Boondocking > COACH BATTERY

[weather command]

I am only getting about a night of battery use once battery is charged after drive to next destination. My coach battery was tested and holds a charge. After running fantastic fan and a small fan thru 12 volt cigarette lighter throughout night, I have seen my fridge turn off, my generator not start and a beep occurs. My coach battery was new about 18 months ago and 25k miles. The most I ever got without starting my 2006 class b airstream interstate 2500 is 3 nights. I'm not sure I am explaining my situation well enough for someone to help me...I boondock 80% of the time.

Please help if you can. THANKS!!!!!!! Scott

[sgschwend]

My 2 cents:
Do you have a battery monitor? Battery Voltage? AH or Watt-hr size of battery?

Here is the type of calculation: Average load in amps times number of hour used equals energy used in AH.


If you have something like 12 hours of usage and 2 amps of average current you would have used 24 AH. Using the 50% battery size as the amount available energy rule of thumb. A 100 AH battery should give you two days of use.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by weather command

. . .
Please help if you can. THANKS!!!!!!! Scott

Scott, FWIW you might find a better audience in the "Sprinter and B-Van" forum, where many battery-related threads are available. The group knowledge there is amazing IMO:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f240/

My impression is that 1-3 nights of boondocking with your stock Interstate setup is normal, but the folks in the IS forum should have better advice.

If your battery charger/converter/inverter [Interstate terminology uncertain?] is stock and OEM, you might need to confirm that it is operating correctly IMO.

Good luck,

Peter

FYI/FWIW

[Moodywelman]

After visiting the Airstream Interstate Sprinter forum you will probably feel pretty good about the performance you are getting. The fridge will frequently suck your batteries down overnight.