Dry Camping@#$%^&*()!!!!???????

[Henry Jay Hannigan]

---John: Keep those EU2000's..they are GOLD over here and cost $2300
aus each........
Regards,
Hank
90SP36



In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
wrote:
>
> This has got me thinking a little. I have a couple Honda EU2000
> generators from my days with travel trailers and such. They are
very
> fuel efficient and very quiet. I have two and when tired together
in
> parallel they would run my roof air no problem. I don't know how
> much it would take to keep the batteries charged but you can set
one
> of these little Honda generators off some distance from the coach
and
> I don't think you would even know it was running. They weigh about
> 40 lbs and there is even a 1000 watt which goes 25lbs. You have
> plenty of storage on these big rigs would this help out enough to
be
> of advantage? I was thinking of selling my generators but after
> reading this I have concluded that might be premature.
>
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC
>
>
>
> >
> > Kurt,
> >
> > The original question was posted to both this list and the other
> > Wanderlodge list. I wrote a lengthy reply on the other list, but
> made
> > an off-hand remark on this list which apparently annoyed someone.
> >
> > I also mentioned in my second post that I had replied on "the
> other
> > list."
> >
> > Since I have an all-electric coach, as does the original person
> > making the query, I felt that I had some experience with the
issue
> > and that I could provide some helpful information.
> >
> > In my case, the 6 model 4D AGM batteries will not supply enough
> power
> > to dry camp without serious to extreme power conservation. I
made
> > this discovery while camped in the California San Simeon State
> Park
> > in the "unimproved" camping area where no shore power was
> available.
> > It was last February and the weather was cool -- well, cold for
CA.
> >
> > I ran the generator for a couple of hours at a stretch several
> during
> > the day -- and at meal times when it was necessary to use the
> > electric cook top (it is not attached to my inverters). I then
> would
> > run the generator from the time dinner was prepared until the
> > beginning of "quiet time" at 8PM. In the CA state park, quiet
time
> > extends until 10 AM. However, by 8AM, the batteries were
seriously
> > depleted. To preserve them I had to cut all power use until I
> could
> > start the generator.
> >
> > Lets just say it was darn cold and we had a cold breakfast. No
> heat,
> > no lights, no nothing.
> >
> > I replaced the batteries at a cost of over $2000 with 6 new
AGMs.
> > While the old batteries weren't that old, they had been
> overcharged
> > for about 6 months while in dealer's hands between the previous
> owner
> > and my taking possession. (Another reason I'm not particularly
> > impressed with "dealer knowledge.") Apparently, the (non-standard
> for
> > BB of that era) Heart Link 2000-R battery controller had been
> reset
> > to the default condition, which was for wet cell batteries and
was
> > charging the AGMs at a too-high voltage (this continued for
> several
> > months after my taking possession until I learned of the problem
> by
> > reading and studying about the systems on my coach). After the
> > experience I had at San Simeon State Park, I concluded that the
> > batteries might have been damaged.
> >
> > This past summer, I was in Oregon at a cabinet maker having some
> > custom work done on my coach. Unfortunately, the generator fan
> failed
> > on me and I was "dry camping" (in their parking lot) without any
> 120
> > power. I turned off the inverters and shed as much load as I
could -
> -
> > but the batteries still dropped down to a low state of charge in
a
> > relatively short time period. The Heart Link 2000-R does also
> control
> > charging from the engine alternator, so I was able to preserve
the
> > batteries by running the engine (470 HP DD Series 60 to provide
a
> > little electricity!).
> >
> > I have since concluded that my coach, as it is currently
equipped,
> is
> > not suitable for lengthy dry camping situations, particularly
when
> > there are significant restrictions on operating the generator. I
> can
> > manage about a 12 hour "quiet time" (8pm-8am) without serious
> > consequences -- but longer quiet times present a serious
challenge
> > and degrade the pleasure of the experience.
> >
> > If my coach had LP gas powering the refrigerator (primary drain
on
> > the batteries while off shore power), then dry camping would
> likely
> > be more manageable. However, I do like having the 24 cu ft home-
> style
> > Amana 2-door refrigerator. If I were to replace it with a new,
> more
> > efficient refrigerator, dry camping might be a more practical
> > possibility.
> >
> > As for the salesman telling someone buying an all-electric BB
that
> > dry camping is "no problem", that strikes me, based on my
> experience,
> > as being rather less than the full truth.
> >
> > Pete Masterson
> > '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> > aeonix1@
> > On the road at
> >
> >
> > <snip>
> > >>
> > > Ernie,
> > >
> > > If the question of DRY CAMPING was not posted on your website,
> where
> > > did I get the idea that a person wanted to know why the dealer
he
> > > bought his coach from said he would have a problem dry camping
at
> his
> > > BBQ competions. I thought it was an interesting question.
> > >
> > > I will never forget to sign a post again Ernie I promiss
> > >
> > > KURT D. HORVATH
> > > FAYETTEVILLE, TENNESSEE, U.S.A.
> > > 1995 WLWB 42
> >
>