[a/s] [Fwd: Good advice!]

[Howard Lefkowitz <howie@xxxxxxx>]

From: Howard Lefkowitz
Date: March 21, 2000 1:03 PM
To: William V. Miller MD
Re: Good Advice!

Hi Bill!  You have to put flooded batteries outside or have them well
ventilated.  If you wanted to put them inside you would need gel cells or AGM
type batteries which are very expensive but don't give off an gases.  Check the
dimensions in the factory boxes carefully especially the terminal clearance.  I
have seen 27's used but I don't know about the 31's.  West Marine carries a
series called Seavolt 12V Deep Cycle Batteries that have a 350 deep cycle
capability and are available in 24, 27 or 31. Typical el-cheapo's run about 100
to 150 cycles.  They are made by Trojan and their battery ratings are real, 27's
give 90 Ah and 31's give 105 Ah capacity.  If you want an inverter the Heart or
Trace are excellent and have first class chargers.  Otherwise I would just get a
Statpower.  You should analyze your needs for the inverter very carefully and
determine the Amp hour load needed in order to determine the number of batteries
needed.  I find two works great for my Motor Home but I don't use an inverter. 
I have dry camped for over a week with those and one solar panel.
You don't need to regulate the truck charging system to the trailer since they
rarely put out more than a low trickle charge.  However, you should have an
Isolator too separate the two battery systems so that if left connected the
truck batteries will not be depleted accidentally.  You need an isolator which
is rated to handle your alternator.  Make sure the wire size you use from the
truck to coach batteries is adequate to provide a reasonable charging voltage
level.  Good luck.

Howard

"William V. Miller MD" wrote:
> 
> I KNEW someone out there would have some good experience with batteries and
> chargers. The old system is, to put it kindly, archaic. Do you know off hand
> how big a battery I can get in the factory box? It has a Group 24 on each
> side, but I think I could get two Group 31s in, one on each side. If I hook
> them in parallel, then use either the Stat Power or the Heart to charge them
> and invert to 110 things would be o.k.
> 
> Should I put a regulator on the system at the trailer to control current
> from the truck alternator? Battery isolators? Can I install the unit between
> the couch and the front "wall" or should I try to get the whole thing
> outside for safety's sake? Any advice greatly appreciated.
> 
> Bill
> 
> William V. Miller MD
> The Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin
> wvmiller@worldnet.att.net