cool, I'll look into those.

Just an FYI though, if they're connected in series you double the voltage, but the Ah rating stays the same. So they'd only be 400 ah at 12 volts in series. To get 800 Ah at 12 volts you'd need 4 of them, two pairs in series with both pairs parallel to each other.

also, found this on a webpage about that battery:

but it is still a good deal.

Do you have an isolation system picked out?

 

Arky,
You can calculate the Amp hour by figuring out what the discharge will be over a 20 hour period. For example, my system without the A/C unit (which I have not tested yet, and could discharge the batteries too quickly) draws between 170 AH and 190AH per day, so my bank of batteries should be at least 400AH so I have plenty of power. My bank is right now 400AH but I will be increasing it to 800AH if I want more genset free time,( the trade off is the extra 300lbs, so I have to see what my freight weight usually is so I don't ruin my chances to get a load).
Here is the calculations:
1.You have to divide the amp hour rating by 20
2.Example my system a 400AH system--------------400AH divided by 20 is 20amp load for 20 hours before dropping to the danger zone which is 10.5 volts.

So if you have a unit that draws 16 amps (that's a lot of amps), it theoretically should last 20 hours,...but keep in mind that you need to find out the starting amps of the unit, that could tax your batteries, and then there's the quick discharging issue. Batteries are not happy (deep cycle batteries) when you quick discharge them.

As far as your truck alternator. I don't think it could do the job, you may have to upgrade to the most powerful alternator that your truck is offered.
Keep in mind that in order to do this sometimes is better to get an inverter and use 115volt appliances because they tend to be more energy efficient than 12 volt stuff, and they seem to last longer as well.
Look at it like a water well pump,...you can run then on 115volts, but if you can run them on 230volts they are more efficient.


Allan,
I was concerned about battery vibration and destroying them, but Trojan batteries have been that standard for EV's for a long time and they have a decent enough track record for me...and they are reasonably priced.
I have not yet considered an isolator system because the truck batteries and the sleeper batteries are separate systems.
The truck alternator charges only the truck batteries, and the APU has 2 separate chargers, one for the sleeper set and one for the truck set.
And yes,...thanks for the correction the amp hr/series/parallel thing. I forgot about that,...must be my high Blood Pressure

 

OK Steve....where ya at and whatcha doing?? We were in a tornado this evening....I will be posting pics as soon as I can get them downloaded.

tootie

 

Glad to see you are OK.

 

Tornadoes are fun, the last one I encountered forced me to drive down the highway in my underwear at 1am. Each bolt of lightening lite up the sky and the clouds were at tree top level and clouds like you've never seen before.

When I was doing some contract work in Cedar Rapids Iowa for 6 months the sirens went off so often I just plain didn't care after a week of that. I stood outside once when 2 twisters went by me. One about 1/2 mile away and the other 1/4 mile away. The wind was pretty strong but unless your right in it's path your not going to be effected.

I'm loaded up with part of a cedar wood church heading for California. You could say I'm on a mission from God. lol I got a full tank of gas, 1/2 a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and I'm wearing sun glasses........HIT IT....lol

There are a total of 11 trucks heading to CA. I just can't imagine why they would pay over $50,000 in shipping costs. You would think they could find something local instead of clear across the US.

Kind of an odd load that had to be tarped. Thank God for 25 straps. The load is over 13' high in the front then slopes down to 5' in the middle then back up again. I used maybe 8 straps to secure the load then the rest to hold down the tarp along with 100 bungee cords.

I don't have to be there until Tuesday morning so I posted my truck as available on Wed. I started getting calls yesterday. Some people wanted me to haul a load yesterday in California. I was like, don't you idiots read the posting. It's not available until next week!!!!!!!!!!!! GEEZ

Then I get the other calls. Hi this is xxx transport. We see you have a truck posted and we have a load from Ohio to blah blah. Hello, jerk off, my truck is posted in California for next week. Then they act stupid and say, oh, you don't have any trucks in Ohio??? No you mimrod, if I did I would have posted it. Wait, let me just drop this load off at Walmart and dead head over to Ohio and get your's, ok?

It's obvious that some brokers get notified of anyone posting a truck and call you without regards to where your truck is then act so surprised that you don't have one in the area they need it.

I had one call the other day before I left home from a company a few towns over. I looked them up and there credit score was "F" with numerous complaints against them and an average of 112 days to pay. On top of that they were paying $1.03 per mile for 48,000 pounds. I sent them email and told them they should be ashamed for even posting there loads. Never heard back, big surprise!!

 

There is no way in hell I'm reading this entire thread. It's good to see you survived the winter. :wink:

+1

 

So...where in Cali you headed this time Steve?

And that broker with the bad score and cheap freight...there are to many trucks willing to do their work, for them to care what you had to say. They just keep smilin as they put their check's in the bank.

 

I'm heading to Valyermo Ca to a monistary. Funny because I have instructions on how to act when I get there. Cannot make any sounds at all before 8am and after 5pm. Not allowed to talk to any of the monks unless spoken too. Do not kill ANYTHING including mosquitoes.

I already have a load of watermelons to deliver to Utah after I unload. Actually the day after. I posted my truck 1 day out so I could have a day off. 700 miles for $1,500.

I'm going to try and stay out for my 3 weeks this time. I've found that being in California it takes about 2 seconds to find a load back home within 30 miles. This time I feel like roaming around for a while and getting lost in the mountains and woods.

My tarp has been giving me problems yesterday and today and I've stopped at least 4 times to add more bungee cords. It's like a huge sail when I get going but when I stop I can't pull it at all but it's out there like 2 feet. Well, I just found the problem. I had to fold over some excess tarp and folded it forward...DUH!!!! It was so flush at a stop I couldn't see it before.

I'm in PA right now at at TA.....Mmmm...In PA at a TA. There are a whole lot of Quakers here and they are pretty cool to watch. All the kids are very clean cut and well dressed. Everyone has suspenders. Now I want some.
All the ladies and girls wear these hats and makes me want to ask them to bake me something!!

Still trying to do my 600 a day and hopefully I'll be at the IOWA80 truck stop tomorrow at a descent time. I think I'll only do 300 tomorrow and maybe wash my truck, get a PM and hit the chrome and light shop!!!

 

But does your rig have cop motor, cop suspension, cop tires? Can it jump a half raised drawbridge and run Illinois Nazi Pintos off the road?

FYI Utah has the highest per capita sugar consumption of any state..they got to make up for the lack of cigs and booze somewhere.

 

But does your Star Car have the cop motor, cop suspension, cop tires? Can it jump a half raised drawbridge and run Illinois Nazi Pintos off the road?