Generator or batteries for boondocking?

[Tedsoldbus]

If you only go once a year I can't imagine you will ever wear out that 12.5 diesel generator. You already have it. It works. Lots of opinions here which is I suppose you were after but I think you already have a good option on board. I think it comes down to your personal preference. I have the roof space and belly space to do the solar panels and a pile of battleborn in the belly. Makes sense, saves money, easier on the planet, but I like what I have. Not doing it. But don't follow my lead.  I just changed from a flip phone out of necessity, and wish the TV remote had less than 37 buttons.
Best of luck.

[Melbo]

Brian

Run the generator.  That is what I do when we travel in the hot summer time to Iowa and Illinois.  We park on the levee at the Mississippi river and it keeps everything comfortable.  I have a wrico similar to yours and it only uses about a third of a gallon an hour.  We have run the generator on one trip when the inverter died for 6 days 24/7.  That was when I figured out that it doesn't use that much diesel.  We will even skip RV parks if it gets complicated to find one.  I mean five gallons of diesel is only 20 bucks.  So I say it again RUN THE GENERATOR.

HTH

YMMV

Melbo

[luvrbus]

My 4 Lifeline 8-D's charge from the engine alternator (13.1 V ) driving but if we are not plugged in at shut down on the road I still need to run my generator for a few hours  to reach the 14.3 V bulk and absorption rate for the Lifelines if not they don't last through the night sometimes.With the electronic engine and transmission I am not going beyond 13.3 v on the engine charging system generator fuel is cheap   

[6805eagleguy]

just run the genset imo. i dont have a single house battery lol

[chessie4905]

With the money invested in the generator, make use of it, unless lightly loaded. Batteries are like horses, nice to have but they still need maintenance when not used.

[belfert]

What I think I will do is just buy two batteries (I am running 24 volts.).  I already have the inverter.  We have to shut off the generator while crossing the desert, or the generator will ingest a bunch of dust.

The generator is running with little load at night.  A CPAP machine or two, an electric blanket, some phone chargers, and a deep freeze/frig/water heater running periodically.

[RJ]

What I think I will do is just buy two batteries (I am running 24 volts.)

Brian -

You mentioned that you have four 100 amp/hr batteries that are shot right now, but you never mentioned what "size" they are. Are they Group 31s? The monster 8Ds? The semi-monster 4Ds? Group 27s? Group 24s?  The way you describe their use, it sounds like they're deep-cycle for the house side of things.

If you can share with us what battery Group size they are (NOT the amp/hr rating), perhaps we can better assist you making an intelligent decision.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[luvrbus]

Says he has 6 =100 amp AGM probably 6 volt standby commutations batteries ,makes no difference 6 - 100 amp batteries on 12 or 24 volt won't make a cup of coffee   

[dtcerrato]

Five 100AH batteries will power an inverter to run a rooftop air conditioner for over two hours.

[sledhead]

sure is nice to make coffee and toast a bagel in the morning without starting the genny

dave

[luvrbus]

6-100 aH batteries at 24 volts is not much,he would be better off buying 3 - 8v golf cart batteries most of those are 200AH and you can buy the take outs for 50 bucks ea new they cost around $150.00 ea 

[belfert]

These batteries made it through the night just fine when I first installed them.  They are 12 volt.  I was incorrect on the amp hours.  They are 170 amp hour batteries.  They are set up essentially as three 24 volt 170 AH batteries.  I use equal length battery cables for all batteries.

[luvrbus]

That is still only 500 amp hours @24V that is not much when using a coffee pot or a microwave oven for a light load like a Cpap it should do fine

[dtcerrato]

You have a very decent set up! We love our recent diy decent inverter/solar addition which is only 500AH @ 12V. Like Dave said can do lots of things that would have normally required genny power.

[Dave5Cs]

Yep we have 8, 6 volt deep cycle 232AH batteries with 1500 watts of solar panels. Can run everything to include one of the two AC roof tops. The Vctron Charge controller keep the bat charged even while using battery power through the 4024 Hybrid magnum Inverter. When cloudy or even rainy the batteries are kept charged to 28.6 and the lowest I have seen them was after running stuff all day like TV and coffee two computers etc was 25.5 and then as we sleep and wake up to full batteries again.
We use the genny only when we need both AC's like in stinkin hot Arizona or Texas, LOL