From: cshenk@virginia-beach.com   
      
   Ted Heise wrote:   
      
   > On Mon, 3 Mar 2025 21:44:52 -0600,   
   >   sticks  wrote:   
   > >  On 3/3/2025 7:39 PM, Ted Heise wrote:   
   > > > On Tue, 4 Mar 2025 00:37:03 -0000 (UTC),   
   > > >    Carol  wrote:   
   > > >>   Ted Heise wrote:   
   > > >   
   > > >>> I'm now wondering if my best bet may just be to minimize use   
   > > >>> of the battery so it might last a couple of days.  The   
   > > >>> fridge seems likely to the biggest draw, and is probably why   
   > > >>> the batterys has lost a significant portion of its capacity   
   > > >>> after a day of towing.  Would it be unacceptably dangerous   
   > > >>> to run the fridge from the propane tank while towing?   
   > > >   
   > > > Any thoughts about running the fridge on propane while towing?   
   > >   
   > >  As far as I know, it's not illegal.  You can do it, but it does   
   > >  open up a slight bit of risk should something happen to the now   
   > >  open gas tank.   
   >   
   > Yeah, that's sorta been my read of the situation too.  Though some   
   > of my web searches suggested it might not be strictly legal.   
   >   
   >   
   > >       ...Seems to me the little juice those fridges pull you'd   
   > >  be better off just using the trailer battery and figuring out   
   > >  how to keep it charged up.   
   >   
   > I would also think the fridge (Norcold N4000) has light electrical   
   > use, but the 100 Ah LIon battery is down to 80 or less after a   
   > half day of towing.  I can't think of much else in the unit that   
   > draws meaningful power while towing.   
   >   
   > If I'm reading things right (from web searches), it seems the   
   > fridge should run at somewhere in the 50-100 W range.  Assuming   
   > worst case 100 W for five hours, I think that's 6 Ah used, so the   
   > battery should not be getting drawn down as much as I'm seeing.   
   > Maybe my calculations are off base.   
   >   
   > On the other hand, I seem to recall that the fridge has stopped   
   > running after a modest (less than an hour) time on the 12 V   
   > system.  I suppose I need to check this out further.   
   >   
   > Regardless, it seems pretty clear my Acadia tow vehicle is not   
   > producing enough juice to help.  Maybe my assumption that power   
   > could be supplied by way of the seven pin connector is wrong.   
   >   
   >   
   > >  ...Save the gas for hot water and heat if you need it.   
   >   
   > Yeah, makes sense, but the quick searches I've done suggest the   
   > fridge should run for weeks on a standard tank, so that doesn't   
   > seem like a few days should wipe it out.   
   >   
   >   
   > >  FWIW, I think you've gone to the expense of installing a   
   > >  Lithium battery in your unit, and we should go back to the   
   > >  start here and help you work through this problem of getting   
   > >  and keeping it charged.   
   >   
   > Yeah, a Li Time 100 Ah battery.   
   >   
   >   
   > >    ...I am still recovering from surgery, and not in top form,   
   >   
   > Thanks for the reminder, hope your recovery continues to proceed   
   > well!   
   >   
   >   
   > >  but this effort could be used here as a study in how to help   
   > >  fellow RVers with similar problems. One way or another we   
   > >  should come to some kind of consensus on what the group thinks   
   > >  is a good way to solve this problem.  There will be others like   
   > >  Ted who are going to have the same questions.   
   >   
   > LOL, you sound like some of the folks I work with in writing ISO   
   > standards.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.  :)   
   >   
   >   
   > >  The first problem is whether or not you can use the tow vehicle   
   > >  to charge the trailer when moving from site to site.  I assume   
   > >  you would leave for any trip with it fully charged, so this   
   > >  would be for mostly when packing up and going elsewhere.  I   
   > >  still think a DC-DC charger is your best bet here, and not as   
   > >  complicated as it might initially appear.   
   > >    Probably more affordable than you think too.  We'll have to   
   > >  look for good options on that.  Once you have that, it could   
   > >  also be used in an emergency to charge the trailer batteries   
   > >  flatspotting, as well as using your generator.   
   >   
   > Yep, I always start from home with everything fully charged. I   
   > only have standard 110 outlets, so learned from experience that if   
   > I run the trailer's AC it melts the plug of a light duty extension   
   > cord.  All seems to be okay with the larger gauge cord(s) I've   
   > since picked up.   
   >   
   > I do agree that beefing up the towing system feels like the best   
   > option for me, not least because I could use it in a pinch to   
   > charge the trailer battery when flatspotting.  As I mentioned in   
   > another post, the small generator I've used seems not worth it.   
   > The car runs more quietly, and there wouldn't be the weight and   
   > fumes we get from the generator.   
   >   
   > I'm just a little daunted by the idea of installing additional   
   > equipment in the car (convertor plus heavy gauge wiring to an   
   > additional plug in at the rear of the vehicle).   
   >   
   >   
   > >  Next, if your boon-docking, you need to get the battery charged   
   > >  back up as it gets depleted.  I know there were some additional   
   > >  notes recently on what you have currently in the Lance, but I   
   > >  was a little too under the weather to get into them too much.   
   > >  I'll try and give a look tomorrow.   
   > >   
   > >  That said, it is my understanding you don't have a solar panel   
   > >  of any type at the current time.  So, we have to know if the   
   > >  Lance does have a controller in it, just not hooked up, and if   
   > >  it does have a plug in for the solar panel.  I know you have   
   > >  the generator you could use to charge the battery if you had   
   > >  to, but to me the proper use of a solar panel and controller   
   > >  that could keep the Lithium charged is the solution you should   
   > >  be aiming for.  Then, you'd only really use the generator if   
   > >  you don't have shore power and need AC.  On my unit it is   
   > >  installed on the roof and keeps my pair of deep cycles fully   
   > >  charged quite easily, with the fridge running too.  I do like   
   > >  the idea of having a portable panel that allows you to park the   
   > >  Lance under a more shaded area and then place the panel more   
   > >  out in the direct sunshine.   
   >   
   > I think the trailer has only the Power Dynamics unit for power   
   > management.  It includes a setting for LIon batteries, but I don't   
   > believe it would accomodate a solar panel without needing an   
   > additional controller for the panel.  It does have the solar on   
   > the side connector, but I think a controller would be needed for   
   > any panels I might use.   
   >   
   > I'm also a little daunted by the notion of installing panels on   
   > the roof.  On the other hand, putting out panels after arriving at   
   > camp would be playing catch up after the drain from a day of   
   > towing.   
   >   
   >   
      
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