TV for recharging battery while dry camping
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7503
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Topic: TV for recharging battery while dry camping
Posted By: Happy Tripping
Subject: TV for recharging battery while dry camping
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2016 at 4:13pm
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We are off to Yellowstone in May, no electricity for 6 days. I did a search - 4 gauge copper wire works fine to jump from the tv. But I have 8 gauge copper wire jumper cables, am thinking of recharging after 3 days from a Jeep Cherokee for an hour or maybe 2. Do I have a problem?? (I've got to check with Y'stone whether a tv is a 'generator', too) Thanks for any comments
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Replies:
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2016 at 4:22pm
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Last time I camped in Yellowstone a diesel ran charging the battery on a fifth wheel all evening until quiet time. I didn't much like it...
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2016 at 5:45pm
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When we were in Glacier, 2012, we dry camped for 8 days - mid September. It wasn't until day 5 when we had to change batteries (we have 2 deep cell 12 v marine batteries. About halfway into the fifth day I had to go outside and change batteries as the monitor showed I was down to 1/3 charge. And this was using the furnace a lot during the night at temps would normally be 36 to 45 at night. We turned it off during the day as we would be hiking throughout the day. Would use the furnace from about 4 pm till 8 am the next day. Had l.e.d's throughout so that helped our battery life as well. You can read other posts about the advantages of 2 deep cycle 6 v golf cart batteries that will last even longer. If you haven't purchased yet you may wish to go that route. I am beginning my 6th year with my 12 v batteries, still going strong. But when they wear out, and they will, I will seriously consider the 6 v route. ------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2016 at 6:39pm
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Best bet when using the TV to charge is good jumper cables. 8 gauge is really skinny for jumper cables. Then run the TV for 30-60 minutes every other day - not every day. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2016 at 7:34pm
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Yeah.. I didn't think they even made jumper cables that light. JEEZ looking on Amazon, I see 10g cables.. that's a max 30A current.. do people not know how many amps an alternator can put out under load?? ------------- |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2016 at 7:50pm
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Maybe they are selling those 10 gauge cables for welding. One arc and they are welded together!
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2016 at 8:23pm
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8 gauge? I wouldn't call them jumper cables. More like clip leads.......
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2016 at 9:05pm
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Generators aren't allowed at all at some Yellowstone campgrounds and where they are, I'm just about positive that running your TV to charge your pod battery is subject to the same quiet hours as generators, though I can't find anything specific right now. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: J&Jcf
Date Posted: 29 Feb 2016 at 1:47pm
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I have camped at alot of national parks and all considered running a vehicle to charge trailers battery as a generator. Must adhere to generator rules of the park. One year at Shendoah national park (loft mountain campground) a guy in a van with a bad exhaust manifold ran the van late in PM to charge batteries. He was told by park ranger one time to stop and second time to leave.Almost all the campers in the area started clapping.l also clapped. Peace & quite around the campfire again. Many parks are also limiting types of generator use because construction type generators are too loud. I have a Honda 2000 and run it sparingly. I don't want to hear it either even though it's relatively quiet for a generator. ------------- J. - 2011 rpod 171 |