best way to recharge house battery while camping

[Ocsmb]

Originally Posted by rescuejg

How old are the batteries?

I'm not entirely clear. The "recharging options" are those all "things" that are currently installed and functioning?

House batteries 1 new 1 couple years old

Yes, I’m asking which is the best way to charge the house batteries while at camp. I have all those options already at my disposal.

[moorefc]

House batteries 1 new 1 couple years old
You may want to separate your house batteries and test them. Since they aren't matched in age one can pull down the other....That pulls down everything to the lowest level....

[Darkstar]

I'd suggest the solar option. I mean you can always idle the engine for a bit if it's a cloudy day...but my solar seema.to be doing it juat right. I run a fridge ARB fridge freezer set on LOW and a Propane Propex hs2000 furnace with led lights amd phones being charged all night and day usually and the solar is just enough to keep them topped off.
Good luck.

[rescuejg]

Definitely separate the batteries to test each one. If the old one isn't great, it will suck down the newer one to it's level. With dual batteries is essential to replace both at the same time, unless one was replaced recently.

I think the best option is solar if you are in a sunny area.

Can you upgrade your solar panel? If you have space the best option, in my opinion, is a residential panel. I see them on Craigslist and FB marketplace all the time. I got my current panel, 430w, for $150. It was brand new. Solar contractors get rid of left over panels. The next job may have a different specd panel and they don't want to bother storing them.

[Ocsmb]

Originally Posted by moorefc

House batteries 1 new 1 couple years old
You may want to separate your house batteries and test them. Since they aren't matched in age one can pull down the other....That pulls down everything to the lowest level....

Good call. I will put a battery tester to each one and remediate accordingly.

FYI I just now noticed the 12v cigarette lighter socket on the passenger side by the barn doors is powered by the house batteries. When we camp we used that to charge our electronics. Im sure that has been draining the house battery as well.

[Ocsmb]

Originally Posted by rescuejg

Definitely separate the batteries to test each one. If the old one isn't great, it will suck down the newer one to it's level. With dual batteries is essential to replace both at the same time, unless one was replaced recently.

I think the best option is solar if you are in a sunny area.

Can you upgrade your solar panel? If you have space the best option, in my opinion, is a residential panel. I see them on Craigslist and FB marketplace all the time. I got my current panel, 430w, for $150. It was brand new. Solar contractors get rid of left over panels. The next job may have a different specd panel and they don't want to bother storing them.

Thanks. Adding/upgrading solar is on my to-do list.

[moorefc]

If you have time its easy to charge them, let them sit disconnected for a few days and see what the resting voltage is. Use an accurate multimeter that measures to 0.01V rather than junk that measures 0.1...
One bad cell and you leak the other battery down to that potential...there go the amp hours without your usage...
If you find that to be the issue your expensive/elaborate solutions may be unnecessary...
We get pretty much 3-4 days with a 3cuft Dometic before needing to get back above 12v resting voltage on two similar kirkland marine lead acids (~160ah rated). I keep looking for them to lose capacity as they are almost 6 years old, and I have a li ion phosphate I built waiting....

[Ocsmb]

Originally Posted by moorefc

If you have time its easy to charge them, let them sit disconnected for a few days and see what the resting voltage is. Use an accurate multimeter that measures to 0.01V rather than junk that measures 0.1...
One bad cell and you leak the other battery down to that potential...there go the amp hours without your usage...
If you find that to be the issue your expensive/elaborate solutions may be unnecessary...
We get pretty much 3-4 days with a 3cuft Dometic before needing to get back above 12v resting voltage on two similar kirkland marine lead acids (~160ah rated). I keep looking for them to lose capacity as they are almost 6 years old, and I have a li ion phosphate I built waiting....

Parked on my driveway at the moment I disconnected the house battery from the start battery via the remote control 7622 shunt. No shore power charging, just the solar panel is charging the house battery. Fridge is on and empty and on the lowest setting (1).


After 2 days, So far the house battery is hovering around 12-12.2 and the start battery has been consistently around 12.72.

[Scalf77]

Originally Posted by Ocsmb

Parked on my driveway at the moment I disconnected the house battery from the start battery via the remote control 7622 shunt. No shore power charging, just the solar panel is charging the house battery. Fridge is on and empty and on the lowest setting (1).


After 2 days, So far the house battery is hovering around 12-12.2 and the start battery has been consistently around 12.72.

Sounds like your start batteries are holding and not part of the problem. As @moorefc said it would be good to bring them to a full charge, that most likely would be with the shore charger. Disconnect and monitor resting voltage.

You should be able able to check the output of your solar charger.

[moorefc]

Separate the two house batteries after shore charge, let them sit...Then measure.
Resting voltage for a reasonably charged lead acid is 12.5v....

If one is bad....
OK, maybe just go to Costco etc and buy a new (matched) pair because you won't get a matched pair if you just buy one unless identical and similar age....
Otherwise you may be just charging a limp dielectric..

Cheers,

Floydo