On Sun, 23 Dec 2012 11:24:53 -0500, Wayne.B wrote:

On Sun, 23 Dec 2012 10:26:49 -0500, GuzzisRule
wrote:

I just ordered this thing, on sale for $279.99. Anyone ever used or had one?

http://tinyurl.com/cz9eobb

This will be used primarily for camping trips and, if necessary, emergencies.

===

To be honest with you, I don't think you're going to like it very
much, although probably OK for emergency use at the house once in a
while if you and your neighbors can tolerate the (considerable) noise.
You'll need a professional electrician to get it connected properly.

For the house, I'd use extension cords run to the sump pump, refrigerator, small heater (if
necessary), and other appliances as needed. I wouldn't be trying to power the whole house, like
ESAD. I don't need anything like his 250 KW (or whatever).

For camping it is much too heavy and noisy. For camping I'd suggest
an inverter connected to a second battery which you can connect into
your truck's 12 volt system for recharging.

The trailer's already got an inverter, one battery, and two more on the truck. But, if we're in
Alaska, they wouldn't power an electric heater very long.

For the second battery the Sears 31M platinum Diehard would be a good
choice. There are lots of inverter options but something like this
would be big enough to run a small microwave for a few minutes:

I'm thinking of new batteries for the truck before much longer. Any reason you particularly like the
Diehard you referenced? They're expensive as hell, and made by the same company that makes WalMart,
Costco, and other batteries.


http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|328|936|1719194&id=1719099

You need short, very heavy cables (#2 wire or bigger) between the
battery and inverter.

Cables are no problem. The generator has a 30amp connection, and I've got 50amp cable with adaptors.
So I should be in good shape as far as the trailer goes.

On Sun, 23 Dec 2012 13:00:54 -0500, GuzzisRule
wrote:

I'm thinking of new batteries for the truck before much longer. Any reason you particularly like the
Diehard you referenced? They're expensive as hell, and made by the same company that makes WalMart,
Costco, and other batteries.

===

The reason why the 31M Diehard Platinums are so expensive is because
they are AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) technology. It's the latest and
greatest for long term durability in heavy duty, deep cycle usage.
Unless you deep cycle your truck battery, probably not worth the
expense. For inverter batts however, yes. The Diehards come with a
very good warranty of course, and are spill proof. They are also
available on sale from time to time which makes them a bit more
reasonable.

I just replaced an 8D diesel engine starting battery (155 lbs, $325)
with a pair of the AGM 31Ms in parallel (75 lbs each). The 31Ms are
much easier for my wife to lift over the engine. :-) I've been
averaging about 2 years of life out of the 8Ds so the AGMs will
eventually pay for themselves if I can get an extra year or two out of
them.

On Sun, 23 Dec 2012 15:28:30 -0500, Wayne.B wrote:

On Sun, 23 Dec 2012 13:00:54 -0500, GuzzisRule
wrote:

I'm thinking of new batteries for the truck before much longer. Any reason you particularly like the
Diehard you referenced? They're expensive as hell, and made by the same company that makes WalMart,
Costco, and other batteries.

===

The reason why the 31M Diehard Platinums are so expensive is because
they are AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) technology. It's the latest and
greatest for long term durability in heavy duty, deep cycle usage.
Unless you deep cycle your truck battery, probably not worth the
expense. For inverter batts however, yes. The Diehards come with a
very good warranty of course, and are spill proof. They are also
available on sale from time to time which makes them a bit more
reasonable.

I just replaced an 8D diesel engine starting battery (155 lbs, $325)
with a pair of the AGM 31Ms in parallel (75 lbs each). The 31Ms are
much easier for my wife to lift over the engine. :-) I've been
averaging about 2 years of life out of the 8Ds so the AGMs will
eventually pay for themselves if I can get an extra year or two out of
them.

I don't deep cycle them, at least not on purpose! But I'll keep the advice in mind.

On 12/23/2012 3:28 PM, Wayne.B wrote:
On Sun, 23 Dec 2012 13:00:54 -0500, GuzzisRule
wrote:

I'm thinking of new batteries for the truck before much longer. Any reason you particularly like the
Diehard you referenced? They're expensive as hell, and made by the same company that makes WalMart,
Costco, and other batteries.

===

The reason why the 31M Diehard Platinums are so expensive is because
they are AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) technology. It's the latest and
greatest for long term durability in heavy duty, deep cycle usage.
Unless you deep cycle your truck battery, probably not worth the
expense. For inverter batts however, yes. The Diehards come with a
very good warranty of course, and are spill proof. They are also
available on sale from time to time which makes them a bit more
reasonable.

I just replaced an 8D diesel engine starting battery (155 lbs, $325)
with a pair of the AGM 31Ms in parallel (75 lbs each). The 31Ms are
much easier for my wife to lift over the engine. :-) I've been
averaging about 2 years of life out of the 8Ds so the AGMs will
eventually pay for themselves if I can get an extra year or two out of
them.


Could you run a small cabin heater all night long with one of those
batteries?

On Sun, 23 Dec 2012 16:58:39 -0500, JustWait
wrote:

I just replaced an 8D diesel engine starting battery (155 lbs, $325)
with a pair of the AGM 31Ms in parallel (75 lbs each). The 31Ms are
much easier for my wife to lift over the engine. :-) I've been
averaging about 2 years of life out of the 8Ds so the AGMs will
eventually pay for themselves if I can get an extra year or two out of
them.


Could you run a small cabin heater all night long with one of those
batteries?

===

Only if it was one of those wimpy little dash board heaters that plugs
into a cigarette lighter. A typical full-powered electric heater
draws over 1,000 watts which translates to over 100 amps at 12 volts
DC. You might get ten minutes if you were lucky and the battery
would age well before its time if you did it very often. What you can
do with an inverter and a big battery bank, is run an electric blanket
all night. We do that on the boat but our inverter runs from (8)
heavy duty golf cart batteries, about 1,000 amp-hours total.

On 12/23/12 4:58 PM, JustWait wrote:
On 12/23/2012 3:28 PM, Wayne.B wrote:
On Sun, 23 Dec 2012 13:00:54 -0500, GuzzisRule
wrote:

I'm thinking of new batteries for the truck before much longer. Any
reason you particularly like the
Diehard you referenced? They're expensive as hell, and made by the
same company that makes WalMart,
Costco, and other batteries.

===

The reason why the 31M Diehard Platinums are so expensive is because
they are AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) technology. It's the latest and
greatest for long term durability in heavy duty, deep cycle usage.
Unless you deep cycle your truck battery, probably not worth the
expense. For inverter batts however, yes. The Diehards come with a
very good warranty of course, and are spill proof. They are also
available on sale from time to time which makes them a bit more
reasonable.

I just replaced an 8D diesel engine starting battery (155 lbs, $325)
with a pair of the AGM 31Ms in parallel (75 lbs each). The 31Ms are
much easier for my wife to lift over the engine. :-) I've been
averaging about 2 years of life out of the 8Ds so the AGMs will
eventually pay for themselves if I can get an extra year or two out of
them.


Could you run a small cabin heater all night long with one of those
batteries?

No. Maybe 15-20 minutes. You want electric power all night, you want a
small generator.

On 12/23/12 8:56 PM, wrote:
On Sun, 23 Dec 2012 16:58:39 -0500, JustWait
wrote:


Could you run a small cabin heater all night long with one of those
batteries?

I would use propane for heat. You would use less than the gas to run
the generator.
Generators are the most expensive power you can buy. Use them for
things that you can't do old school.


Right, if you're not worried about CO, you can worry about hypoxia,
especially in a closed area!

ESAD wrote:
On 12/23/12 8:56 PM, wrote:
On Sun, 23 Dec 2012 16:58:39 -0500, JustWait
wrote:


Could you run a small cabin heater all night long with one of those
batteries?

I would use propane for heat. You would use less than the gas to run
the generator.
Generators are the most expensive power you can buy. Use them for
things that you can't do old school.


Right, if you're not worried about CO, you can worry about hypoxia,
especially in a closed area!

Most rv have a propane heater. Battery to run the fan.