change clothes or fix a cold sandwich. But I think one of these would run several led lights a long time with no problem.
SusieQ are you talking about a deep cycle battery as compared to a regular battery?
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Nov 12, 2013 13:15:14 GMT -8
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Post by bigbill on Nov 12, 2013 13:30:29 GMT -8
Yes we use optima batteries in our boats, street rods and race cars and have for years. The power pack I am talking about uses agm batteries also.
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cowcharge
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Post by cowcharge on Feb 3, 2014 17:07:54 GMT -8
Both of the batteries in those links are starting batteries, as the pages say... Any battery that says CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) instead of amp-hours is a starting battery and is less than ideal for camping. The "marine" batteries are also starting batteries, just a little more robust than car batteries. The only real deep cycle batteries are those for wheelchairs, forklifts, golf carts and the like, also called "traction" batteries. |
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Feb 3, 2014 17:25:24 GMT -8
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cowcharge
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Post by cowcharge on Feb 3, 2014 17:30:01 GMT -8
Yup, they say Deep Cycle on them all right... They're not, but they do say it. |
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Feb 3, 2014 18:24:30 GMT -8
Well, I can testify to the fact that my husband's regular marine deep cycle battery lasted about three times longer than the red top Optima AGM.
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cowcharge
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Post by cowcharge on Feb 3, 2014 18:44:38 GMT -8
That's not bad.
The first 2.5 years I had my camper, I used two 8l-16 Trojans (115lbs each, got 'em for free). They spent the first 20 or so years of their life in an island-cottage solar system. Then on the way to me, they got dropped off a forklift so hard that the plates moving pushed the posts up out of their seals. They were still working when I replaced them with two brandy-new 60-pounders for $220... Now that's extended battery life.
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Still haven't told my husband.