Batteries- Boondocking

[Karakakes68]

How long should the batteries last when boondocking? Ours don’t last long at all and we just got new batteries. Just not sure what we should expect. Very frustrating. We have a 2018 Thor Windsport. We generally don’t boondock, and this is why. But we see posts etc or hear of people boondocking all the time and can’t understand why they aren’t as frustrated - or are you running your generator all the time? We are on the Rincon parkway so don’t need AC or anything….

[MattMcEvoy]

What batteries do you have? Do you have any solar panels?

[Bob Nodine]

Originally Posted by Karakakes68

How long should the batteries last when boondocking? Ours don’t last long at all and we just got new batteries. Just not sure what we should expect. Very frustrating. We have a 2018 Thor Windsport. We generally don’t boondock, and this is why. But we see posts etc or hear of people boondocking all the time and can’t understand why they aren’t as frustrated - or are you running your generator all the time? We are on the Rincon parkway so don’t need AC or anything….

Do you have a residential refrigerator? We have a 110 VAC residential refrigerator that operates from an inverter when there is no AC power source. It will drain our two AGM batteries down to 11.75 volts in 6 hours. This is with
almost no other drain on the 12 volt system. We turn the generator off before quite time, usually 8 PM, and by 5 AM the batteries are very low.

[DavidEM]

Yes residential fridges can be quite a draw- 100+ Ahs DC daily to run the inverter to power one. Even DC direct RV compressor fridges draw a lot- 50-75 Ahs daily. Add to that other routine loads like lights and furnace usage.

But with a propane absorption fridge, my 2021 Axis draws about 25 Ahs daily while dry camping.

So, it all depends.

David

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Karakakes68

How long should the batteries last when boondocking? Ours don’t last long at all and we just got new batteries. Just not sure what we should expect. Very frustrating. We have a 2018 Thor Windsport. We generally don’t boondock, and this is why. But we see posts etc or hear of people boondocking all the time and can’t understand why they aren’t as frustrated - or are you running your generator all the time? We are on the Rincon parkway so don’t need AC or anything….

An impossible question to answer without knowing more specifics.
OEM batteries? - After lot abuse and 5 years they are probably not up to boondocking.
Residential fridge? Needs much more energy than an absorption fridge.
Lights, TV, and furnace use all use battery energy.

There are hundreds of posts on this Forum discussing battery capacity which is probably where you need to start.

[Chateau_Nomad]

Until you do a basic "energy audit", you're just guessing. Every electric appliance uses a certain amount of power over a measured time... amp hours is often used because it translates to batteries well.

You should learn how to maintain your batteries BEFORE you invest in new ones... regardless of type. Batteries aren't cheap!!

Learning how your 12 volt system works is an important part of using your RV, and enjoying it. Otherwise you're going to be frustrated - as you've discovered.

Occasional boondocking can be done successfully without investing a fortune. But you should read up on batteries and types, then figure out how much 12 volt power you really need for an overnight. Otherwise you're just guessing which leads to a frustrating experience.

[Karakakes68]

We do have a residential refrigerator -the one it came with- and it drains the batteries in two hours or less and then we turned it off in the middle of the night and woke up to everything dead in six or four hours and we just had two new deep cell marine batteries installed for our house batteries installed by LaMesa RV

[Karakakes68]

We just got solar installed- three panels- it is cloudy in cali so probably doesn’t absorb so much then.

[RizeMaster]

We can boondock pretty much indefinitely, energy-wise, with a 190W solar panel recharging the batteries during the day. Our energy usage is low - biggest consumer is the 12V compressor fridge which uses about 55W when compressing.

Some quick math - 55W x 30% (actual run time) / 13V x 24 hours = 30Ah.

Add something for lights, water pump, propane solenoid, Truma, and various gadgets charging, adding up to around 40Ah. We don't use the inverter.

As long as the solar panel gets enough sun, this balances out.

Of course, a huge, inefficient fridge will require a lot more solar and/or battery capacity.

[DavidEM]

Originally Posted by Karakakes68

We do have a residential refrigerator -the one it came with- and it drains the batteries in two hours or less and then we turned it off in the middle of the night and woke up to everything dead in six or four hours and we just had two new deep cell marine batteries installed for our house batteries installed by LaMesa RV

That sounds like much more draw than normal, even for a residential fridge. Find a mobile RV mechanic to help you sort it out. All that RV dealers know how to do is change parts.

But realistically speaking, any RV with a residential fridge is not really suitable for dry camping.

David