Battery Trojan T105 vs X2??

Originally posted by Outbound Adding onto furpod's comment: stick with deep cycle batteries.  They'll stand up to the discharge/recharge cycles much better; a hybrid battery really should be used in a situation where it's fairly constantly recharged to 100% (i.e. by an alternator in a vehicle). Deep cycle batteries tend to all have around the same number of amp hours per pound.  So, decide how many amp hours you need first and then look to the weight, size, and price options that work for you.  I tend to use 30-40 amp hours per day in the spring/fall when the furnace is going. One thought about dry camping with lead-acid batteries and a generator:  Your goal is to not let your batteries drop below 50%.  Lead-acid batteries bulk charge to 80% of capacity fairly quickly (1-2 hours) after which they charge exponentially slower (8-10 hours).  Ideally, when dry camping, stick to that sweet spot - allowing your batteries to drop no lower than 50% and then charge to 80%.  This minimizes your run time and keeps your batteries in good condition.  At the end of your trip, make sure to charge to 100%. For me, with a pair of group 24 deep cycle batteries, this means I charge for 1.5 hours every other day in the summer, and every day in the spring/autumn when I'm running the furnace.

Thank You for the points you make.
More for me to consider.

Here is my inverter set up:

David's inverter

If you like watching a LOT of TV when dry camping, buying a 12vdc television would be more "battery friendly". My 55 watt (@120vac)television uses about 5 amps when running through the inverter. So, watching television for 10 hours would equal 50 amp/hours.

My usage is kind of similar to Outbound's. In the Fall, it gets dark early and it's cold. I tend to spend more time inside watching TV and running the furnace. I guesstimate my usage at 40 amp/hours, per day - give or take. I charge daily for about 2-3 hours (2 - 1 to 1 1/2 hour periods). As the temperature drops, batteries lose capacity, which also works against us.

In moderate weather, I have gone as much as 4 days and still had good batteries.

As far as lifespan, I got 5 years out of my last pair of RV/Marine (hybrid) batteries. Some have gotten more. The lifespan is a function of charge/discharge cycles - not necessarily age.   The Trojans will take more cycles than the hybrids, due to their more robust construction.

There are many factors to consider. The "right" answer is the one that works best for you and fits your camping "style".

As a price to performance compromise, have you looked at these:
https://www.batteriesplus.com/productdetails/sligc115
I purchased two of these 6v (230AH) to connect in series for 12v.
Around $100 each after 10% coupon + core charge.

I have them encased in a TorkLift Locking Battery Box:
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/TorkLift/TLA7708R.html

I only boondock for a week at a time, and have a Renogy 100w suitcase solar panel to keep things topped off (no genny). Im finding more parks are begining to ban the use of portable generators (built-in so far are still acceptable).
If I were a heavy power user, I don't think 100w would be sufficient and would add another (2) 100w panels on the roof.

That said, my needs are minimal since we have a 12v TV, no inverter, and use propane for everything (coffee percolator, tea pot, etc.). We have a cuisinart BBQ grill outside as well as a coleman stove.
Your enemy, as others have mentioned will be the furnace fan. IMHO, two GC batteries would do you well.

David,

Originally posted by ohio179 David, I see you mentioned transmitting on your radio, are you by chance a ham radio operator? We are planning on picking up a 179 in about a week and I plan on operating ham radio from it as well. I hope I'm not out of line asking this on this thread. Thanks Tim

First, welcome! It is always good to have another "ham" on the forum.


click this link

I hope to activate a National Park or two for the ARRL National Parks on the Air. Also, if you go to my page on QRZ.com, there is a link to the Hoosier DX & Contesters site. There is info there on this year's Indiana QSO Party. I'll be portable in Jefferson County (one of our original 15) for the INQP/Indiana Bicentennial Celebration.

Oops, almost forgot....my callsign is WA9DU.



73!

http://www.qrz.com/