Re: [A/S] Electrical Independence

[Jim Dunmyer <jdunmyer@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bob,
 One point, an automotive alternator isn't rated in "Amp Hours", but
just "Amps".

The reason your original scheme would result in only 10 AH of
electricity being put into the batteries in 2 hours is because of the
5-amp charge rate that you'd likely see.

Connecting it as you describe below (far different than just using the
standard trailer connector and its "charge wire", you'll actually put
useful amounts of power into your battery bank in a fairly short time.

Yes, what you did (below, charging the battery from the van) worked, but
just barely. You needed very few AH to "finish out the night", so the
few that you supplied did the job.

Have you purchased those books I told you about? Have you read Phred's
Poop Sheets on Batteries and Solar at http://www.phrannie.org?

                                        <<Jim>>