jas67
home
Full Member
Joined: 10/12/2009
View Profile
|
I brewed coffee every morning on our recent trip to Assateague using a small 5-cup coffee maker and a 1000W Xantrex ProWatt SW inverter. I didn't install the inverter just for making coffee; I installed it so we can run 120VAC fans (move more air, more quietly than the best 12VDC fans) and run our 27" LCD TV and DVD/Surround sound system.
I have two Group 31 batteries on our TT connected to the inverter with 2 gauge copper wire of about 8-foot length. We ran two 50 watt 120 VAC fans all night long (10pm until 8am), along with 3 12VDC fans (about 10W for two of them, and 20W for the larger one), as we needed all the air movement we could get. Then, before quiet hours were over in the morning, I brewed my coffee. After all that, I still had over 75% battery capacity (unloaded battery voltage around 12.3V).
This small coffee maker only draws 700W (my larger one at home uses 1100W). I used a "Kill-o-Watt" to measure its power usage. I could make a full "5 cup" (30 oz) pot of coffee using only .05 KWh., or about the same power as running one of my 50W fans for an hour. The pair of group 31 batteries on our TT have about 2 KWh capacity (1 KWh usable if keeping them at 50% charge or better).
Now, that said, we normally camp in electric sites, but Assateague only has 39 of 350 sites with electricity. I tried this out at home before leaving. If it didn't end up being practical, my plan was to either wait until I ran the genny to charge the batteries to make my coffee, or use the old-fashion stove-top perculator to make it. Turns out using the inverter to power this small coffee maker works out just fine.
If you don't already have a coffee maker for your camper, the Coleman stove-top drip coffee maker does look intriguing.
2006 Jayco 31BHDS
2006 F-350 SRW,4WD,6.0L Powerstroke,5 speed auto,crew/long bed
Equalizer Hitch
Previous Rig:
2004 Coachman 106 (2,000lb GVW, 1526 DVW) --SOLD.
2000 BMW 323iT (Sport Wagon, 2.5L, 5 speed manual)
|
BFL13
Victoria, BC
Senior Member
Joined: 02/15/2006
View Profile
|
How did you recharge the batteries? If gen/charger, how many amps intitial charging and what amps did you stop the charge at? (for both batteries, not amps per battery --ie stopping at 10amps is at 5 amps per battery) Or do you have solar as well?
How many days in a row did you do this for and what was your recharging routine? Every day, every second day, what? And how long per each occasion? Like four hours a day but two hours at a time, or what?
(I use 12.3 as being 60% but sources vary on that)
Thanks
2003 Chev 2500HD ExtCab, LB, 2WD, 6.0/4.10 Gas
2003 Komfort 26FS 5er (28.5 Ft-RK-10,000lb GVWR)
|
Capt.Storm
Brockport NY.
Senior Member
Joined: 04/18/2010
View Profile
 Offline
|
I still say those little coffee bags work pretty good.
|
Dutch_12078
Great Sacandaga Lake, NY
Senior Member
Joined: 10/07/2008
View Profile
 Online
|
All we do when we don't have hookups and don't feel like firing up the genny is heat up a pan of water on the stove and pour it through the basket on our electric drip coffeemaker.
Dutch
1995 Coachmen Catalina 322QBXL
F53 chassis, 460 V8, TST TPMS
Quadra Bigfoot EZE Levelers
2002 Toyota RAV4 AWD/Remco pump
ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/Blue Ox baseplate
|
camperpaul
Wherever I park my travel trailer
Senior Member
Joined: 05/10/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I use a whistling tea kettle on an electric hot plate to heat water when I have shore power; when I don't, I heat it on the propane stove.
I then use a "french press" to make the coffee. Yes, it is a little more labor intensive but the coffee is SO GOOD.
Paul
Ham Radio - K9ERG (since 1956)
Was a campground host at IBSP (2006-2010) - now retired.
Single - Full-timer
2005 Four Winds 29Q
1982 6.2L Diesel Suburban 1500
|
|
|
weathershak
Delaware
Senior Member
Joined: 12/11/2006
View Profile
|
Capt.Storm wrote:I still say those little coffee bags work pretty good.
X2 
Don't like the view?? Then change it and Go Camping   Our pics
|
Fisherguy
Vancouver BC
Senior Member
Joined: 07/31/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
No one uses percolators anymore¿?
06 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins 6 spd std with a few goodies.
2007 Komfort 274TS, SteadyFast stabilizers, Trimetric 2025RV, PD9280, Honda EU2000i, Xantrex SW600, shocks and EZ-Flex suspension, Reese Strait-Line
|
J Walker
Oakton, Va
Senior Member
Joined: 06/12/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
Here are some numbers on battery capacity.
Assuming the battery capacity is conservatively 150 Amp Hours, then multiplying this times 12V gives 1,800 Watt Hours or 1.8 KWatt Hours. So the .05 KWatt Hours for coffee making is a drop in the bucket. Interesting. I didn't realize the batteries had that much energy.
Jim Walker
2000 34' Damon Ultrasport DP
2009 Malibu
Brake Buddy
|
AdirondackBob
Bolton Landing, New York
Full Member
Joined: 06/11/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Online
|
We use this when boondocking. It works great.
|
jas67
home
Full Member
Joined: 10/12/2009
View Profile
|
AdirondackBob wrote:We use this when boondocking. It works great.
I would certainly purchase one of these if I didn't already have the small electric one. I was already adding the inverter for entertainment and fans, and already had the small electric coffee maker, so my solution was $40 less than buying the Coleman stove top unit.
BTW, I made the original post in response to:
Inverter Question
Where another member was asking about using an inverter to run an electric coffee maker.
I added a subject not knowing it would make a new thread.
In response to the comments about Starbuck's VIA -- I've tried them, theyre' not as good as brewed coffee, and cost a lot more.
|
|
|
