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Topic ClosedUsing fan on battery power

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howmanyds View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Using fan on battery power
    Posted: 22 Mar 2016 at 1:29am
The inverter is just a modified sine 1500W energizer inverter: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00APL77T6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_hpn8wbE1MF5V3

I don't plan to use it continuously, but if I need to, say, use my heat gun for a few seconds while its at the storage facility without power in order to remove a pesky microwave sticker, then I'll have that option. I'm also going to test the TV and see if it works with modified sine. The I'll have to do some trials and see how many (if any) movies we could watch on a three day trip without running the two batteries all the way down. Of course, we've never watched movies while camping before -- seems like that's not the point, really -- but I want to know my options.

The reason for the size is that I'm installing the inverter nearly ten feet of cable away. With a peak of 3000W, and with 80% efficiency, we're looking at an amperage draw of 200A. From everything I read 2/0 would be a safe bet, but a little overkill in wire thickness never hurt anyone. Besides, I found a cheap and well-rated 0/1 cable from Amazon that is in a kit for powering amplifiers/subwoofers. The cable is quite flexible.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Mar 2016 at 9:11pm
I agree about the built-in fan, it will produce a nice breeze through the open windows.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Mar 2016 at 7:20pm
If it needs that large a cable you won't have to worry about using it for long on battery power...
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Mar 2016 at 2:59pm
What inverter did you buy? Those are awfully large cables.  
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Mar 2016 at 2:46pm
Oh, ok. Thanks! I'll definitely charge it up all the way on packing up day.
I also put a switch on the batteries to shut them off when it's parked.

To digress...

I'm having a dilemma with that battery switch because it uses 4 gauge cable. I want to run my inverter with 0/1 gauge cable which means I can't run it through the switch. Am I right in thinking I would need a separate switch with 0/1 or just let the inverter be controlled by its own remote?

Also, I just realized that the zamp cables should probably bypass the switch too so that when I get solar panels they can still charge up the battery even when it's switched off... Not sure when I'd be leaving out the panels when the battery is off but anyway... Sorry - thinking out loud.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Mar 2016 at 12:23pm
If your pod isn't plugged in at home, they are going to go dead in only a few to 10 days. The pod has several unavoidable parasitic draws. If you are not running the air conditioning, you can plug into a standard outlet in your garage etc, using an adapter.

Your van may, or may not be able to charge your batteries while towing. A full charge, on a set of dead, or mostly dead, GC-2s, by a tow vehicle, would probably take a 24 hour tow. If it can do it at all. Try to avoid depending on the tow vehicle for battery charging, unless you are towing somewhere every day, and have shore power at the CG.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Mar 2016 at 10:03am
Yes. This was the first time I plugged in these GC2s from Costco. They haven't had a full charge from my van's power yet, though the indicator said they were full. Could that be an issue?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Mar 2016 at 9:01am
Originally posted by howmanyds

Hmm. I had it on while working on the pod all afternoon today and didn't notice much breeze -- but that may be because I was moving around and not sitting. It was an especially hot and sunny and not breezy day; I wonder if the FF can't counteract temps and still air of a certain degree.


Ours will make the drapes stand out on high. The stock FF control panel has 3 speed settings, where you on "3"?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Mar 2016 at 11:38pm
Hmm. I had it on while working on the pod all afternoon today and didn't notice much breeze -- but that may be because I was moving around and not sitting. It was an especially hot and sunny and not breezy day; I wonder if the FF can't counteract temps and still air of a certain degree.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Mar 2016 at 10:03pm
Originally posted by furpod

Originally posted by howmanyds

Ok. Thanks. I guess I'll be bringing one along!


I am confused here.. The Fantastic fan is already there. It will try to suck you out of the roof on high, try just opening the windows and turning on the FF, you might be very surprised how much air it moves.

Exactly!!  We turn the fantastic fan on low and crack a couple windows open and that creates a nice breeze in the pod.  No need for another fan!
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