>Very interesting Dave, I am considering doing your enhancement. When you
>have a minute could you tell us a little about your power consumption
>(in addition to the refrigerator), during a typical 4 day camp without
>mains.
The only time I do any extended dry camping is in the summer so there are
not a lot of other loads. Just the usual lights, fan etc. Typically I will
run the Onan for a couple hours each day while cooking so I can use the
microwave, toaster etc. I keep the charger turned on while I am cooking. I
think I can go indefinitely without killing the batteries if I run the Onan
for a few hours each day. One year the generator did fail and everything
was OK for about 4 days. Fortunately it was time to come home just about
the time when the batteries went dead.
Each pair of batteries will accept about 30amps of charging current. The
Todd charger is intelligent so it keeps the charge current up there till
the batteries are fully charged. It has a remote sense terminal so you can
use it with a battery isolator. I put a switch on this terminal so I can
control the charge rate by switching the sense circuit from one side of the
isolator to the other. I installed the isolator so it not only charges the
house batteries but also the motor battery. Works good when the alternator
fails too. Keeps the engine and accessories working just fine. But the main
reason for hooking up both the house and motor batteries to the charger is
that in the off season I put the charger on a lamp timer. It runs for a 1/2
hour once a week. Keeps everything charged up without drying out the
batteries.
>I have the original 12 volt only... 7 1/2 CU FT and it draws 6
>amps.
That may be closer to the correct load. I was reading the current from the
+-60 amp gauge. I am sure my gauge is not all that accurate. But that does
remind me of one problem area. The typical amp meter will not work reliably
at these charge currents. I have melted two ammeters so far. This summer I
will be installing a Westach 2C6-3 +-100 amp meter with a remote shunt.
In a 73 Sequoia the batteries where originally in the front. To install
four batteries I built a sealed battery box and installed it behind the
bathroom on the passenger side. The battery box is vented outside so the
gasses can escape. It has a removable lid for easy access to add water. I
always keep the rear bed folded down so the space was avalable. I think it
rides a bit nicer after moving the weight of the batteries to the rear. I
installed the charger under the refrigerator and used 6 gauge welding cable
to connect the charger, batteries and 12v fuse panel. I also changed the
110v duplex outlet under the refrigerator to a quad outlet and connected a
light switch to the second set of plugs so I can switch the charger on/off
without unplugging it.
Dave
73 Sequoia
>have a minute could you tell us a little about your power consumption
>(in addition to the refrigerator), during a typical 4 day camp without
>mains.
The only time I do any extended dry camping is in the summer so there are
not a lot of other loads. Just the usual lights, fan etc. Typically I will
run the Onan for a couple hours each day while cooking so I can use the
microwave, toaster etc. I keep the charger turned on while I am cooking. I
think I can go indefinitely without killing the batteries if I run the Onan
for a few hours each day. One year the generator did fail and everything
was OK for about 4 days. Fortunately it was time to come home just about
the time when the batteries went dead.
Each pair of batteries will accept about 30amps of charging current. The
Todd charger is intelligent so it keeps the charge current up there till
the batteries are fully charged. It has a remote sense terminal so you can
use it with a battery isolator. I put a switch on this terminal so I can
control the charge rate by switching the sense circuit from one side of the
isolator to the other. I installed the isolator so it not only charges the
house batteries but also the motor battery. Works good when the alternator
fails too. Keeps the engine and accessories working just fine. But the main
reason for hooking up both the house and motor batteries to the charger is
that in the off season I put the charger on a lamp timer. It runs for a 1/2
hour once a week. Keeps everything charged up without drying out the
batteries.
>I have the original 12 volt only... 7 1/2 CU FT and it draws 6
>amps.
That may be closer to the correct load. I was reading the current from the
+-60 amp gauge. I am sure my gauge is not all that accurate. But that does
remind me of one problem area. The typical amp meter will not work reliably
at these charge currents. I have melted two ammeters so far. This summer I
will be installing a Westach 2C6-3 +-100 amp meter with a remote shunt.
In a 73 Sequoia the batteries where originally in the front. To install
four batteries I built a sealed battery box and installed it behind the
bathroom on the passenger side. The battery box is vented outside so the
gasses can escape. It has a removable lid for easy access to add water. I
always keep the rear bed folded down so the space was avalable. I think it
rides a bit nicer after moving the weight of the batteries to the rear. I
installed the charger under the refrigerator and used 6 gauge welding cable
to connect the charger, batteries and 12v fuse panel. I also changed the
110v duplex outlet under the refrigerator to a quad outlet and connected a
light switch to the second set of plugs so I can switch the charger on/off
without unplugging it.
Dave
73 Sequoia
