12V stuff, power supply

opus · April 29, 2011, 03:41:43 PM

I want to run my Webasto when I am parked, as well as my circulator pump and fans. I dont want to run it off batteries, so I am was thinking an Iota 55A power supply. That way I can plug into 110v and not mess with the batteries. Make sense? [55A will be plenty]

If so, what would be the easiest way to isolate the 2-8D's so they arent in the equation? Or....should I just hooked power supply to the batteries and go that route?

belfert · April 29, 2011, 04:25:54 PM

Your house 12 volt system should really be separate from your chassis 12 volt system. I would install some battery capacity in case you do lose your 110 volt feed. You can at least limp along for a bit. The 55 amp converter would work just fine for this.

opus · April 29, 2011, 04:28:30 PM

No room for more batteries and I wouldnt if I had the room. I dont really have much of a 12v house setup. Just what I listed and a few lights. I have a generator for 110v if needed. Why should I separate things?

gus · April 29, 2011, 05:21:23 PM

I assume the Iota 55 is a power converter. If so that will work just fine if 55 amps is enough and it will charge your batteries also.

Just make sure it has a three or four stage charger like the latest models. The older models are battery killers.

opus · April 29, 2011, 05:23:02 PM

It does, but I dont want it to charge my batteries. My batteries wont need charging. I want it totally separate from them.

belfert · April 29, 2011, 05:54:56 PM

If you're certain you'll always have 110 volt power then you can get by without another battery.

opus · April 29, 2011, 06:09:32 PM

I have a genset, if I dont. I wouldnt ever run it off just the batteries. Of course, I would make it that I could charge batteries if the need arose. I just prefer to not use the batteries for anything but starting and driving down the road and I surely dont want to get involved in a battery bank.

Brassman · April 29, 2011, 08:59:40 PM

A battery and a converter can add a lot of utility to your vehicle, and, in fact, the modern inverter can do miracles. Just don't get me started on solar panels.

Lin · April 29, 2011, 10:16:20 PM

I assume that you do not want to camp in places like National Parks. They not allow generators from 7pm to 7am (or something like that). Without a battery, you will be using flashlights to get around at night.

belfert · April 30, 2011, 04:55:20 AM

I suspect a lot of organized campgrounds that don't have electric won't allow generators at night. (I don't camp in organized campgrounds.) I know that the RV parking lot I work at once a year won't allow generators at night and has no power.

bevans6 · April 30, 2011, 05:51:50 AM

The Iota 55 is quite a good choice for a power supply, since it has a good voltage regulator and is intended for use as a power supply, in addition to being a good multi-stage battery charger. You can set it at a constant 13.6 volts regardless of current output, and I think it works fine without a battery. In this mode it is designed to offer a constant voltage for optimum use in an RV for lighting, powering up appliances, etc. I have a similar one (45 amp) in my truck camper, although I use a battery as well.

Brian

TomC · April 30, 2011, 07:16:49 AM

I don't like converters. They just create 12vdc and do nothing else. On my bus I have a 2,500 watt inverter that turns into a 130amp battery charger. If you don't want a lot of extra batteries, I would just simply use a couple of size 31 deep cycle batteries for your house use and keep them charged with the inverter/charger. It's automatic, and you don't have to worry about anything. In the likely event of a power outage, the inverter will kick on so fast, you won't loose microwave clock memory.

Deep cycle batteries for the lights and such is a good idea since you'll always have a standby and batteries will absorb spikes in voltage. Good Luck, TomC

opus · April 30, 2011, 08:18:47 AM

This is a converter and a charger. Actually it is Webasto who suggested this. These are what they use on their benches to run their units.

opus · April 30, 2011, 11:09:08 AM

I want to hook up my power supply like this drawing shows. If I do this, as the ground is shown, that will supply the bus with 12v, yet it wont apply charge to the batteries. Would that be correct, seeing I took the battery ground out of the equation?

bevans6 · April 30, 2011, 11:19:57 AM

Yes, the batteries will both be out of the circuit, neither supplying voltage to the bus or being charged, until the switch to ground in closed. The power supply will work, since it does have a path to ground.

Brian