best way to recharge house battery while camping

[kbeefy]

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.

Hard to say since you still have solar and fridge connected, but 12-12.2 is almost dead. No wonder your fridge dies so quickly. No need to upgrade if you just need to replace. But if you want to upgrade, now is the best time.



Figure out what your house battery issue is and/or replace them... seems that they are dead.

 

[kbeefy]

EDIT: That also proves that the RV system does not draw down the start batteries. Good to know!


And, your start batteries are fantastic! 12.7v is pretty much 100% and brand new.

 

[Ocsmb]

Hard to say since you still have solar and fridge connected, but 12-12.2 is almost dead. No wonder your fridge dies so quickly. No need to upgrade if you just need to replace. But if you want to upgrade, now is the best time.



Figure out what your house battery issue is and/or replace them... seems that they are dead.

Thanks for the input.

What upgrades did you have in mind ?

 

[HIGHCOUNTRYMIKE]

I am somewhat confused with the "separator" theory.
When dry camping I usually run the motor a few minutes to get 12+ volt reading in the house battery. My frig will not run when lower than 12 volte's'.

HIGHCOUNTRYMIKE 2003 E350 4X4, 7.3 SPORTSMOBILE 328,000

 

[Ocsmb]

I am somewhat confused with the "separator" theory.
When dry camping I usually run the motor a few minutes to get 12+ volt reading in the house battery. My frig will not run when lower than 12 volte's'.

HIGHCOUNTRYMIKE 2003 E350 4X4, 7.3 SPORTSMOBILE 328,000

My fridge will run below 12v

 

[HIGHCOUNTRYMIKE]

Make and model?

 

[Ocsmb]

Make and model?

isotherm 85 3 cu ft

 

[kbeefy]

Most fridges (the decent ones) have a voltage cutoff you can program. I'd try to keep it above 12v also, that's dead IMHO, but you can set it to run lower but it's not great on your batteries. If your fridge is a compressor fridge, it should tun 3 days pretty easy before hitting 12v assuming no other loads. If it's an absorption fridge, 12v should only be used while driving or hooked to shore power.

 

[Ocsmb]

I appreciate Everyone’s input. You guys were right. I tested the older battery and it is beyond rechargeable. Time for a new battery.

 

[superduty]

I have a pair of batteries with little use on them. I'm in Los Angeles area of you are nearby.