Any reason to add a 2nd battery if you plan to buy a generator?

[comfun1]

If I buy a generator wouldn't one battery be sufficient? Any pros or cons to consider on this?

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by comfun1

If I buy a generator wouldn't one battery be sufficient? Any pros or cons to consider on this?

I'd say one battery would be fine unless you can't run gennie at night ?

What are your plans for usage ?


Turbs

[ependydad]

Let me admit- I don't know lickity spit about camping without hookups. About the only time that I go without hookups is driving to/from RV parks with hookups and we stop for lunch or the potty.

But, when camping with a generator, I think the general idea is that you run off of battery power most of the time and then use the generator to charge your batteries. With 2 batteries, you can go longer than with just one and this needing the generator less often.

Or, at least that's what I imagine...

[QuietTimes]

I question that also... I did wonder if I should just try with the one battery and genny first. We will be dry camping for five days. Our rig has LED lighting.

Look forward to replies by those experienced folks here.

[Mountainmanbob]

Originally Posted by comfun1

If I buy a generator wouldn't one battery be sufficient? Any pros or cons to consider on this?

seems like you should be ok with one battery
if
you plan on running your generator from time to time

rather than buying the second battery now
wait and see how things work for you
using the one battery with occasional generator use

Mountainman

[MtnGuy]

We have just 1 battery, and stay frequently on the Skyline Drive campgrounds, where they allow generator use only during certain times of the day......8-10a, 4-7p. I will run my generator for an hour or 2 in the afternoons to charge my battery, and this also gives the missus a chance to use her hair dryer.

With careful electricity management, some I times I don't even start the genny for just a 3 nite stay.

[Oakman]

You will be fine with just one battery and a genny. A few years back we stayed in Yellowstone during the late summer without hookups. I would charge the battery during the day with the genny and then use the battery at night. The temperatures at night were dropping down into the upper 30's so we had to use the furnace at night. By morning the battery would be way down but certainly not dead. BTW, it was a cheap battery to boot.

[ependydad]

Not the OP, but thanks everyone. I've learned my new thing for today.

I'm headed back to bed now...

[bikendan]

as a long time dry camper, i strongly suggest having two batteries, in addition to an inverter generator.
having two really cuts down on the time you need to run a generator, especially if you're using the furnace.
we can go 3-4 days without having to recharge the batteries. so, less noise to put up with and less gasoline to burn up.

[acadianbob]

Originally Posted by mtnguy

We have just 1 battery, and stay frequently on the Skyline Drive campgrounds, where they allow generator use only during certain times of the day......8-10a, 4-7p. I will run my generator for an hour or 2 in the afternoons to charge my battery, and this also gives the missus a chance to use her hair dryer.

With careful electricity management, some I times I don't even start the genny for just a 3 nite stay.

X2!

[comfun1]

If you have two batteries and run them both down does that mean you have to run the generator twice as long to charge back up?

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by comfun1

If you have two batteries and run them both down does that mean you have to run the generator twice as long to charge back up?

It may take longer .... yes

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

It may take longer .... yes

Care to elaborate on that at all? Does it have to do with the charger being used?

[grayfox]

There has been alot of discussion on this subject from time to time. There was one thread just recently that got down into the nitty gritty in terms of 12v systems and power management... Battery choices, charging, chargers, leds, battery set ups, and generators. Do a search on this forum and I think you'll find some very informative info.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by ependydad

Care to elaborate on that at all? Does it have to do with the charger being used?

Lets say you use a 3 amp hour charger which in theory should charge a single battery 3 amps an hour now take two batteries and charge them with the same 3 amp hour charger ..


http://www.csgnetwork.com/batterychgcalc.html

[grayfox]

[QUOTE=f1100turbo;326265]Lets say you use a 3 amp hour charger which in theory should charge a single battery 3 amps an hour now take two batteries and charge them with the same 3 amp hour charger ..




Battery Charge Time Calculator

That's a good'n Turbs... Thanks

RICK

[TURBS]

[QUOTE=grayfox;326304]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Lets say you use a 3 amp hour charger which in theory should charge a single battery 3 amps an hour now take two batteries and charge them with the same 3 amp hour charger ..




Battery Charge Time Calculator

That's a good'n Turbs... Thanks

RICK

It doesn't EXACTLY work that way but it gets the point across.

[sherman12]

You absolutely want the second battery! For $75 at Wal Mart and $20 for joining cables you can't go wrong. Being stuck inside during bad weather spells, camping later in season when you are inside earlier, having guests overnight, you don't don't want to be bothered with worrying if the battery is going to go dead.

[Horns07]

Where can u get joining cables and how do I know what size charger I have?

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by Horns07

Where can u get joining cables and how do I know what size charger I have?

sent pm