Looking for two batteries

[wp1234]

Every day I need enough charge up my two 130ah to be able to watch my 28" Samsung TV with sound bar through my inverter for three hours.
As long as I do a few miles and there's a bit of sun during the day I'm almost always ok.
I have no control over how much charge I can get into my batteries but I can control how much a take out - via the voltmeter.

Wow you must be using some amperage with an inverter running .
I’m running a 27 inch Avtex and sound bar on 12v and with some lights on I’m averaging around 5-6 amps per hour so With a decent set of batteries I should be ok for a few days off grid…well that’s the theory anyway

 

[Stealaway]

Wow you must be using some amperage with an inverter running .
I’m running a 27 inch Avtex and sound bar on 12v and with some lights on I’m averaging around 5-6 amps per hour so With a decent set of batteries I should be ok for a few days off grid…well that’s the theory anyway

I reckon I'd be using perhaps 10% more - so maybe 7-8amps.
I can live indefinitely on my batteries off grid as long as the sun shines enough.
Even in the Isle of Man

 

[Cush]

Even in the Isle of Man

 

[headlight]

I reckon I'd be using perhaps 10% more - so maybe 7-8amps.
I can live indefinitely on my batteries off grid as long as the sun shines enough.
Even in the Isle of Man

So if your TV and soundbar are using a combined say 7.5 AH then 3 hours use is 22.5amps.
Assuming your 2 x 130AH batteries are in good condition and still around their claimed capacity then you have around 130 usable amps before your batteries are at 50% so your using around 130amps per day ?
That's quite a lot without using any heavy electric drain items.
22.5amps is the inverter usage so you're using around 107.5amps a day for all your 12v stuff, lights, water pump, charging phones etc.
The most I've ever used in a day is 40amps or 20% of my 200AH lead acid batteries.

 

[ChrisL]

I reckon I'd be using perhaps 10% more - so maybe 7-8amps.
I can live indefinitely on my batteries off grid as long as the sun shines enough.
Even in the Isle of Man

Can I ask what size inverter you are using please? I have a 500 w pure sine wave inverter which runs the 28" tv fine but the JBL sound bar doesn't like it and keeps dropping out.

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[Stealaway]

Can I ask what size inverter you are using please? I have a 500 w pure sine wave inverter which runs the 28" tv fine but the JBL sound bar doesn't like it and keeps dropping out.

It an eBay 1000w that I've had for maybe 10 years . I've just had to change the cooling fans because they were getting noisy -- it's that old!

 

[Karmann 97]

Does anyone have any experience of Alpha Batteries own brand Carbon batteries .Seem a good bet with loads of cycles and a 5 year warranty.

View attachment 739035

Take a look at roamer lithium batteries in leeds. Really great choice of batteries even one that sits under your seat base. Bought mine two years ago and its been a game changer. Never hook up now.

 

[garry63]

Can I ask what size inverter you are using please? I have a 500 w pure sine wave inverter which runs the 28" tv fine but the JBL sound bar doesn't like it and keeps dropping out.

Why do you need a sound bar in a little tin box compared to home, it must be defining

 

[ChrisL]

Why do you need a sound bar in a little tin box compared to home, it must be defining

It's not a little tin box it's an 8.3 mtrs long A class which I live in full time and it's not about volume but clarity and depth of sound, the soundbar is also Dolby Atmos compatible and also has Bluetooth so it adds to the enjoyment of films but I can also stream music, I have an Amazon unlimited music subscription so have one hundred million songs available to listen to in HD. What's not to like

 

[Stealaway]

So if your TV and soundbar are using a combined say 7.5 AH then 3 hours use is 22.5amps.
Assuming your 2 x 130AH batteries are in good condition and still around their claimed capacity then you have around 130 usable amps before your batteries are at 50% so your using around 130amps per day ?
That's quite a lot without using any heavy electric drain items.
22.5amps is the inverter usage so you're using around 107.5amps a day for all your 12v stuff, lights, water pump, charging phones etc.
The most I've ever used in a day is 40amps or 20% of my 200AH lead acid batteries.

Wow. You're a wizard at maths.
But I'm really not that concerned
I'm quite happy and confident in the knowledge that when I pull and settle down for the evening that my batteries will power the TV until we go to bed around midnight.
My lead acids have done exactly that every night for the past ten years.

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[garry63]

Can I ask what size inverter you are using please? I have a 500 w pure sine wave inverter which runs the 28" tv fine but the JBL sound bar doesn't like it and keeps dropping out.

Why do you need a sound bar in a little tin box compared to home, it must be defining

It's not a little tin box it's an 8.3 mtrs long A class which I live in full time and it's not about volume but clarity and depth of sound, the soundbar is also Dolby Atmos compatible and also has Bluetooth so it adds to the enjoyment of films but I can also stream music, I have an Amazon unlimited music subscription so have one hundred million songs available to listen to in HD. What's not to like

Fair play

 

[Karmann 97]

Can I ask what size inverter you are using please? I have a 500 w pure sine wave inverter which runs the 28" tv fine but the JBL sound bar doesn't like it and keeps dropping out.

I recently upgraded my electrical system and can stay off grid permanently if i choose to. It all started with a 150 watt solar setup then i got carried away. I liked the free power but had 2 x 110ah gel batteries. I hated carrying two batteries so i bought a seat base 200ah lithium from roamer batteries in leeds. I can never understand running a tv from an inverter so i bought a 12v 22inch tv. With an inverter you use extra power to do the same job.
Next came the 3 way fridge. It guzzled gas and was a real problem during the gas shortage. I modified my 12v side of the fridge circuit to run from my battery and solar in peak sun. This fridge consumed 12 amps per hour on paper but was more in reality. 6 hours to put the lithium into safe mode.

Then the obsession grew so i bought a vitrifrigo 85i compressor fridge. 65 watts consumption at peak and it doesn't run constantly. Four days away with tv and fridge on in rubbish weather had an impact on my battery taking it down to 145ah. The solar still gave me 40 watts in bad weather and that was under trees. The tv used 35 watts max and the fridge 65 at certain times throughout the day so i figured if i had another matching solar panel i could pull 80 plus watts in bad weather and up to 300 in good light. The fridge has been on for weeks now and the battery is full at the end of every night.

We just did 10 nights in Scotland off grid but used gas for heating and cooking. Got back home and re filled gas it cost £7. With old fridge we would use £18 worth. No i bought a 2000watt inverter. Hopefull going to start cooking with electric. Toastie maker works great as does the toaster.

 

[ChrisL]

I recently upgraded my electrical system and can stay off grid permanently if i choose to. It all started with a 150 watt solar setup then i got carried away. I liked the free power but had 2 x 110ah gel batteries. I hated carrying two batteries so i bought a seat base 200ah lithium from roamer batteries in leeds. I can never understand running a tv from an inverter so i bought a 12v 22inch tv. With an inverter you use extra power to do the same job.
Next came the 3 way fridge. It guzzled gas and was a real problem during the gas shortage. I modified my 12v side of the fridge circuit to run from my battery and solar in peak sun. This fridge consumed 12 amps per hour on paper but was more in reality. 6 hours to put the lithium into safe mode.

Then the obsession grew so i bought a vitrifrigo 85i compressor fridge. 65 watts consumption at peak and it doesn't run constantly. Four days away with tv and fridge on in rubbish weather had an impact on my battery taking it down to 145ah. The solar still gave me 40 watts in bad weather and that was under trees. The tv used 35 watts max and the fridge 65 at certain times throughout the day so i figured if i had another matching solar panel i could pull 80 plus watts in bad weather and up to 300 in good light. The fridge has been on for weeks now and the battery is full at the end of every night.

We just did 10 nights in Scotland off grid but used gas for heating and cooking. Got back home and re filled gas it cost £7. With old fridge we would use £18 worth. No i bought a 2000watt inverter. Hopefull going to start cooking with electric. Toastie maker works great as does the toaster.

How much solar have you got in total?

 

[Karmann 97]

How much solar have you got in total?

I only have 300 watts. 2 x 150. The lithium is the game changer though. It accepts the charge very quickly unlike gel or lead acid.

 

[ChrisL]

I only have 300 watts. 2 x 150. The lithium is the game changer though. It accepts the charge very quickly unlike gel or lead acid.

I have 250 watts of solar and 300 ahs of lead carbon gel batteries, if it's sunny they are charged up by midday but I haven't spent much time off grid in bad weather so am yet to discover the poor weather performance.

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[Karmann 97]

I only have 300 watts. 2 x 150. The lithium is the game changer though. It accepts the charge very quickly unlike gel or lead acid.

Everything i bought seemed costly and i didn't know if the benefits would outweigh the costs but they really do. It doesnt sound much but i save approximately £1 per day gas and i never need hookup on any sites. Hookup is usually £5 ish per day isn't it. Call it £6 per day as a rough total. The big plus for us though is we can camp everywhere. Lots of sites say we only have spaces left without hookup. Not a problem. Temporary holiday sites/ pop ups. Cheap stays no hook up.

 

[Karmann 97]

I have 250 watts of solar and 300 ahs of lead carbon gel batteries, if it's sunny they are charged up by midday but I haven't spent much time off grid in bad weather so am yet to discover the poor weather performance.

Before i doubled up i had 150 watts we stayed at a forrest camp site. Surrounded by trees in average febuary conditions my solar gave 40 watts ish. Yesterday in reasonable conditions i got 200/230 watts ish until my battery maxxed.

 

[ChrisL]

Before i doubled up i had 150 watts we stayed at a forrest camp site. Surrounded by trees in average febuary conditions my solar gave 40 watts ish. Yesterday in reasonable conditions i got 200/230 watts ish until my battery maxxed.

When you say 200/230 watts do you mean Wh or P max?

 

[Karmann 97]

Why do you need a sound bar in a little tin box compared to home, it must be defining

That is one disappointing thing, 12v tv speakers are dreadfull. Mind you are tv was cheap. Does the avtex tv have quality sound.

 

[funflair]

That is one disappointing thing, 12v tv speakers are dreadfull. Mind you are tv was cheap. Does the avtex tv have quality sound.

Our Avtex TV sounds better with Avtex sound bar

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[Karmann 97]

Our Avtex TV sounds better with Avtex sound bar

Is the sound bar 12v too.

 

[funflair]

Is the sound bar 12v too.

Yes 12v and HDMI ARC so it takes it's volume commands from the TV remote, ours sits on the bottom of the TV and still rises back into it's cupboard.

 

[Karmann 97]

Yes 12v and HDMI ARC so it takes it's volume commands from the TV remote, ours sits on the bottom of the TV and still rises back into it's cupboard.

Now you've done it lol. Got to go buy one now.

 

[gus-lopez]

use headphones .save money .

 

[funflair]

Now you've done it lol. Got to go buy one now.

Were you at Shrewsbury showground over Easter ? I saw a VW Karmann and might have been a Colorado.

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[headlight]

Stealaway how old are your batteries ?

 

[Stealaway]

Stealaway how old are your batteries ?

This is their forth year.
2 X Hankook 130ah

 

[Stealaway]

Stealaway how old are your batteries ?

I bought them for this new van in 2019 from Tanya for £110 each.
We average 115 nights out off grid each year so I would estimate they have done 350 half cycles .
I've not noticed any reduction in performance yet.

https://images.tayna.com/prod-images/1200/Hankook/XL31-HANKOOK.jpg

 

[headlight]

I bought them for this new van in 2019 from Tanya for £110 each.
We average 115 nights out off grid each year so I would estimate they have done 350 half cycles .
I've not noticed any reduction in performance yet.

https://images.tayna.com/prod-images/1200/Hankook/XL31-HANKOOK.jpg

Going well .
I have 2 x 100AH lead acids that are both just over a year old.
I have 200 watts of solar and a 60amp B2B.
I don't go on hookup and have done about 100 nights on the batteries so far.
I haven't taken them down below about 80% as I've never used more than 40amps, often only 10-20amps.
iirc my batteries were advertised as 250 cycles.
It will be interesting to see how long they last.

 

[68c]

This cycles thing is perhaps not that important. Call one cycle dropping charge to 50%, which most of us do not do, then doing one cycle a week would still last the best part of five years. Many only use the van for nine months a year so could be six years and the battery will still have some years in it before it becomes unusable. More likely to fail from internal damage due to crashing around on our UK roads or inappropriate charging.

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