Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 11-21-2009, 04:01 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
carringb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 5,300
Re: large battery bank

Sprinter charging system will not handle that battery setup. You would have to use a charge controller when charging from the alternator, and charge from AC whenever possible.

That's a lot of weight to add to a Sprinter. Unless it's a DRW version.

But, mounting them underbody is ideal to keep cG low.

__________________
2000 E450 dually V10 wagon
carringb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2009, 04:24 PM   #12
Site Team
 
WVvan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,293
Re: large battery bank

How to correctly interconnect multiple batteries to form one larger bank.(link)
Quote:
If you were really concerned about, run the same length cable to each of the battery sets and coil the extra.
I agree that's probably the best way.
__________________
Open the pod bay doors Hal.

Once I exit Hal, this is what I do.
https://larry.wvnet.edu/~van/pics/lic...late-small.jpg
WWW.WVBIKE.ORG
WVvan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2009, 05:58 PM   #13
Site Team
 
BroncoHauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,177
Re: large battery bank

Six 8D batteries will be very expensive when it comes time to replace them. Also keep in mind that with multiple batteries, if one needs to be replaced, they all should be replaced at the same time.


Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
BroncoHauler is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2009, 06:57 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,837
Re: large battery bank

1)
what are the specs on your power requirement for daily use

2)
what is the weight capacity of your sprinter

3)
how much will the build out weight

4)
engine size

5)
you need the proper after market alternator

6)
you can use a big ass battery switch so you are NOT trying
to charge them all the time

7)
you for sure need a Sure power bi directional (or equivilant) battery isolator

8)
what is your solar set up

9)
what kind of fridge
(my Truck fridge 4.2 cf will run 2 full days on one 200 amp hour 4d)

10)
runing the Air Conditioner 6-8 hours???
what are the specs on the AC?
Have YOU done the calculations on running a AC 6-8 hours off inverter?
(dont rely on anything someone just tells you)

11)
8 batteries X $500 = $4,000 + shipping + install = $5,000 replacement
better make sure you do the math correct as you can fry the batteries pretty easy
(common knowledge is ya gotta replace all or none at the same time)
billwilson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2009, 11:17 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
LenS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,220
Re: large battery bank

Six 8d batteries would have 225ah X 6 = 1350ah. But you can only use about 50% of this value over an extended period of time w/o shortening the life of the batteries.

So 225ah X 6 X 0.5 = 675ah. At 12 volts that is 675 X 12 = 8100 watts of power. Assuming you loss 20% through the inverter going from DC to AC that leaves you 8100 X .8 = 6480 watts of usable power. Convert that to BTU's and you get 22,111 BTU's of cooling power IF the AC unit is 100% efficient.

For 8 hours of operation that gives you 22,111 X 1/8 = 810 BTU/HR of cooling. That is not much cooling. Seems like a very small AC unit.
__________________
Len & Joanne

The Green TARDIS
LenS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2009, 08:03 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,837
Re: large battery bank

I bow to LenS calculations

I use a Colman Polar cub
8 amps
900 - 1,100 watts for cooling

If LenS calculations are correct
8,100 watts divided by 1,100 watts would give you 7 hours with a Polar cub
but thats a SWAG and does not include lights, fridge etc

Methinks it would be very easy to fry batteries even with the Polar Cub which is
the smallest roof air i could find

Lets see what stats the OP comes up with

(LenS, are MY calcs correct?)
billwilson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2009, 10:42 AM   #17
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: ny
Posts: 112
Re: large battery bank

1st, I want to thank all of you who replied to my cry for help, as I know nothing about the real-time electrical needs of my conversion, SO PLEASE KEEP THE INFO COMING!!!!!!!

I am retired from the K-9 unit. As a hobby, I need to travel with up to 6 dogs, to dog shows and dog sport trials. I also do search and rescue, drug and accelerant detection (arson). Sometimes I am parked in a building or arena (no electric to hook up to) and cannot run the gen

The sprinter is a 3500, up to 11,000 lbs, so added weight of the batteries is no problem
The alt is a 220

I took this from their site http://www.sportsmobile.com/2_sr_heatingcooling.html With the Danhard A/C, a 2000 watt inverter and two 100 amp auxiliary batteries (one is standard equipment), you can normally run the A/C for one hour with van's engine OFF, provided the auxiliary battery system is fully charged.,
I assumed I could just X's that by 6

the fridge... Amperage draw 12V 3.2A, 110V .04A http://www.thetford.com/Home/Products/N ... fault.aspx

I will also have 2 solar panels.... Kyocera Specifications: Max power output 135 watts.
Max voltage 17.5 volts Max current 7.4 amps/hr

PLEASE KEEP THE INFO COMING !!!!!!!
PLEASE KEEP THE INFO COMING !!!!!!!
PLEASE KEEP THE INFO COMING !!!!!!!
k9sprinter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2009, 11:37 AM   #18
Site Team
 
BroncoHauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,177
Re: large battery bank

Wow, that's a tough set of requirements to solve.

No matter your solution, make sure you have the right fundementals to minimize the need for A/C in the first place. My recommendations:

1) Choose a light paint color for the Sprinter
2) Have all windows tinted with heat reflecting window film. Not all window film is specifically designed to reflect heat.
3) Search through this forum for discussion on improving the van-body insulation. Not sure if there are any Sprinter-specific discussions, but I see not reason why the same applications wouldn't work for a Sprinter.
4) Though it won't work in places where you can't run the engine, but there's a Chilly Dog accessory that will turn on the engine and run the A/C (or heat) when the thermostat hits a certain temperature.

Good luck in your quest, and let us know what you decide. I know SMBw has a lot of experience in designing their conversions with dogs in mind (Dubai or UAE rescue vehicles), but I doubt they were designed with non-running engine or generator.


Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
BroncoHauler is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2009, 01:14 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,837
Re: large battery bank

Mrs. Wilson and i also have a Dog
so we built our rig with the ability to
duct tape him up and leave him in the rig
with the Coleman Polar cub running
.... just kidding about the duct tape


alternator
after market available for 300 amps

insulation
do your homework
consider dynamat also
YOU need to see insulated truck BEFORE panels go up
factory has been known to leave holes (search posts)


Solar panels
Up Size from 130 to 180
may require a custom rack from aluminess but WELL worth it (see my gallery)
make sure you have MMPT (some deal that maximizes charging) with the solar controler
I use a Blue Sky controler

Window tint
agree with Max reflective

Fridge
what model you getting?

Generator
which brand and model?
the link sends me to a huge double door deal

A/C unit
Why Danford vs. Roof top?
Why not have both?
(Polar cub is only $600)

JMHO
billwilson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2009, 01:54 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: ny
Posts: 112
Re: large battery bank

Quote:
Originally Posted by billwilson
Mrs. Wilson and i also have a Dog
so we built our rig with the ability to
duct tape him up and leave him in the rig
with the Coleman Polar cub running
.... just kidding about the duct tape


alternator
after market available for 300 amps

insulation
do your homework
consider dynamat also
YOU need to see insulated truck BEFORE panels go up
factory has been known to leave holes (search posts)


Solar panels
Up Size from 130 to 180
may require a custom rack from aluminess but WELL worth it (see my gallery)
make sure you have MMPT (some deal that maximizes charging) with the solar controler
I use a Blue Sky controler

Window tint
agree with Max reflective

Fridge
what model you getting?

Generator
which brand and model?
the link sends me to a huge double door deal

A/C unit
Why Danford vs. Roof top?
Why not have both?
(Polar cub is only $600)

JMHO



link to the fridge is correct (huge double door deal) I feed the dogs raw, so I need plenty of fridge space

the Generator http://www.powertech-gen.com/product_in ... ucts_id=27

AC .... There will be 2, 13,500 btu each. One is engine driven, the other is 110
k9sprinter is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:33 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.