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ouR escaPOD mods

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StephenH View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: ouR escaPOD mods
    Posted: 08 Jul 2021 at 7:36am
That might be a consideration.
StephenH
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ouR escaPOD mods
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Olddawgsrule View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Olddawgsrule Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jul 2021 at 3:44pm
Originally posted by StephenH

I'm already happy with it. Given that we made the trip with the cooler and experienced similar power draw, I think we will do okay with the CRX-1100. During ARRL Field Day I observed the meter but did not record use then. That was before I added extra insulation, which I expect will really help with the power use. I have an AC-DC clamp-on meter. However, it would not be suitable for observing long term because it would be detecting spot use, not tracking or recording use.

What do you use to isolate the refrigerator's power so you can track just that power use?

Back from a couple days on a Backcountry Discovery Route and catching up..

First, glad you are already happy with it, I was looking further up the road... My wiring only has my Frig so far running from Main Appliance battery. I have a secondary battery that runs lighting & re-charge stations. Each battery is rated for it's requirements. My build, my systems in it (based upon proven theories). With only the frig running on it, easy to isolate.. Sorry, that doesn't help you...

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Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jul 2021 at 3:58pm
I opted to purchase a 200AH battery. It will be simpler if I don't have to try to connect another monitor. I will repurpose the 100AH battery, but I don't know for what just yet.

I will bring the 100AH LiFePO4 battery inside the house and use it for amateur radio use. It will make a great UPS for that and should provide really clean power for the radio.
StephenH
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ouR escaPOD mods
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote offgrid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jul 2021 at 4:36pm
$308/kwh, getting cheaper all the time....
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Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Jul 2021 at 2:28pm
The battery arrived today so the modification will begin soon as I figure out where I am going to put it which will determine what materials I need.
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ouR escaPOD mods
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Post Options Post Options   Quote offgrid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Jul 2021 at 6:30pm
It's too big for the area in front of the closet where you had your smaller battery?
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Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Jul 2021 at 8:53pm
Yes. I opted to turn it 90 degrees and build an addition to the compartment where the other one was. It will take away a bit of underneath storage, but it will mean that I won't have to run new wiring. I'll be able to use all the wiring that is there with the possible exception of the negative battery terminal wire. I might need to make a new one that is a bit longer. I'm not sure about that though.

Pictures will be forthcoming as soon as I am done.
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
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Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Jul 2021 at 7:29pm
Okay. The job is done so it is time to post some pictures along with descriptions.

If you look back through my posts to the installation of the 100AH battery, you will see how it was mounted. Since the 200AH battery is much larger, there was no way to fit it in. That left me with trying to figure out how it would best fit with the least amount of re-wiring. It hit me then. Turn it 90 degrees and install with the terminal ends close to where the old terminals were. 

The first thing was to figure out how much larger it needed to be. I removed the old battery and determined that I could cut out an opening that would let the battery protrude into the pass-into storage (not pass through since there is no opening on the other side). I would lose a little space there, but could rearrange what I carry and likely eliminate some things that have not been used because they are more suited for when we will be sitting somewhere for at least a week or more. Otherwise, they are just too cumbersome to use on a daily basis. These include some stabilizers that do work to stop some of the shaking that the stabilizers don't seem to handle very well.

I used the foam tray that was padding the battery in the shipping box to get the basic size. I felt it would be good to use it with the battery also to cushion the battery from road bumps. I figured out the size and cut the paneling between the existing compartment and the basement outside accessible storage after moving stowed items out of the way. I built a framework and support for an additional raised floor section to match the floor I had put in the prior battery compartment to cover the wires and plumbing. This picture shows the completed framework.



The double cleats at the bottom are to both hold the new panels and to hold the floor. This will be evident in the next picture.



After assembling it, I ended up having to take off the end panel because the battery would not clear the cleats that were part of the original compartment. I did not want to remove them because they do help support the bed platform.

Now for the final picture. This shows the battery installed and connected. I did have to switch out negative battery cables because the one that I used with the 100A battery was a little too short to reach. I did not route it through the hole I previously cut for the old cable because the one I used was not that much longer. I reset the battery meter for the larger capacity and the converter charged it. It is now running the refrigerator. The seller said, "When using for the first time, please complete a cycle of deep discharge and full charge so that the battery capacity will be automatically corrected." This is what I am doing now. Plus, this will give me a good idea of how long I can run the refrigerator on battery. I'll add information about that after I get this initial setting done.

One thing that surprised me about this battery is that the manual states that it has a "Low temperature heating function."  There is an internal heating plate that will warm the battery so that it can be charged in temperatures as low as -31F (-35C) and high as 122F (50C). Discharge temperatures are -4F (-20C) to 140F (60C). This will really be helpful if we need to camp in freezing temperatures again.

StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote offgrid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jul 2021 at 6:53am
Great write up and great job as usual. That is a pretty big battery. Hope you have enough storage space left to be useful What does it weigh?

I guess the other place to put it if someone wanted to retain the outside storage in the 179 would be to build a box in the under the bed storage area, perhaps also use that structure to create a better duct system for the furnace.

I assume the self heating is done internally using a 12v resistance heater run from the charger? Do the specs provide a current demand for that? Using it might require a charger upgrade.

Now that you have doubled your storage capacity so you have a place to put the energy it produces, you might want to add a permanently mounted solar module on the roof. My original plan was to get a 300-350 watt industrial sized mode and mount it crosswise behind the a/c. They can be had for around 50 cents a watt. If you pick the right one it could be the same length as the rpod is wide so could mount it at it's ends to the top of the side walls without compromising the trailer roof itself. Those modules produce around 35V at their max power point so you'd need an MPPT controller. Weight increase would be around 50 lbs.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Olddawgsrule Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Jul 2021 at 4:06pm
Can you post up the Spec's that came along with it please? 
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