Battery life off-grid

Originally posted by lamarkeiko I also have a couple questions on battery charging, since I will be dry camping in Yosemite this spring.  I have a Honda 1000 watt generator I plan on taking with me since it is allowed to operate one a few hours each day.  How much time does it take to recharge a depleted battery with the power cord plugged into the generator?      The next question I have is maintaining the Pod battery with a solor panel.  My RP-179 came pre wired solar ready.  Has anyone maintained their pod battery with a solar panel, and what size would be recommended?

Originally posted by 1tulip My TV is a tacoma and it has an electrical outlet in the bed that offers "400 W while idling".  Can I hook an extension cord to my truck's electrical outlet and connect that to the pod's outlet, as I would at home when charging the batteries?

Originally posted by lamarkeiko I would still like further information that is still related to my previous questions. 1.  In regards to using my generator, I know that if I want AC to my trailer, I will need to connect the pod power cable to the generator.  If I just want to maintain the charge to the pod battery, I'm assuming it would be more efficient to connect from the +/- battery charge terminals of the generator straight to the pod battery.  As mentioned on my previous post, my pod is solar ready by ZAMP.  Near my battery connections, are two unconnected and insulated leads marked with ZAMP pos & neg.  Is this for solar panel connections, and/or generator connections? 2    Now in regards to solar power, with my pod being wired solar ready.  Is the jack marked with the Solar Ready & ZAMP where a solar panel with charge controller is to be plugged in, and do I have to use a ZAMP system there?  I believe I  could purchase a much less expensive system elsewhere.

1) Charging with a generator, using it's 12v cable, will output less than 10A to the charging battery (ies), the Honda 2000i sends a max of 8 amps. If you plug the pod shore cable in, and charge through the built in converter/charger it will charge at (up to, as needed) 55amps. So much faster and more efficient to use the shore cable connection.

2) You can hook up any solar system, or assemble components as you want or need, within reason. The ZAMP connector is "SAE", an yes, if you want to use their plug.. that is where you plug in.. beyond that it's just wires run to the battery.

Good things have been said about the Renogy 100w foldable system on Amazon, about $275. A SAE connector has to be sourced and installed, about $5. If you want to use the pre-wired ZAMP plug.

Just as a note.. the alternator on my tow vehicle is rated at 200A, and my truck is as quiet or quieter than just about any generator out there. The trucks on-board electronics will charge my Pod batteries at as safe, and fast, a rate as they can handle, with jumper cables.

On that I just have to say.. "I guess."

I actually understood them to be hooked up on delivery, but no doubt you will need to do it if it isn't done. I added a zamp connector to one of my battery box tops. The other has a cut off switch.

Furpod,