Battery - outside back up

Billy,

I have charged the teardrop battery by hooking up the car. Takes at least 30 to 45 minutes running car to recharge teardrop battery.

If your question is leave teardrop wired to car entire weekend, someone else will have to provide the details on tow vehicle battery drain stats.

Jean
 
An inverter will work for a laptop and cell phone charging, which I have done in the past. WIll not work to run a small space heater, toaster, etc.
 
Wow, great design and write-up. Thanx a bunch for posting such an elegant solution, Mick and Sarah. Loved the wiring diagram too (engineers always use graph paper!)

Hey Frank, our Plan B for the juice-sucking mattress pad: hot water bottles! Yup, Joy & I are really low tech in the woods.

Regards, T
 
T-

Thanks for brining this back up for me to read! I haven't used the switches in a while, and it was a good refresher for me. I will say that with the number of batteries we have onboard, I usually get around a week of power, but I am super stingy with my battery usage (lights at night and sometimes use other options, the fan, and phone/iPad charging...my biggest drain is definitely my fridge). The battery packs are really heavy (I think the one he made for me, which is our most basic option, is right around 60-70lbs and his around 90-100lbs...the man loves his coffee, and I love him with his coffee). That being said, I don't usually haul that converter around unless I am on one of my big trips or Mick is with us.

I will say I was really grateful for it last year during our big trip through Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Most campgrounds there did not have electric and I wasn't keen on staying with the big boys at Fishing Bridge. My last night in Yellowstone (just before heading south to Teton), my power was getting lower than I was comfortable with. I took the fridge and threw it in the back of the truck and plugged it into this battery backup. This reduced the drain in the trailer and allowed extra charging during my drive to the Tetons. This made me feel a little more secure getting to the one campsite I had reserved that had power. I was able to charge up there and had enough juice for the rest of the trip. My 3-week trip this summer will be a bigger test, but we have a lot more driving to do, which will help charge my batteries.
 
Hmmm... I thought I posted this, but maybe not. Might be somewhere else, but... My current plan is:

Goal Zero Yeti 400 Solar Generator
Note the USB, 12v Cig opening and 2 AC 110 outlets. Can be charged by cord too.

yeti400-pdp-1000x667.jpg


and the Zamp 120 watt solar panels

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and pray for rain.... heheh so if I put it under a canopy out of the rain, it'll work?? (joking here)

I figure full charge when leaving and solar/electric along the trip.
 
Frank, I think your prayers have been answered. I am currently listening to the rain thrashing against the side of the house, and what sounds like people throwing buckets of water against our windows, the gutters over-running, the wind howling, and the dog dreaming. One of these things is far sweeter than all the rest. They say we should get at least a 1.5" tonight. Sigh. After the 4" in two days with a one day break, I am calling "uncle". I want to give up big heavy rain for Lent (and yes, the fact I was slightly fearful of a drought this summer due to lack of rain in January is not lost on me....we are just getting it in spades now, and January made me soft). Lucky, most of our soil can handle it...haven't heard of any land slides yet, which is a good thing.

Good luck with the solar! Looks like a pretty slick set up. I bet it will work great once you get out of the soggy PNW! :)
 
Looks like a great way to go Frank, I think you'll be happy with the 120 watt panel, plenty of power.

Michael
 
thanks Michael,
I'm hoping that will work out ok. The bigger "Yeti" was a bit too much and I figure I can always ADD more panels if necessary... hopefully not...

Yah, Sarah, Rain, it's been a real PITA lately..

I did go down to Sand Lake, Pics here
and had paid for 3 nights... Well heavy drizzle started and figure just early morning fog, but just got worst.

Rode until 3pm or so, and drizzle was turning into light rain, couldn't see from the drops so just called it... (like drizzle on ski goggles)

20140301_111926.jpg


Left at 5pm after packing, have I mentioned I HATE tent camping and really miss not have 'Le Droppe' along.., sigh, but 5 hrs later home... to more rain..

This is getting old...

Spring is coming, going "Real Camping" this coming week & end and relish that I"ll be set up with beer in had in 5 minutes or less... LOL...
 
Wow, Franko you impress the **** out of me. I knew about the Zamp 120, but was clueless about the GZ-Yeti-400 (with dimensions of 8x8x10.25 inches!) Double-Wow!

Showed your post to the woman, and of course, now Joy wants 'em on our wish list too. Ah, to be as rich and talented -- must be nice, indeed.

Sarah, Mick, and Frank -- you gal&guys are indeed quite the "power" innovators here. Thanx for all the great posts, links, and pictures.

Best Regards, T
 
Frank, you sure do find the cool stuff. Are you shopping for a bigger truck yet? I sure was feeling for you when you were talking about the rain. The worst is taking all that wet stuff home and drying it all out before you can put it away. I hate mildew.
I'm really looking forward to having my own little trailer. Spring is coming fast.
 
Yah, Pat...

I'm afraid a bigger truck is on the horizon... Dec or so... followed up by a "Toy Hauler", the tent thing just ain't gonna make it..heheh..

with "Le Droppe" and "Nellie" I'm just about done for this life... and I already have the "Next Life" halfway booked... heheh, fun...

Spring is the best time, I got mine in May and it was perfect, went right out... beFORE Summer..
 
Heh Frank, just a thought, can you take the topper off your truck, ramp Nellie into the bed and tow Le'Droppe.

Michael
 
The bugger is that Nellie would not fit in the bed. But, I think Michael is on to something. How about changing out the bed on your pick up to a flatbed arrangement Frank? Probably cost a whole bunch less than a larger pickup and a toy hauler.

Cary
 
Apologies, didn't mean to "Hi-jack" this thread, last post for moi..

Yah, Michael & Cary....

I already ran thru that and not interested in giving up the storage for the truck.
They have kits you put in the bed and they drive it right up, but my truck, mid-sized Chev Colorado, is not wide enough and I wouldn't feel safe driving even at slow speeds.

Another alternative of course is a truck camper and tow with the trailer I have, but then I have to take it off, put the canopy back on each time. Truck is the only vehicle I would have, currently now anyways - depends upon trade in value at end of year.

Another option is to tow it, but towing a 4WD is not recommended for anything distance. The only viable options is that someone build a quickie trailer, assembles and disassembles in apx 30 and you carry it with you..more for getting a toy hauler as I may still have to get it from campsite to trail head.

It's steet leagal and I may just run with that or tow it, but with the toy hauler/bigger truck option...

heheh, Sigh... Maybe I'll bump into a "Lovely Lady with a tow vehicle that loves camping and riding"... LOL... so you see the above options are waaaay more realistic...

But thanks for the thoughts...
I'm afraid I've "Hi-jacked" this tread so probably need to put this one at rest...

Thanks again..
 
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