aangel
New Member
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2020
- Messages
- 97
I came to this forum looking for precisely what you are doing, noblesin; thank you for posting with so much detail. In my case I have a retrofitted Parallax 7345 (that replaced the stock 6345) in my 1997 Four Winds Class C.
I'm also designing the system to work primarily with an external generator or shore power. I was very happy to read from someone who already owned one that the eTrailer brand generator was able to run his A/C without needing to install the soft-start device in the A/C. I bought the generator and have found the same thing; here is their generator product page. I've got the built in Onan 4000W generator too but it uses 0.5gal/hr of gasoline whereas the eTrailer 2000W generator uses just 0.15 on eco mode and probably double at full bore—still less than the Onan and much quieter, too.
I'll add solar as Phase 2 of the project. Getting my system to work with the air conditioner is the first priority.
For the battery, I just ordered the Ampere Time 200ah battery for $969+tax. Couldn't justify double that price for the BattleBorns or even 75% more for the SOKs plus the low profile works best for where I want to place the battery. Another forum member reports that the battery has worked well for them so far even though the max. output is just 100 amps. Just like him, if this works well perhaps I'll buy a second one to get the 200 amps. (Or perhaps I find the 100 amps is just fine in real world use.)
One benefit of batteries from other companies is that some of the designs are end-user serviceable if a cell goes bad (after the warranty expires). I don't know if that's true for the Ampere Time battery so I've asked a question on their Amazon product page. It's definitely less expensive to buy a single, bigger battery (only one BMS instead of two) but I wonder if purchasing two smaller batteries is better if a cell goes bad at some point.
I'm now on the hunt for a charger/inverter/transfer switch. I wasn't aware of the Sun Gold Power company; I think it might just be perfect for my purposes. Going to read up on it now.
I'm also designing the system to work primarily with an external generator or shore power. I was very happy to read from someone who already owned one that the eTrailer brand generator was able to run his A/C without needing to install the soft-start device in the A/C. I bought the generator and have found the same thing; here is their generator product page. I've got the built in Onan 4000W generator too but it uses 0.5gal/hr of gasoline whereas the eTrailer 2000W generator uses just 0.15 on eco mode and probably double at full bore—still less than the Onan and much quieter, too.
I'll add solar as Phase 2 of the project. Getting my system to work with the air conditioner is the first priority.
For the battery, I just ordered the Ampere Time 200ah battery for $969+tax. Couldn't justify double that price for the BattleBorns or even 75% more for the SOKs plus the low profile works best for where I want to place the battery. Another forum member reports that the battery has worked well for them so far even though the max. output is just 100 amps. Just like him, if this works well perhaps I'll buy a second one to get the 200 amps. (Or perhaps I find the 100 amps is just fine in real world use.)
One benefit of batteries from other companies is that some of the designs are end-user serviceable if a cell goes bad (after the warranty expires). I don't know if that's true for the Ampere Time battery so I've asked a question on their Amazon product page. It's definitely less expensive to buy a single, bigger battery (only one BMS instead of two) but I wonder if purchasing two smaller batteries is better if a cell goes bad at some point.
I'm now on the hunt for a charger/inverter/transfer switch. I wasn't aware of the Sun Gold Power company; I think it might just be perfect for my purposes. Going to read up on it now.