Two Questions: Lithium Battery/Boondocking/Refrigerator

[Mac Aodha]

My wife & I purchased a 2024 GD Imagine XLS-23LDE in May. Because we boondock once in awhile during the year, I had a local Solar RV company swap out the deep cycle for a lithium ion battery (100Ah/12V). They also recommended replacing the stock 40A solar charger controller for an upgrade to a Smart Solar Controller (100/30) and a Smart shunt (VE 500A-IP65), which I agreed to. The camping trailer has the stock solar panel on the roof that it came with, the company said it's adequate to charge the battery.

In a few weeks we'll be traveling approx 900 miles to the Adirondack Park in NY and boondocking in one of the state parks for 14 days. I'll also have my Honda 3000 generator with us because the park has many mature trees and limited sunshine, (use is limited to 5 hrs daily).

My 1st question for anyone who has switched over to lithium is: while on the road can I keep the residential 'frig running, will the lithium battery be powering it, will the electrical hookup to my truck power it, or will the solar panel power it ... or all three or none of the three?

My 2nd question: I noticed in the 'frig there's a setting on the dial for 'off grid'. Is that the setting I should set the 'frig for while boondocking and driving down the road?

Thanks for your patience and assistance. I attached a photo of our camper & tow vehicle, a 2018 FORD F-150 XLS 4WD 3.5L w/Max Tow Package.

~ Mac

 

[Soundsailor]

Hey Mac, the answer to your first question is all three. The power from your TV isn't much, but depending on the sun you'll get quite a bit from your solar charge controller. Any deficit would be made up for by your battery. Just an FYI, the system you describe will only just service the typical draw from a 12-volt frig. You may want to add more battery power.

Second question, yes, the "off-grid" setting is the least taxing on your battery. The frig isn't quite as cold, but I've used that setting and the food was fine.

 

[Conner58]

Thinking you will want atleast another 100ah battery.
Are setup is totally different from yours we use 100ah a day boondocking on the average day . Just fyi

 

[Riverbug]

You'll likely need about 100 AH per day (24 hour period) to run the fridge and typical light duty accessories like lights, pump, etc. You'll offset some with solar depending on the day. If you basically camp with hookups and just need to get between locations with stops along the way, you should be fine. If you overnight without hookups on occasion but then get hookups the next day you will also likely be fine. But any more than that and you'll want to consider another battery or more solar. Solar is great as long as you have sun. We just spent a week camping in the wide open with clouds and rain the entire time, so it just depends. If you have your generator along then you always have a backup so as long as you don't mind using it one battery is enough.

 

[Heavy Half Ton]

I just bought a great 100ah lithium battery for $200 on Amazon. Get another one.

 

[SolarPoweredRV]

My wife & I purchased a 2024 GD Imagine XLS-23LDE in May. Because we boondock once in awhile during the year, I had a local Solar RV company swap out the deep cycle for a lithium ion battery (100Ah/12V). They also recommended replacing the stock 40A solar charger controller for an upgrade to a Smart Solar Controller (100/30) and a Smart shunt (VE 500A-IP65), which I agreed to. The camping trailer has the stock solar panel on the roof that it came with, the company said it's adequate to charge the battery.

In a few weeks we'll be traveling approx 900 miles to the Adirondack Park in NY and boondocking in one of the state parks for 14 days. I'll also have my Honda 3000 generator with us because the park has many mature trees and limited sunshine, (use is limited to 5 hrs daily).

My 1st question for anyone who has switched over to lithium is: while on the road can I keep the residential 'frig running, will the lithium battery be powering it, will the electrical hookup to my truck power it, or will the solar panel power it ... or all three or none of the three?

My 2nd question: I noticed in the 'frig there's a setting on the dial for 'off grid'. Is that the setting I should set the 'frig for while boondocking and driving down the road?

Thanks for your patience and assistance. I attached a photo of our camper & tow vehicle, a 2018 FORD F-150 XLS 4WD 3.5L w/Max Tow Package.View attachment 51615

~ Mac

I agree with what others have recommended, get a second 100ah battery (and maybe even a 3rd if possible).

Do you have a "Residential" fridge that operates off of 120 volts? Or, do you have a 12 volt refrigerator? In either case, your refrigerator will use almost all of your single, 100ah, battery's capacity.

Since you have a few weeks before your trip, I would recommend you take your camper to a nearby campground and not connect to "Shore Power", then camp exactly like you will while Boondocking. This will let you know if your single battery will be enough, or if you need more battery storage capacity.

Good luck, and please let us know how well your battery(ies) hold up during your trip.

 

[el Rojo]

I agree with what others have recommended, get a second 100ah battery (and maybe even a 3rd if possible).

Do you have a "Residential" fridge that operates off of 120 volts? Or, do you have a 12 volt refrigerator? In either case, your refrigerator will use almost all of your single, 100ah, battery's capacity.

Since you have a few weeks before your trip, I would recommend you take your camper to a nearby campground and not connect to "Shore Power", then camp exactly like you will while Boondocking. This will let you know if your single battery will be enough, or if you need more battery storage capacity.

Good luck, and please let us know how well your battery(ies) hold up during your trip.

This is the only way you will know.

 

[Mac Aodha]

follow-up

Thanks for all your replies. When I first decided to switch from Deep Cycle to Lithium, I had to weigh the cost vs amount of time off grid. Since we only go off grid once or twice a year, mainly in the Adirondacks in upstate NY, getting 2 or 3 lithium batteries seemed a bit expensive, so I thought I'd try to get by with 1 for now. Since I have a few weeks before we leave, I decided to go 'off grid' in our driveway and see what type of readings I get with just the 12V frig running in off grid mode, and all the necessary little drains also on. This morning I started the frig about 5 AM at half setting, at 8:15 AM i turned it down to the off grid setting (see photo). I then took readings (see first set). At 1:30 PM I took a 2nd set of readings (photos labeled 1:30 PM at top of photos. It's 88* when I took the 2nd set of photo readings. The temp gauge photo was taken inside the frig freezer at 1:30 PM. The 2nd temp gauge photo I couldn't post because 5 is the limit; it's a reading of 48* inside the 'frig.

I'm going to leave the frig running this way for a few days and see what kind of results I get. Sound like a plan?

Note: We've been off grid camping in the ADKS for almost 30 yrs, usually 2-3 weeks, and we've learned how to conserve electricity with propane & electric lanterns & flashlights. Our camper has the usual elec drains & it has an instant hot water heater. As I said, I'll have a Honda 3000 generator with us that we can run for a total of 5 hrs a day in the CG.

I hope these photos come thru, I'm new on this blog
View attachment 51681
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View attachment 51684

 

[LanerC]

Thanks for all your replies. When I first decided to switch from Deep Cycle to Lithium, I had to weigh the cost vs amount of time off grid. Since we only go off grid once or twice a year, mainly in the Adirondacks in upstate NY, getting 2 or 3 lithium batteries seemed a bit expensive, so I thought I'd try to get by with 1 for now. Since I have a few weeks before we leave, I decided to go 'off grid' in our driveway and see what type of readings I get with just the 12V frig running in off grid mode, and all the necessary little drains also on. This morning I started the frig about 5 AM at half setting, at 8:15 AM i turned it down to the off grid setting (see photo). I then took readings (see first set). At 1:30 PM I took a 2nd set of readings (photos labeled 1:30 PM at top of photos. It's 88* when I took the 2nd set of photo readings. The temp gauge photo was taken inside the frig freezer at 1:30 PM. The 2nd temp gauge photo I couldn't post because 5 is the limit; it's a reading of 48* inside the 'frig.

I'm going to leave the frig running this way for a few days and see what kind of results I get. Sound like a plan?

Note: We've been off grid camping in the ADKS for almost 30 yrs, usually 2-3 weeks, and we've learned how to conserve electricity with propane & electric lanterns & flashlights. Our camper has the usual elec drains & it has an instant hot water heater. As I said, I'll have a Honda 3000 generator with us that we can run for a total of 5 hrs a day in the CG.

I hope these photos come thru, I'm new on this blog
View attachment 51681
View attachment 51680
View attachment 51682
View attachment 51683
View attachment 51684

Good test, I will be interested in the results. Happy Camping!

 

[jkwilson]

Don’t know about others, but I get an invalid attachment message trying to see the pictures.

I’d suggest a few jugs of water in the refrigerator and freezer to get stable readings. As soon as you open the door there is a big temperature increase.