Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Fleet | Keystone RV Models > Fifth Wheels
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 07-25-2021, 11:16 AM   #1
hylasw
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Hurricane
Posts: 40
Boondocking running generator and solar suitcase

Got a question for everyone first time boon docking with no electric we are going to run our champion generator during day because we have dogs and need the a.c. running at night we would like to watch tv using our inverter running off batterys (We have 2 golf cart batterys).

My question is will our 2012 High Country cougar 5th wheel charge our battery s good enough when we have our RV plugged into our generators during the day when we have a.c. going.
Our should a person put battery s on a 100 watt solar suitcase as well ?
Also can you have Batterys wired to rv and have generator on plus have 100 watt solar suitcase wired to battery s to charge them at same time ???
hylasw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2021, 11:39 AM   #2
travelin texans
Senior Member
 
travelin texans's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
I'm no electrical wiz by a long shot, but I don't think you'll be running an A/C for every long, if at all, on an inverter with only 2 batteries, without the generator running non stop.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
travelin texans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2021, 12:19 PM   #3
GilaElkHunter
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Silver City
Posts: 99
Quote:
Originally Posted by travelin texans View Post
I'm no electrical wiz by a long shot, but I don't think you'll be running an A/C for every long, if at all, on an inverter with only 2 batteries, without the generator running non stop.
Maybe you should reread the OP's post, he never said he was going to run the A/C on an inverter. He said he was going to run the generator for the A/C during the day for the dogs. And wants to know if it will charge his batteries enough.

To answer the OP's question, I would hook up that 100 watt solar panel (yes you can use both solar and converter/charger at the same time) just be sure it has a charge controller on it, and you should be good to go.
__________________
2016 F-250 SD 6.7 Power Stroke
50 gallon Titan fuel tank
AirLift 5000 airbags
2019 High Country 310RE
Andersen Ultimate hitch
Sailun S637 tires
GilaElkHunter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2021, 02:11 PM   #4
Canonman
Senior Member
 
Canonman's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: South Jordan, Utah
Posts: 2,221
There is no need to use the solar while operating the generator. If your generator is 3,500 watts or better, it should start and run the AC. While the A/C is running, the generator will also supply the necessary current to charge your batteries using the onboard converter.
Watching TV in the evening does not draw much power at all.
Solar is mostly out of the picture when using the generator.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	_MGL8357.jpg
Views:	87
Size:	278.5 KB
ID:	34853  
__________________
2017 Cougar 279RKSWE
2007.5 Dodge Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins
Retirement Training Completed
I think the little voices in my head have started a chat group.
Canonman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2021, 03:10 PM   #5
GilaElkHunter
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Silver City
Posts: 99
The converter/charger does not charge very fast, and depending how low the batteries get and how long you run the generator it may not keep up. 100 watts of solar isn't much either but it sure will help. Solar should never be out of the picture. It is free energy take advantage of it.
__________________
2016 F-250 SD 6.7 Power Stroke
50 gallon Titan fuel tank
AirLift 5000 airbags
2019 High Country 310RE
Andersen Ultimate hitch
Sailun S637 tires
GilaElkHunter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2021, 05:04 PM   #6
Canonman
Senior Member
 
Canonman's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: South Jordan, Utah
Posts: 2,221
I would disagree with Elk Hunter that the converter "does not charge very fast".
According to the WFCO web site, (they make the most widely used RV converter) "The WF-8955 model provides 55 Amps and a clean, constant 13.6 VDC nominal output, for reliable operation of electronics and appliances. Automatic three-stage charging extends the life of your battery with output voltage modes of 13.2 VDC range “float” mode, 13.6 VDC range “absorption” mode, and a 14.4 VDC range “bulk” charge mode."
This is more than sufficient for topping off the house batteries especially when you consider the expected runtime of the generator per the OP's statement. Solar is a great stand alone option but the charging capability of a 100w panel compared to a 55 amp converter is minimal that at best generates about 5 amps and 12 to 14 volts. We currently use a 200w portable solar unit and while we have a generator, we have not needed to use it to keep our batteries topped off. That said, if we were to use the generator to run the A/C we wouldn't need to also use the solar. The generator would be more than capable of charging the batteries without the need to add the solar. Just to keep things simple we either use one or the other, depending on the need.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	_MG_0207 (1).jpg
Views:	89
Size:	374.8 KB
ID:	34855  
__________________
2017 Cougar 279RKSWE
2007.5 Dodge Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins
Retirement Training Completed
I think the little voices in my head have started a chat group.
Canonman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2021, 06:04 PM   #7
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,836
Quote:
Originally Posted by GilaElkHunter View Post
Maybe you should reread the OP's post, he never said he was going to run the A/C on an inverter. He said he was going to run the generator for the A/C during the day for the dogs. And wants to know if it will charge his batteries enough.

To answer the OP's question, I would hook up that 100 watt solar panel (yes you can use both solar and converter/charger at the same time) just be sure it has a charge controller on it, and you should be good to go.
You can't use solar and the converter/charger at the same time. The WFCO converter/charger monitors for "online voltage" and charges the batteries based on that voltage. If you have a solar charger connected to the batteries, whether it's a 5 watt or a 500 watt solar system, if it provides greater than 13.2 volts to the battery terminals, that voltage will "shut off charging from the converter/charger' because the voltage sensed puts the charge circuits into "trickle mode".

So, use one type charger at a time. Otherwise, any "automatic charger" will sense the voltage output of the other charger and shut itself off to prevent overcharging the batteries.....

Realistically, if the OP is running his generator to operate the air conditioner during the day, there likely would not be much other "12 volt draw" from the converter. With a WFCO 8955, there's 55 amps available to charge the system minus the parasitic drains from the trailer systems. A 100 watt solar panel at 13.6 VDC has a "amp capacity" of 7.35 VDC. so in essence, what he'd be doing is "shutting off a 50+ amp charger to use a 7 amp charger... That would take a significantly longer time to top off a couple of golf cart batteries than using the "built in 55 amp charging system.....
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2021, 11:57 AM   #8
BookPaul74
Senior Member
 
BookPaul74's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Big Springs
Posts: 197
Quote:
Originally Posted by hylasw View Post
Got a question for everyone first time boon docking with no electric we are going to run our champion generator during day because we have dogs and need the a.c. running at night we would like to watch tv using our inverter running off batterys (We have 2 golf cart batterys).

My question is will our 2012 High Country cougar 5th wheel charge our battery s good enough when we have our RV plugged into our generators during the day when we have a.c. going.
Our should a person put battery s on a 100 watt solar suitcase as well ?
Also can you have Batterys wired to rv and have generator on plus have 100 watt solar suitcase wired to battery s to charge them at same time ???
I’m thinking it’s all speculation until hylsaw let’s us know what “generators” he’s has and using. Sounds like two generators in parallel.

I replaced the 55 amp charger with a Progressive Dynamics 80 Amp Converter with Charge Wizard to speed things up.
BookPaul74 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
boondocking, generator, solar

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:09 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.