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T@G Power Usage Grid

HitechHitech Member Posts: 38
in Battery/Electrical & Solar
I converted my T@G to 170ah lithium battery a couple years back. As long as I’m going to have a little solar I no longer bring my Honda 1000 generator with me. Wanted to really understand my daily usage so I made this grid. Using my Victron I turned on each appliance and recorded its power usage and noted how long I usually leave them on in a 24hr period. In the case of the Norcold frig it only ran about 15-20 minutes every hour to cool down. That would be dependent on outside temp of course. Couple discoveries for me is that the Jensen stereo uses more amp when the camper power is initially turned on. If you turn it on and power it down it drops to a dimmed display and uses far less power constantly. Also in the galley there’s a gas shut off switch in the hydraulic lift arm by the sink. It tells the gas to shut off if the lid is closed. While I don’t recommend bypassing that safety device, I have a 1/2 piece of rubber hose with a slit that I slide down that to shut it off as it uses quite a bit of power also. You can’t close the hatch with the tube on the arm, so I still have the safety of the gas being monitored. I’ve got 2 solar panels. Suitcase one at 200 I put out by the camper. Lucky to get 3 hours of charge if I remember to move it during the day when it gets shaded. Flexible solar panel 100 I usually throw on the roof so I estimated at least an hour a day of charging. Your usage times will vary depending on how you camp. I find even without charging I can now go a few days before needing to charge with the 170ah battery. Really a game changer for me. 

T@G XL
2017 Jeep Rubicon Hardrock

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Comments

  • JamesDowJamesDow Member Posts: 676
     
    Thanks for sharing your power usage chart.
    I appreciate the effort!

    I did one myself in 2019, using the common items on my 2018 T@G.
    I look forward to finding the time to compare the two charts.
     
    I installed a 100Ah lithium battery and found it to be a game changer.
    I can run my Norcold NRF-30 refrigerator for about 3+ days without solar reliance. My best so far with 100-watt solar suitcase has been 10 days without resupply. For that trip in the desert, I failed to have enough solar extension cables to keep my panel in the sun. My priority is the trailer in the shade for desert camping.
    Since that point, I have incorporated more extension cables, as well as building a 100Ah power station, which brings my battery capacity to 200Ah as needed.
    Recently I tested my 100Ah power station and found I could run my AC for 3.5 hours.  (AC directly plugged into power station to avoid 15-watt converter loss)




      
     

     


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  • 2022TAGowner2022TAGowner Member Posts: 15
    I have been educating myself about batteries, DC coolers, and solar panels to make updates on our 2022 Tag that we purchased last year. I just purchased a 165ah lithium and plan on installing it this weekend. I'm just waiting on the new battery box.

    Next on my list is a solar suitcase and extension cables (thanks for pointing that out JamesDow). Please let me know if you have any info you think would be useful. 

    I have found this forum very helpful and I'd like to thank you for posting. I love looking at the stats! Reading your research helps me make better decisions.
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  • GulfCoastGulfCoast Member Posts: 108
    @JamesDow, I'm curious about your experience with the power station you built. Have you had any overheating issues with all those components enclosed in that box?

    Thanks.
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  • JamesDowJamesDow Member Posts: 676
    edited May 9
     @GulfCoast;
    I just responded in detail to your question regarding my power station on the bottom of my previous post. 

    https://teardrop-trailers.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/1812/adding-second-battery-dyi-building-power-station

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