Off Grid Truck Camper

[Mikerodrig27]

I am going to have two 6v golf cart batteries for the camper, and two starting batteries for the truck. I have a diesel (1998 Dodge Ram 2500 with a 24v Cummins Diesel) so there are two batteries ran in parallel to start the truck. I assume the two starting batteries would take one port on the isolator.

From what I can find on the internet about my truck, I have a 136 amp alternator.

I ordered two Deka 230 ah golf cart batteries that I will be able to pick up Wednesday.

I should go ahead and order the 1602 battery isolator?

http://www.ase-supply.com/Sure_Power_1602_Battery_Isolator_p/sp-1602.htm

[Sunking]

Let's make sure I understand what you are going to do.

How many batteries total including starting battery?

The starting battery has its own dedicated port. On the starting battery post will be two wires. 1 smaller wire from Isolator, and 1 larger cable going to the starter solenoid.

The Aux battery is connected to a dedicated port. It can be a single 12 volt battery, or a pair of 6 volt batteries wired in series. If you need a lot of capacity the most effective and cost effective is to use a pair 6 volts batteries wired in series to make 12 volts.

So you have a high output alternator which is a good thing of 136 amps right? I would suggest a 2-port isolator, one for the starting battery, and 1 for the Aux Battery. In that case you want the 1602 unit with 1 input port from alternator, and two battery outputs rather than the 1603 you have pointed to. The 1603 has one input port and three output ports.

[Mikerodrig27]

So one port for each of the batteries that are in parallel and one port for both of the batteries that are ran in series? If so, why would I need to separate my starting batteries?

My alternator is rated at 136 (good thing I double checked)

so this is the one that I need?

http://www.ase-supply.com/Sure_Power_1603_Battery_Isolator_p/sp-1603.htm

[Sunking]

If you are going to use two in parallel, get a 3-port isolator.

[Mikerodrig27]

Looks like I'm going to need this one:

https://www.ase-supply.com/Sure_Power_1202_Battery_Isolator_p/sp-1202.htm

Does this look like how I need to wire it up?

battery isolator.jpgbattery isolator.jpg

[Sunking]

well, I'm throwing in the towel on the solar idea. I'm going to go with a small generator and a battery isolator

Suking, you mentioned a battery isolator. Do you have any suggestions or a thread where someone did a writeup on that? I'm going to look around to see if I can find some info.

Thanks!

There are a lot of them to be found. Avoid mechanical relay type, use electronic that integrate with the vehicle alternator. Here is a link to some of the better units

[Mikerodrig27]

well, I'm throwing in the towel on the solar idea. I'm going to go with a small generator and a battery isolator

Suking, you mentioned a battery isolator. Do you have any suggestions or a thread where someone did a writeup on that? I'm going to look around to see if I can find some info.

Thanks!

[SunEagle]

Hey guys, still looking into this. The idea is not to just go camping but to travel across the Canadian border and around the United states. My wife and I are going to be doing the trip and we will be house sitting along the way.

I don't know if some of you are still referring to the original fridge or the Edge Star 63qt unit that I had mentioned. Either way, a refrigerator seems to be a power hog. I think we will have to really limit ourselves to either an even smaller fridge or a cooler with ice.

We are literally going to be living in the back of our truck with a camper shell. Crazy I know, but the reason that solar panels are so attractive over a generator is it doesn't take up any living space. Also, they are more self sufficient for every day use than a generator.

Couple of questions that I have. It looks like I can get a 200w-250w solar panel for around $250-$350. I don't know what brands I should be looking into but I was thinking,.
-Can you guys suggest some good panels in this wattage range?
-Can you suggest a good battery?
-Also looking for a good charge controller.

Also, I have a cheap inverter that is not a sine wave. I will only be using it every once in a while to charge my electric drill and cell phone batteries.

Thanks for your thoughts and helping stick to reality.

https://www.TreePotTravels.com

https://www.facebook.com/TreepotTravels

Well first off, 250 watts may not be enough for your needs. Using a cheaper PWM type chargers will steal about 30% of you panel wattage and only yield about 170 watts of charging power. To get the full 250 watts requires a MPPT type charger which is a lot more money. Also while the pv panel may seem to be the best way to charge your batteries my fear is that you will run into weather that will not give you what you need to keep them charged properly.

The money you will be putting into the panels and battery charger would pay for a small maybe even quiet generator that would quickly recharge your batteries regardless of the weather.

I'm just trying to give you some options to reduce risk and costs during your trip.

[Mikerodrig27]

Hey guys, still looking into this. The idea is not to just go camping but to travel across the Canadian border and around the United states. My wife and I are going to be doing the trip and we will be house sitting along the way.

I don't know if some of you are still referring to the original fridge or the Edge Star 63qt unit that I had mentioned. Either way, a refrigerator seems to be a power hog. I think we will have to really limit ourselves to either an even smaller fridge or a cooler with ice.

We are literally going to be living in the back of our truck with a camper shell. Crazy I know, but the reason that solar panels are so attractive over a generator is it doesn't take up any living space. Also, they are more self sufficient for every day use than a generator.

Couple of questions that I have. It looks like I can get a 200w-250w solar panel for around $250-$350. I don't know what brands I should be looking into but I was thinking,.
-Can you guys suggest some good panels in this wattage range?
-Can you suggest a good battery?
-Also looking for a good charge controller.

Also, I have a cheap inverter that is not a sine wave. I will only be using it every once in a while to charge my electric drill and cell phone batteries.

Thanks for your thoughts and helping stick to reality.

https://www.TreePotTravels.com

https://www.facebook.com/TreepotTravels

[Sunking]

To do what he want's do do he needs 700 watts of panles and 2 T125 and a Mptt CC. and a 1000 watt inverter

Not in the northern country in winter. LPG fridge is his answer.

Take it one step further no fridge needed in northern country in winter. Just sit an ice chest outside and snow pack it to keep from freezing.

[SunEagle]

To do what he want's do do he needs 700 watts of panles and 2 T125 and a Mptt CC. and a 1000 watt inverter

That system size looks reasonable but still pretty big for someone wanting to go camping with it.

The OP would still have to drop the frig from his electrical load to get his system down in size to what he may be looking for.

[dkpro1]

ok sorry

The amount and size of the battery system is in conjunction with the size of the solar panel system. If there is a lot more wattage of panels compared to AH of batteries you would charging them way too fast. If there is not enough panel wattage then you will never get your batteries charged.

The amount of batteries needed to match up to a 5000 watt panel system is way more than a few hundred AH.

So to help clear things up... how many panel watts do you use and how big is your battery system in AH?

To do what he want's do do he needs 700 watts of panles and 2 T125 and a Mptt CC. and a 1000 watt inverter

[SunEagle]

thousands for batteries???? 2 T125 coast 280.00 gives you 140 amp hours for night use fr the fridge will use 90 anp hours at night ...you freez 2 pounds of ice doring the day and place in fridge for less fridge run time at night it is on a timmer and only run'd 15 min. every hour....

The amount and size of the battery system is in conjunction with the size of the solar panel system. If there is a lot more wattage of panels compared to AH of batteries you would charging them way too fast. If there is not enough panel wattage then you will never get your batteries charged.

The amount of batteries needed to match up to a 5000 watt panel system is way more than a few hundred AH.

So to help clear things up... how many panel watts do you use and how big is your battery system in AH?

[dkpro1]

wow

Ok. Now I'm confused. You started out wanting to use solar for your camper to run a few items including a small refrigerator. If you dropped the frig you could get by with a few hundred watts of panels and a couple of golf cart batteries to do the job.

Now you are talking about getting 5kw of panels which is about what a small home owner would install. Even if you can get them panels for $0.60/watt you would end up spending thousands more for the batteries, charge controller and inverter. That system is not small or anywhere close to be transportable for a camping trip.

I have seen people set up a small (400watt) panel ground mount system to charge their batteries in a "dry camping" environment. It took up a lot of room and a while to set up. Way too much work to charge the batteries. It would have been way cheaper any easier to use a quite generator instead.

If you must go solar then limit your electrical load to what you really need. That is the best way to keep your system small and transportable.

Opps. I got dkpro1 and the Post Originator mixed up. Sorry for that. But my advise to go small still stands.

thousands for batteries???? 2 T125 coast 280.00 gives you 140 amp hours for night use fr the fridge will use 90 anp hours at night ...you freez 2 pounds of ice doring the day and place in fridge for less fridge run time at night it is on a timmer and only run'd 15 min. every hour....

[SunEagle]

Ok. Now I'm confused. You started out wanting to use solar for your camper to run a few items including a small refrigerator. If you dropped the frig you could get by with a few hundred watts of panels and a couple of golf cart batteries to do the job.

Now you are talking about getting 5kw of panels which is about what a small home owner would install. Even if you can get them panels for $0.60/watt you would end up spending thousands more for the batteries, charge controller and inverter. That system is not small or anywhere close to be transportable for a camping trip.

I have seen people set up a small (400watt) panel ground mount system to charge their batteries in a "dry camping" environment. It took up a lot of room and a while to set up. Way too much work to charge the batteries. It would have been way cheaper any easier to use a quite generator instead.

If you must go solar then limit your electrical load to what you really need. That is the best way to keep your system small and transportable.

Opps. I got dkpro1 and the Post Originator mixed up. Sorry for that. But my advise to go small still stands.