Hi. I have a 2020 Basecamp with solar on the roof and two agm factory batteries. When boondocking our batteries drain in two days. What's the best way to remedy this? Lithium batteries? External solar panels that plug into the side (which ones are best please?)
Thanks. And yes, we do conserve battery when boondocking
Lithium will give you more energy density, meaning there are more usable Ah in a lithium chemistry battery due to the depth of discharge allowed.
Typical AGM/Lead Acid batteries only “allow” you to safely discharge 50% of their total capacity (example: 100Ah AGM yields 50Ah of usable energy)
Lithium batteries allow for much “deeper” discharge levels 80-100% of rated capacity (depending on brand). This means you can get 30%-50%more usable energy for a lithium battery.
Also the internal resistance of lithium batteries is much lower meaning they can take a charge much easier and faster than a conventional AGM battery.
Lithium also has a much high efficiency rating 99%. Meaning that for every 10Ah of charge you put into a lithium battery it can return 9.9Ah of usable energy. AGM batteries typically run around 80% on their efficiency rating.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to lithium battery chemistry, but I hope this helps with out getting to deep in the weeds.
Are you running the furnace?
Huge power draw can run the batteries down in 1 to 2 nights.
Do you have the inverter off when not in use?
Uses 1 amp per hour with no load, 10-11 times the AC amps with load.
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