Siletzspey
Shedd, OR
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Joined: 01/24/2018
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I worked up a power use calculator and wiring map for a Northern Lite camper (2018 9'6" QSE).
http://www.barbless.com/share/www-rv-net/NL-Camper-Power-Calculator-191202.xlsx
For some devices it still contains guesses, and the solar recovery portion was just added. Gap fillers, comments and reviews welcome!
--tg
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Eugarps
Hagerstown, MD
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Joined: 09/26/2002
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Siletzspey,
Thank you! That’s going to be really helpful!
Best,
Bill
1978 27' Southwind MH - Gone
1982 19' Terry Taurus TT - Gone
1990 24' Prowler TT - Gone
TC - Still in the Hunt
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otrfun
On The Road
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Joined: 09/08/2012
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Great info! Thanks for sharing.
Maybe I missed it. Curious whether you've had a chance to check your maximum charge current (and voltage) from your converter (with no solar; I and V measured at the batteries) with your batteries discharged (i.e., 50% wet-cell or ~20% lithium). If NL used the same 10 gauge wire (for the converter to battery run) as they did on our NL, you may find the results somewhat disappointing.
BTW, the 4 Happijacs (with the new direct drive motors) draw approx. 25a when lifting our 8-11 (camper loaded, no water; maybe 3,200 lbs??). Both the 8-11 and 9-6 weigh approx. 2,600 - 2,700 lbs. at the factory, empty/unloaded.
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Kayteg1
California > Nevada
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Joined: 06/18/2015
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When charging deeply discharged batteries -using factory setups, the system will keep cycling automatic breaker. I had the issue with 40 amp converter and I had the issue with 30 amp Ford charging circuit. Due to cycling, where converter takes way more time to cool than to work, even being plug overnight did not fully recharge my 2 batteries with normal camper use.
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ticki2
NH
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Joined: 07/09/2008
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Kayteg1 wrote:When charging deeply discharged batteries -using factory setups, the system will keep cycling automatic breaker. I had the issue with 40 amp converter and I had the issue with 30 amp Ford charging circuit. Due to cycling, where converter takes way more time to cool than to work, even being plug overnight did not fully recharge my 2 batteries with normal camper use. what brand converters do you have ?
'68 Avion C-11
'02 GMC DRW D/A flatbed
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Kayteg1
California > Nevada
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Its Magnatek 6300 - very common in the past.
It is 40 amp rated, but I can operate only single jack on it, or it will pop the breaker.
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ticki2
NH
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I have an Iota dsl 55 , it has never tripped a breaker or bounced back and forth between stages . I don't have elect jacks so can't comment on that .
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Kayteg1
California > Nevada
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DSL55 is not only more powerful charger, but sounds like it has logic circuit who monitor the charge.
My converter delivers killing 14.3V and I can't use it in storage or it will boil the battery dry.
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Siletzspey
Shedd, OR
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otrfun wrote:Curious whether you've had a chance to check your maximum charge current (and voltage) from your converter ... you may find the results somewhat disappointing.
Indeed. See p.2 of my LFP upgrade plan, where I included shore and alternator estimates reported by other NL owners. Indeed, very disappointing! Where safe and possible, my LFP plan is for 4ga and shorter wiring distances.
http://www.barbless.com/share/www-rv-net/Gilg-NL-LFP-Upgrade-191204.pdf
otrfun wrote:BTW, the 4 Happijacs (with the new direct drive motors) draw approx. 25a when lifting our 8-11...
Thanks for the feedback. I'll roll that into the next spreadsheet rev. The "factory interview" numbers seemed to be for twice the weight of our NLs, so a drop from 40A to 25A seems reasonable.
--SiletzSpey
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Siletzspey
Shedd, OR
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Kayteg1 wrote:... the system will keep cycling automatic breaker.
Hi Kayteg. Do you have just the 7-pin outlet, or did you add a separate high-current line (2/0ga)? Is the breaker you speak of associated with the 7-pin line, or high-current line, or the converter?
If your jacks are tied directly to the batteries, I would expect the batteries would take most of the load, and you shouldn't be blowing any charging fuses.
Where I'm still under-informed is how motors and inverters can demand a current spike when first turned on, and I believe motors can generate a spike when turned off.
--SiletzSpey
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