Matt_Colie
Southeast Michigan
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Joined: 10/09/2011
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Swimmer,
You have a wonderful collection of inadequate information for your responses.
First problem: Lead Acid Flooded batteries can be charged to about 90% State of Charge (SOC) in a couple of hours depending on the battery temperature. That last 10% takes most of five hours and can't happen faster without the heat damaging the battery.
Second problem: That 1000w generator is about 60 amps at 13.5V (for a 12V system). Your electric refrigeration is probably about 120W (about 10 amps) on a duty cycle that is related to temperature and use. So, it will suffice and larger generator won't get you any advantage.
Third problem: Will you be able to run the generator all the time you need where you are going? Many places have quiet hours.
My guess based on my experience is that if you run the generator at least 12 hours a day, you should be able to survive.
You gave us no clue what the reefer is or what your house bank is, and it does not make a huge difference.
If you know more, come back and we can probably get you a better answer.
Matt & Mary Colie
A sailor, his bride and their black dogs (one dear dog is waiting for us at the bridge) going to see some dry places that have Geocaches in a coach made the year we married.
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swimmer_spe
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 08/14/2013
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Matt_Colie wrote:Swimmer,
You have a wonderful collection of inadequate information for your responses.
First problem: Lead Acid Flooded batteries can be charged to about 90% State of Charge (SOC) in a couple of hours depending on the battery temperature. That last 10% takes most of five hours and can't happen faster without the heat damaging the battery.
Second problem: That 1000w generator is about 60 amps at 13.5V (for a 12V system). Your electric refrigeration is probably about 120W (about 10 amps) on a duty cycle that is related to temperature and use. So, it will suffice and larger generator won't get you any advantage.
Third problem: Will you be able to run the generator all the time you need where you are going? Many places have quiet hours.
My guess based on my experience is that if you run the generator at least 12 hours a day, you should be able to survive.
You gave us no clue what the reefer is or what your house bank is, and it does not make a huge difference.
If you know more, come back and we can probably get you a better answer.
I plan on using it when hunting on crown land. So, if need be, it can be run nonstop.My plan is to fire it up when we get up, and leave it running till we get back from hunting.
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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swimmer_spe wrote:OP here.
If while the generator is running, I turn off the fridge (pulling the fuse if need be) would that give me a better charge?
If the generator is able to power both the fridge and the converter (rv speak for battery charger) then shutting off the fridge will make no difference except for a tiny bit more fuel used.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.
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Tvov
CT
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Joined: 07/19/2003
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Is there any way you can get a gas refrig installed? Seems like that would make everything easier. You should be able to camp for days on one battery with a gas refrig.
Speaking of which - what about heating the camper? If you have an onboard forced air gas heater, the blower can use more power than you might think. If you have an electric heater - your battery may not last the night.
_________________________________________________________
2021 F150 2.7
2004 21' Forest River Surveyor
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Bobbo
Wherever I park
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Joined: 09/16/2007
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Tvov wrote:You should be able to camp for days on one battery with a gas refrig.
My experience is that you can get one night per battery. When I camped with one battery, I had to recharge every day. When I upped that to two batteries, I only had to recharge every other day. (Solar greatly extended that however. Later, much later.)
Bobbo and Lin
2017 F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab w/Max Tow Package 3.5l EcoBoost V6
2017 Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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Joined: 08/19/2009
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pianotuna wrote:swimmer_spe wrote:OP here.
If while the generator is running, I turn off the fridge (pulling the fuse if need be) would that give me a better charge?
If the generator is able to power both the fridge and the converter (rv speak for battery charger) then shutting off the fridge will make no difference except for a tiny bit more fuel used.
Assuming it's a 12v fridge, the generator will only see the battery charger load.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV
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Boomerweps
Hills of PA
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Joined: 04/30/2018
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First, Electric only fridge? 110vac or 12vdc?
There are a lot of 12vdc powered or controlled items in your camper. The converter makes 12vdc from the AC power (shore power or generator) for those items and to charge the battery.
Most people with 12vdc refrigerators find that having two batteries is almost a necessity to insure uninterrupted service when other power is not available in a 24 hour period.
I see there appears to be a big push to have small factory solar power systems installed to keep the batteries topped off with the 12vdc fridges. You might consider adding some solar.
Another issue is that normal lead acid batteries can only be run down 50% to prevent long term damage to the cells. IMO, it’s worth the expense to change to a LiFePO4 battery that can be run down to 0% without damage. And can be had in large power capacity. Just changing out the same capacity LA battery with a Lithium is DOUBLING your usable amps. (Bonus, they weigh 50% less, too.)
2019 Wolf Pup 16 BHS Limited, axle flipped
2019 F150 4x4 SCrew SB STX 5.0 3.55 factory tow package, 7000#GVWR, 1990 CC Tow mirrors, ITBC, SumoSprings,
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swimmer_spe
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 08/14/2013
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Tvov wrote:Is there any way you can get a gas refrig installed? Seems like that would make everything easier. You should be able to camp for days on one battery with a gas refrig.
Speaking of which - what about heating the camper? If you have an onboard forced air gas heater, the blower can use more power than you might think. If you have an electric heater - your battery may not last the night.
Cannot switch out the fridge.
Furnace is forced gas.
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swimmer_spe
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
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valhalla360 wrote:pianotuna wrote:swimmer_spe wrote:OP here.
If while the generator is running, I turn off the fridge (pulling the fuse if need be) would that give me a better charge?
If the generator is able to power both the fridge and the converter (rv speak for battery charger) then shutting off the fridge will make no difference except for a tiny bit more fuel used.
Assuming it's a 12v fridge, the generator will only see the battery charger load.
It is a 12 v fridge.
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swimmer_spe
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
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Boomerweps wrote:First, Electric only fridge? 110vac or 12vdc?
There are a lot of 12vdc powered or controlled items in your camper. The converter makes 12vdc from the AC power (shore power or generator) for those items and to charge the battery.
Most people with 12vdc refrigerators find that having two batteries is almost a necessity to insure uninterrupted service when other power is not available in a 24 hour period.
I see there appears to be a big push to have small factory solar power systems installed to keep the batteries topped off with the 12vdc fridges. You might consider adding some solar.
Another issue is that normal lead acid batteries can only be run down 50% to prevent long term damage to the cells. IMO, it’s worth the expense to change to a LiFePO4 battery that can be run down to 0% without damage. And can be had in large power capacity. Just changing out the same capacity LA battery with a Lithium is DOUBLING your usable amps. (Bonus, they weigh 50% less, too.)
It is a 12 v fridge.
I do have plans to upgrade the batteries and add solar at some point. Currently, there is only one battery on it, which it came with when I bought it in the fall. I have an extra battery that is 1 year older. I will be putting that second battery on in the near future. In a few years, I'll be upgrading the solar system by adding more panels (that will be a different thread.) when it comes time to replace the batteries, I plan to replace them with Lithium or whatever is the best at the time I get them. I was just given this 1000w generator for free, so I figure I will use it till I can do the upgrades, including a bigger generator.
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