*New Owner* Battery Bank Questions.....

Okay, so lights and everything is happy on DC. Cool.

Dumb questions: How many DC systems are there? There are 2 batteries up front and 1 in the rear (well it has two 6V in series but you get it). Does
the coach battery up front go to the same place that the battery in the back goes to?

If they are separate, where do I tap in for additional batteries? I can fit those odyssey batteries almost anywhere that can support an additional 400
pounds safely.

So, powering the entire coach off an inverter is out because I need DC for stuff.

Is this a custom wiring job with manual switches for power sources?
--
1977 Eleganza II,

26 Foot,

403 Engine,

Full time boondocking,

New Owner with Plans (deadly last words
.........
 
Like Rob, I am somewhat electrically challenged. That's why I kept my solar system simple. Here is a seminar on what I did to adapt our coach to be
a better boondocker:

http://gmcws.org/blog/the-gmc-unplugged-by-carl-stouffer-at-spring-2013-rally/

It is just a JWID presentation and I don't pretend to be any kind of an expert. It just makes sense to employ the KISS principle whenever possible on
the coach.

Keep in mind that even a 26' GMC is pretty small, so use of extension cords etc should not be much of a factor. It is pretty simple to add a few
dedicated inverter powered outlets at strategic locations in the coach and to keep the inverter system separate from the shore power/generator 110
volt system. Ken Burton's suggestions are spot on (he is NOT electrically challenged) and following his suggestions about lighting, refrigeration,
etc will take you a long way toward where you want to go.

Living in the Southwest, I have an abundance of sunshine, so my small 195 watt system with a PWM controller and two GC-2 batteries works just fine for
us. Most days we are back at 100% on the house batteries by mid afternoon. We do use only LED lights, a propane fridge, and are conservative on
power use at night. But, we can still use two laptops and a 19" TV/DVD as much as we want to. We generally do not use our furnace at night and rely
on body heat and extra blankets to ward off the cold, with occasional use of the furnace in the morning to take the edge off. We also stay away from
really cold camping areas whenever possible when dry camping.

--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
 
Since you have a fair size budget, you may want to look at LiFePO4 batteries.

Here is a USA manufacturer with a comparison chart to lead-acid batteries.
https://battlebornbatteries.com/

Note, they need to use 200Amp/hr lead-acid to get the same power capacity as a 100amp/hr LiFePO4 battery.

LiFePO4 drawback at the moment is they don't like temperature extremes.
--
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
Hubler 1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
 
> ...I'm planning on full timing in this rig with mostly boondocking.....

Personally, it sounds to me like you're starting in the wrong place and the wrong questions. You can't possibly develop a power system until you know
what your loads are. You may already have done this but you did not say so. Ken Burton's post is right on.

Boondocking means a lot of things to a lot of different people. We have no idea what it means to you. Are you going to wander around various
WalMarts or plan on spending a few weeks at a time in National Parks off grid?

If you are going to BOONDOCK mostly, you have to have power sources that can keep up with the load...winter AND summer. Batteries can smooth out load
but if you are going to want AC you're going to need a generator because an inverter that will run an AC is not viable nor are a battery bank to
support it. If you are going to use the genny, you have to have a way to refuel unless you are going to be driving by gas stations every few days.

There are a few people here that spend some time at Burning Man or camp in the desert in the winter. They might have some insight as to what you can
reasonably do with the confines of GMC.

--
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama

Had 5 over the years. Still have the first a 76 that will be rebodied into an art deco car hauler.

http://www.bdub.net/pinkerton/

'03 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
 
Btw, most folks here are really friendly and have a real first name in their signature.

--
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama

Had 5 over the years. Still have the first a 76 that will be rebodied into an art deco car hauler.

http://www.bdub.net/pinkerton/

'03 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
 
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