Lee's Batteries in Portland

January 19, 2004, 12:19:21 pm

We Country Coach owners are lucky that our inverters do not run the AC side of the refrigerator and hot water heater. We would have dead batteries in no time. What does go through the inverter is the ice maker if you have one.

If you are going to dry camp for any length of time, you need to watch your battery consumption. Your current draw varies by optional equipment, coach model, how sophisticated a monitor panel etc. Do you have forced hot air?? Hurricane forced hot water?? All of these add to your current draw. What is a constant on all the coaches, is that there is a 10:1 (give or take) ratio between AC demand converted via DC. This means that your television that draws 2 amps AC is a 20 amp DC draw from your batteries. Now add some DC lighting, an outside refrigerator running on AC from your inverter, your ice maker cycling, and your heat comes on. If you have a Link, you can see a sizeable DC draw. From habit, I always run the generator for the microwave or anything with a heavy load. We will leave roof airs, battery charging, and power sharing alone for now.
I hope this helps some.

Fred Sage 2001 Magna #5983

Re: Lee's Batteries in Portland

Reply #1 – January 21, 2004, 11:12:47 am

Yahoo Message Number: 8125

From: "c100495" FSage@...>

Quote

We Country Coach owners are lucky that our inverters do not run the

AC side of the refrigerator and hot water heater. We would have dead batteries in no time. What does go through the inverter is the ice maker if you have one. (snip)

Agreed. Can the refrigerator ice maker be safely disconnected electrically by simply pulling the red and white wires from the solenoid?
And what does everyone use to put a good load on the genset? A/C and/or heat pumps, of course, could be used, if needed. But how 'bout when the weather is temperate?

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97

(in Key West, FL)

Country Coach Owners Forum Country Coach Motorcoach Forum