Lithium Deep Cycle Battery Discharge

[babock]

Originally Posted by Sam54

Agreed. Would ideally run 4 200 watt panels to re-coup the energy you're using, but if budget is limited you can add 1 more with a Y connector to get more juice. I'm currently testing 2 100watt flexible panels I bought at Amazon, and will have them permanently roof mounted if they seem efficient enough.

Flex panels suck. They have no ventilation under them so their output is lower and they only last a few years.

[aeblank]

Is all this for weekend camping? We camped for years and years with no generator and no solar. Batteries were way low by Sunday and got recharged at home. Everyone is obsessed with having batteries constantly charged..... Who cares? Use them. You simply don't need 1kw solar or hours of generator time to last a weekend....

[mdstudey]

Originally Posted by c_tiboni

Ok it sounds like unless I have a solar panel field I’m f*ed. I just need resonance on the two batteries I have. Thanks for the
Info all

No you are not. I have 2 Sams Club GC2 golf cart batteries and a 100 watt suitcase along with a pwm controller. I spent 4 days in the Colorado woods and was able to keep the battery up. We were able to use the lights at night and charge the cell phones when needed. Since that trip we have also changed out the bulbs in led lights. This pack was enough to change out all of the lights with some spares.



I am going to upgrade the solar and put some panels on the roof and an extra 100 W suit. I will add a better controller as well. I did not like using the Zamp connector so I have purchase some tray cables and will connect the battery directly to the controller. I am also planning on adding 2 more 6 volt batteries when I can figure out where I am going to put them. So there is hope without going out having to buy an expensive system. You can also help save power by buying lights like this to save on your batteries. Best of luck.

[c_tiboni]

Originally Posted by mdstudey

No you are not. I have 2 Sams Club GC2 golf cart batteries and a 100 watt suitcase along with a pwm controller. I spent 4 days in the Colorado woods and was able to keep the battery up. We were able to use the lights at night and charge the cell phones when needed. Since that trip we have also changed out the bulbs in led lights. This pack was enough to change out all of the lights with some spares.



I am going to upgrade the solar and put some panels on the roof and an extra 100 W suit. I will add a better controller as well. I did not like using the Zamp connector so I have purchase some tray cables and will connect the battery directly to the controller. I am also planning on adding 2 more 6 volt batteries when I can figure out where I am going to put them. So there is hope without going out having to buy an expensive system. You can also help save power by buying lights like this to save on your batteries. Best of luck.

Yeah I heard 6 volt batteries last longer on a charge. Thanks for the info

[babock]

Originally Posted by c_tiboni

Yeah I heard 6 volt batteries last longer on a charge. Thanks for the info

Compared to yours which is a marine battery..yes. Compared to a true 12V deep discharge battery like a 12V Trojan golf cart battery...doesn't matter.

[camaraderie]

OP...Lots of great comments for you here. It sounds to me like you plan to boondock a lot and want to be self sufficient. To me that means:
1. Knowing how much energy you use in an average day so you know how much to produce and store.
2. Once your systems are installed to meet those needs...knowing where you stand at any moment in time...when do I need to charge based on my current usage, when am I done charging with batteries full, how much is this new coffee pot drawing when it is on, how many amps have I put into my batteries today...how many have I taken out, what is the actual state of charge on my batteries now.
The answer to all those questions is to get a Victron or Trimetric battery monitor installed,
My immediate suggestion is to get a REAL battery charger that can produce AT LEAST 50 amps of charging current when plugged in. Iota and Progressive make excellent smart chargers that will do the trick.
Even with a big charger...it will take 6 hours minimum to fully charge batteries that are 50% discharged.
Good luck.

[Armywrench]

Has anyone ever thought of using deep cycle batteries for a semi on their camper. Group 31 batteries are rated 20 amp hours for 100 amps, or you could really go overboard and use an AGM8D semi battery, but they weigh about 160 lbs per battery, but you would have power for a couple days before charging again.

[camaraderie]

I had FOUR 8D's on my boat for 1000 amp hours!
A single 8D deep cycle will give you the equivilent of about 2.5 Group 31's....or just a bit more than a GOOD pair of 6V golf cart batteries (GC2's) so there's not a whole lot of incentive to moving to 160 lb monoliths!
I'd also note that the VAST majority of AGM 8D's are NOT true deep cycles in terms of plate thickness as they are also designed to start trucks so you have to be really careful about them when buying. Finally...at double the cost of a wet cell AND much more sensitive about proper charging and heat, AGM's have a tough time justifying themselves economically unless you are a full timer and will be able to take advantage of their deeper discharge & quicker charging and much lower self discharge rate. They can be really problematic in high heat areas if you don't have temperature controlled chargers and sensors.
The main thing most people want with AGMs is no maintenance (watering) ...and you can get there a lot more economically with an auto watering system like pro fill with standard deep cycles.

[aeblank]

I have 2 US Batteries L16s. 420ah at 6V. About 120# each. They are very tall. Capacity is weight, pure and simple. I wasn't ready to pay for lithiums. Weight is cheaper.

I'd say "lift truck" batteries are better than "semi batteries" due to how each are designed to be used. I'm not certain they are, but when talking to people I call mine lift truck batteries. Dang things are bright red and not in a box. People notice and ask.

https://i.imgur.com/fmWslIS.jpg?1

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Armywrench

Has anyone ever thought of using deep cycle batteries for a semi on their camper. Group 31 batteries are rated 20 amp hours for 100 amps, or you could really go overboard and use an AGM8D semi battery, but they weigh about 160 lbs per battery, but you would have power for a couple days before charging again.

The OP has a small ultralight TT. There's no room on the A-frame for more than one group 31 battery.

[Jay2504]

Armywrench, I ran 3 group 31 semi truck batteries with good luck. Our shop had 2 to choose from, one at 925 CCA, one at 750CCA. I used the 750 because of the higher reserve capacity. I would imagine that the 750 battery is about like the comprise “marine” batteries that get talked about here. Needless to say, I had to make up a new battery box. Jay

[John Hill]

There are 300 watt solar panels now, for about 150 each. They are monocrystal which are not that sensitive to the sun angle. 2 or 3 of those will take care of your needs.. There are also the flexible solar panels which you can get 200 watts for 100 bucks. I have an older 100 watt on my new unit... will be adding
a 200 watt giving me 300 watts.

[c_tiboni]

Do you have a link?

[John Hill]

Its been 3-4 years but I ordered mine from eBay.... 30 amp regulator will cover you and they cost about 20 bucks.. I went with a 40 amp.... My flexible panel is working fine.. so I will stay with that as they weight just a couple of lbs... versus the glass and metal which weight 40Lbs, that I have on my sail boat.