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maverickyaboot
Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2019
Posts: 8
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
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 Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 10:30 am Post subject: Advantage of Aux Battery vs. Generator |
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Hello,
This is my first post at TheSamba. I recently purchased an all original 1985 Westfalia Vanagon w/ 107k miles.
I live up in Alaska (Anchorage) and am looking for a way to power the Westfalia fridge, block heater, some lights, and my electronics (Laptop + camera + cellphone).
What is the advantage of having an Aux Battery vs. A Generator? Would it make more sense for me to get a generator (HONDA EU2200i) vs. an Aux Battery?
Thank you in advance for the responses! |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32987
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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[email protected]
Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2015
Posts: 704
Location: Berkeley Ca
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| Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 11:08 am Post subject: Re: Advantage of Aux Battery vs. Generator |
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| Extra battery is nice no noise, no set up ECT. You can run fridge off propane. Block heater probably would necessitate having a generator. I would get big aux battery and carry a small generator like 1000 watt, you can find nice ones for under $300. Then get battery charger. |
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maverickyaboot
Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2019
Posts: 8
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
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| Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 11:32 am Post subject: Re: Advantage of Aux Battery vs. Generator |
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| @Ahmed is there a specific battery that you recommend? |
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maverickyaboot
Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2019
Posts: 8
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
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| Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 11:34 am Post subject: Re: Advantage of Aux Battery vs. Generator |
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| @djkeev is there an easy DIY to install an Aux Battery hooked up to an Alternator? |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 24472
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 11:43 am Post subject: Re: Advantage of Aux Battery vs. Generator |
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You need to run an electrical use analysis
Loads
Time in use
Time between driving
Time between charging
to make this decision.
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[email protected]
Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2015
Posts: 704
Location: Berkeley Ca
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| Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 3:40 pm Post subject: Re: Advantage of Aux Battery vs. Generator |
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I used two cheap 125 amp hour battery's from Walmart. The Wallmart batteries are 125 amp hours each. These batteries are on the bottom shelf and are heavy duty started bateries used for trolling engines. Max something. You need to go to a superwalmart not a regular one. The fit on the side of the bench oposite the galley. One fits parallel to the slider the other perpendicular. The need to sit on a shelf made by 2x4. It will look like a L and you will have some space left over for tool storage. Uses about half of the space. Will try to take picture Blue sea makes a good combiner that will allow you to charge from alternator.
Here's one do a search and you'll find many more.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=718824&highlight=blue+sea |
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0to60in6min
Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2006
Posts: 3462
Location: OR & CA (Oregon/California)
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| Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 4:01 pm Post subject: Re: Advantage of Aux Battery vs. Generator |
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I'd think aux battery and generator are complement to each other... not replacing each other.
- aux battery is quiet but when it's down and you have no shore power to charge it ... you have to run your engine to recharge it, but for how long?
- generator is noisy, alone by itself it's nuisance to other campers...
get both ... if you plan to go camping where there's no way to recharge the aux battery get a tiny super quiet portable generator. |
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82westyrabbit
Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2015
Posts: 1022
Location: Ma
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| Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 6:38 pm Post subject: Re: Advantage of Aux Battery vs. Generator |
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| The block heather is going to need a generator everything else would only need a extra battery. Are you really camping when it is so cold you need a block heater. I am soft I wonβt camp under 40 degrees F but in Alaska you might have a different idea of camping. John |
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nemobuscaptain
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 3875
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| Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 9:19 pm Post subject: Re: Advantage of Aux Battery vs. Generator |
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| [email protected] wrote: |
| Extra battery is nice no noise, no set up ECT. You can run fridge off propane. Block heater probably would necessitate having a generator. I would get big aux battery and carry a small generator like 1000 watt, you can find nice ones for under $300. Then get battery charger. |
I agree with you, Ahmed.
For me the answer is easy, extra battery, maybe even two.
Alaska and block heater probably changes the equation though. I guess is depends on how remote and how cold you are going to be.
I will tell you in my experience the Honda generators are worth every penny, and they demand a lot. Im a CHEAP ass but this is one place I wouldn't skimp. I've been around some large ones that are amazingly quiet. The under $300 generators may work fine but you will hear them clanking, banging, squeeking and rattling as is typical with Chinese "quality".
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Silverghost500
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2018
Posts: 1198
Location: Atlanta, GA
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| Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2019 2:05 am Post subject: Re: Advantage of Aux Battery vs. Generator |
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Welcome Mavrickyaboot! I'd suggest both aux battery setup and generator. With the aux battery you can run usb type electronics for a while, LED lighting, your sink water pump, etc. You can recharge the aux batteries with a solar panel or two. If you're looking at heaters whether block heaters, space heaters, air conditioner units, etc. you'll want a generator if you don't have access to shore power.
Honda's are the gold standard of generators. There are some generators out on the market that are sub $500 (not including tax) for 2,000 watt units. I picked up a Champion 2,000 unit to run the portable air conditioner unit while camping, and so far it's doing a pretty good job. Time will tell if it's as durable/reliable as the Honda units.
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