The 23FB forum

[PKI]

It's a bit complicated in that you can not just read the voltage.

The voltage reading will be low if there is a load on the batteries. It will be the charge voltage if the charger is in operation. If your solar is charging, the voltage reading will be the net of the charge, load, and battery state.

But to answer your question - yes, a set of OEM batteries will read about 12.3 volts after 3-4 hours of furnace use. The good news is that it is entirely possible that the battery bank normalized with no load will read 12.4-12.5 volts if it started at a full charge. Note that it may take two to three days to achieve a full charge, so you may well have started from a level of less than 12.6-12.7 volts. The state of a battery bank is also temperature dependent so you will get different results as the temperature drops.

Search with the blue box at upper right and you will get threads with better information. Pat

[Brandon T.]

Thank you Pat.

[GettinAway]

Brandon, are you going to be full timing in your 23FB? Just curious, as you said going from 3000 sq ft to the 23FB. Also, will you be on full hookups most of the time? We are looking at retirement in 8 months, but not sure how long we will stay out on trips. We love it for a week or two. Just haven’t tried it for a month or two.

Congrats on the new AS, by the way. And welcome to the 23FB thread.
Jeff

[Fair_Enough]

Very good description / information Pat. This kind of estimating or guessing experienced by Brandon using dynamic volt readings rather calculated state-of-charge is why I would not be without a good monitor and I love Trimetric although I’ve heard good things about Victron product. I also suspect the evening began with batteries less than full. If so, more charging might be in order. Once over that hurtle, more battery Amp Hour could be needed. Step one is to buy and install a monitor.
Clint

[Brandon T.]

Originally Posted by GettinAway

Brandon, are you going to be full timing in your 23FB? Just curious, as you said going from 3000 sq ft to the 23FB. Also, will you be on full hookups most of the time? We are looking at retirement in 8 months, but not sure how long we will stay out on trips. We love it for a week or two. Just haven’t tried it for a month or two.

Congrats on the new AS, by the way. And welcome to the 23FB thread.
Jeff

Thanks Jeff,
No full time yet as I have quite a ways to go before I retire. This is for part time summer/fall camping and for now I along with my buddies have it parked at work as a necessity due to the long work hours. About twice a week I work 16 hour shift and needed a place to sleep and as luck would have it work has a place for me to park it along with other co-workers.
So it's a nice learning environment as everyone is chipping in and giving this noobie a crash course on trailer 101.
Thanks for the welcome.
Brandon

[Brandon T.]

Originally Posted by PKI

It's a bit complicated in that you can not just read the voltage.

The voltage reading will be low if there is a load on the batteries. It will be the charge voltage if the charger is in operation. If your solar is charging, the voltage reading will be the net of the charge, load, and battery state.

But to answer your question - yes, a set of OEM batteries will read about 12.3 volts after 3-4 hours of furnace use. The good news is that it is entirely possible that the battery bank normalized with no load will read 12.4-12.5 volts if it started at a full charge. Note that it may take two to three days to achieve a full charge, so you may well have started from a level of less than 12.6-12.7 volts. The state of a battery bank is also temperature dependent so you will get different results as the temperature drops.

Search with the blue box at upper right and you will get threads with better information. Pat

Let me back up your estimated recharge time by saying your right on the money. I drained it to 35ish % and with one Zamp 185 suitcase solar panels in two very sunny 60° days(mid 40's at night) it popped it back up to a full charge. The third day it took it all the way to 13.4 volts.

[Fair_Enough]

Brandon T, what you are seeing as 35ish% ... full... or 13.4 volts doesn't reveal actual state of charge, as pointed out by Pat. It isn't possible to go by real-time battery voltages to know SOC. A full resting (6 hours or more) 12 volt battery bank is about 12.7 vdc. The maker of mine claims 12.65 to be full after resting. Curious to me is that 13.4 vdc you saw (if accurate) would indicate that batteries were being charged. But, that number is too high for float phase and too low for absorb (some call it normal phase) IMO, if I was being picky.

So, changing the subject for now...

What I want to ask here now, has anyone considered changing the rather awkward 23FB bathroom door? It swings into the direction of the sink and anyone standing there could be in the way. It could swing the opposite way (not easy peasy) or be replaced with something as simple as a curtain of some sort or the original door made to slide like a barndoor. I just went to a local club gathering for 4 days and the two of us passing in the narrow space of the dinette / kitchen was awkward and brings on a certain urgency.

I am getting bolder about cutting down the dinette or building the desk I just posted (might be a repeat) to another post. #19.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f514...ml#post2188504

Clint

[Fair_Enough]

Anyone ever wonder what’s beneath the big wheel well box? Frankly pleasantly surprised how neat. Could have been a little smaller. And that long aluminum cover that needs only to be 3x3x3. I’m going to pull 10/2 and 12/2 across while it’s open. If I ever want to install a big inverter. Removing dinette. Step 1 in either cutting it down or making something else.
Clint

[eagletoo]

WW, lead the way! Definitely following...

[PKI]

Clint - have never found the toilet door to be a problem. Left to right swing gets it out of the way for access when entering the coach, when coming down the aisle and when standing in front of it (right handed you see).

So, no .... never gave it a thought. Opening it right to left would block someone's entrance, be an obstruction to exit the coach in an emergency and likely get holes punched in the door from the coat hooks. But then I would not tear out the dinette, either. Let us know how your plans work out. Lots of folks struggle with the 23FB dinette. You may just have the perfect answer for them.

Mod with a smile and post pictures. Pat

[Brandon T.]

Originally Posted by Wolfwhistle

Brandon T, what you are seeing as 35ish% ... full... or 13.4 volts doesn't reveal actual state of charge, as pointed out by Pat. It isn't possible to go by real-time battery voltages to know SOC. A full resting (6 hours or more) 12 volt battery bank is about 12.7 vdc. The maker of mine claims 12.65 to be full after resting. Curious to me is that 13.4 vdc you saw (if accurate) would indicate that batteries were being charged. But, that number is too high for float phase and too low for absorb (some call it normal phase) IMO, if I was being picky.

So, changing the subject for now...

What I want to ask here now, has anyone considered changing the rather awkward 23FB bathroom door? It swings into the direction of the sink and anyone standing there could be in the way. It could swing the opposite way (not easy peasy) or be replaced with something as simple as a curtain of some sort or the original door made to slide like a barndoor. I just went to a local club gathering for 4 days and the two of us passing in the narrow space of the dinette / kitchen was awkward and brings on a certain urgency.

I am getting bolder about cutting down the dinette or building the desk I just posted (might be a repeat) to another post. #19.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f514...ml#post2188504

Clint

Just tested my battery with a Napa turkey baster thingie and ten out if twelve shows bad. This charger has a dual personality. Will swap them out this weekend.

Now your table. Got an idea...

Maybe instead of cutting down the dinette one could adapt a continuous hinge (piano hinge)and fold the table over? It will have that ridge running along the table but a padded dinette "topper" would mitigate that. Now you have the best of both worlds.
Good luck.

[GettinAway]

Clint,
I’ve not had a problem with the bathroom door, except I’ve always been concerned that if it was up against the furnace all night, it might discolor the door.
Same with our old style dinette, it’s always been fine for us. Except cushions being too soft..
I enjoy watching your projects though!
Jeff

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by Wolfwhistle

Anyone ever wonder what’s beneath the big wheel well box? Frankly pleasantly surprised how neat. Could have been a little smaller. And that long aluminum cover that needs only to be 3x3x3. I’m going to pull 10/2 and 12/2 across while it’s open. If I ever want to install a big inverter. Removing dinette. Step 1 in either cutting it down or making something else.
Clint

I love how the wheel wells are insulated with reflectex. Was that factory or after market?

[Bobbo]

It's factory. I had mine open briefly while I was installing a 12v outlet under the dinette, and it looked just like that. I didn't take a picture of the inside, but here is the outlet that I installed.

[Wyo Silver]

Quick question for the 23FB experts here. I know the listed tongue weight is 440 from Airstream specs.

What is the range of the actual tongue weights when ready to go camping?

Thanks

[PKI]

Suggest you use the blue box at above right to research the 23fb tongue weight experience. Your results will vary with your gear load out.

Airstream Flying Cloud tongue weight out the door is listed at 467. Expect that 600lbs is the likely result if you take care with the load out.

Research well and often. The smiles will keep you traveling. Pat

[Fair_Enough]

Ronnie, Bobbo is correct. Factory.

I said to Brandon That 13.4 vac reading was odd. In retrospect, not so. It could certainly read that, and be proper, when shifting from a higher volt to a lower volt phase / mode. Like from boost / bulk or absorb to float (13.2 e.g.).

I am still pondering the dinette issue. I really don’t want to cut the dinette bench or table, so it could be returned to as built condition. So I am leaning towards the flip top desk and get two mid-back office chairs. The flip (and supports) is so it could be used as a bed. 3” foam topper should make it doable. Already rolled up under the bed.

Below the desk space is huge and would allow storage options. Concern about weight has me thinking of ways to make it lighter, however. And not go crazy. Of course, items removed are quite heavy.

About tongue weight ... my 23FB weighed 5800# with close to full fresh and empty black and grey. TW was 580#. Keep in mind the 2- GC-2 at 65# mod. Solar panels as well - 2 up front 1 to rear plus cabling. I am positive this model would be difficult to get the desired 10% TW. And don’t think it was from factory. I want to weigh again with only a little fresh water and see where I’m at. I don’t like hauling more of anything than I need. Says the guy adding more stuff! Good news - the stuff is over the axles. Bad news is 6000# doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room.
Clint

[Steamy1]

So, changing the subject for now...

What I want to ask here now, has anyone considered changing the rather awkward 23FB bathroom door? It swings into the direction of the sink and anyone standing there could be in the way. It could swing the opposite way (not easy peasy) or be replaced with something as simple as a curtain of some sort or the original door made to slide like a barndoor. I just went to a local club gathering for 4 days and the two of us passing in the narrow space of the dinette / kitchen was awkward and brings on a certain urgency.


Clint[/QUOTE]

We have not found the direction to be an issue, other than the door edge hitting the cabinet pull handle under the sink and damaging the door. put in a door stop so it opens to 90 degrees. One of those silly design misses that we find in our units.

[PKI]

The little plastic adhesive dots are great to address those space conflicts. Closing the cabinet doors after access helps limit the conflicts as well. Small space living is different. Pat

[Fair_Enough]

Visting the 23FB bathroom door swing post I made.

Well isn't this novel. Many or must searches for 23FB floor plans show door swing opposite of mine, looks like they grab a pic off of a site and don't notice its wrong. But, photos show the door like mine. I can't find a pic that's opposite but again, multitudes of floor plans are.
Thanks
Clint