| Author |
Message |
FAST FRED (65.58.184.133)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 14, 2002 - 12:24 pm: | |
Looking up the hurdels for a buddy that wanted a TEC (total electric coach) I found the gov at Energystar.gov.
By a quick inspection of their tables there are NO fridges that need less than 365KW a year , most need 400 to 500.
So if next years model does get to 365 KW thats a KW a day. or about 83 Amps from a 12V system every 24 hours.
Since its not nice to the batts to suck over half before recharging , thats 170 amps of batterys , 170 Pounds of batteries for every day of camping.
A week without the gen set would require 1200 lbs of batts , plus the cables and HUGE system to recharge in a reasonable time.
Interesting math?
FAST FRED |
Jojo Colina (Du1jec) (209.75.20.72)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 14, 2002 - 6:05 pm: | |
That's about 3.5 a/h. Small enough of a load that you can make up with solar power. IMHO |
dougthebonifiedbusnut (24.218.119.24)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 14, 2002 - 8:43 pm: | |
that is of course untill you have a week of rain i dont know for a fact but all electric is a very risky way to go i agree with FF most aooff the places you go dont have a lot of power available especially when you concider heating the coach in the winter IMHO |
Jojo Colina (Du1jec) (68.8.172.117)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 14, 2002 - 9:10 pm: | |
I really would not attempt to heat the coach with electric. I have an Espar heater to take care of my heat. I did not go "all electric", I did however go "no propane". Maybe not. I still carry those little Coleman bottles for my grill. But then again I carry 18 12v/100ah AGM batteries and a Trace 3624 inverter.
A week is not unthinkable, but I am sure I suffer in fuel economy from lugging all those batteries around. Anyway mine is an MCI-5 and I figured I could afford the extra weight of the batteries.
In the end what you do will depend on what works for you. |
bobm (198.81.16.164)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 14, 2002 - 9:58 pm: | |
what's wrong with an efficient diesel generator. i have an all electric 4104. when shore power is not available i run off batteries and keep them charged with my generator. a 15kw driven by a detroit 2/53. its quiet and i even have an electric stove, 220 burners and oven,two roof a/c units and central air, electric heaters. 100 gal diesel tank for the generator. |
OAE Palmer (208.164.102.113)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2002 - 1:21 am: | |
Hey BobM, do you have a pic or 2 you would like to share with an interested '06 owner? |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior) (64.229.209.165)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2002 - 1:30 am: | |
I know of an MC9 coach with 16 golf cart batteries in the spare tire comp up front on a really trick roll out tray. That thing will run the AC in the bedroom all night with no more noise than the AC fan on low, and the house type refrigerator.
Trace 4024 inverter and all the proper controls to maintain the bank.
Last I heard he was working up the parts to build his own generator with the appropriate high amp DC charging capability. Regular genset he had didn't measure up to what he wanted!
So, if you want it, it can be done! And you will be happy, because it's yours.
My MC8 is no propane. Since it will be at least 15 years until I retire, I won't be sitting still for more than a day at a time, and if it is longer, it will be in campsites. Otherwise, I'll be on the move to maximize precious vacation time. On the move is "almost" free battery charging. Truck stop/rest stop sleeping means you can add to the noise with your own generator without bothering the neighbours.
So I buy my spouse a new house frig, put the old one in the coach, modest battery bank, inverter, Webasto, stock coach hvac, roof airs with heat strips and genset works for this family on the move.
(you won't believe what buying a new frig for the house does for the support for your crazy bus plans! Guys, figure out how to make her happy first, relate it to the bus and then you will get a whole lot more patience from her!)
When I retire, and boondocking finally becomes an option, then propane refrigeration definitely comes into my mix, but for now, it stays a little simpler, and I'll pretend it's cheaper.
(I can point at the expensive propane frig's down at the RV store and tell spouse that I'm saving us that expence. If you remind her of when the car lights were left on and killed the car battery, she sees the good in purchasing a quality battery bank for lighting and the refrigerator... don't any of you be teaching her how to internet or I'm finished!)
Build your bus to suit your lifestyle today. You can always change it or add to it tomorrow.
(if your spouse lets you!)
tongue placed firmly in cheek...
Hope this is of some help to those trying to make decisions about their dreams!
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
Mike Eades (Mike4905) (206.15.152.57)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2002 - 9:49 am: | |
Be Very careful. My wife wants house frig and tells me to do it. Out with the windshield, out with the rv frig and in wiht the new. Oh I forgot in with thw washer and dryer. No problem with lots of friends and lots of friendsand lots of friends. Then I will have to move. Now when I have the people work on my coach I am told to rotate the bed on the bedroom. Now I am told to put it back. Oh Boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wan tto mov eout into the screen room. New frig in the basement and a TV hooked to the dish. Help Bye. |
Stephen Fessenden (Sffess) (63.27.88.10)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2002 - 6:57 pm: | |
Might she be happy with a big double door RV fridge? Price may be affordable at an RV salvage place. I saw a nice one for $800 in St. Petersburg, FL 2 years ago. Used big duble door Norcold one on a large houseboat I rented and saw no difference from home style in use. |