Jaahn types faster than me.... Graphic Artist, not a typist and I need to think due to CRAFT disease (my excuse if my calculations are off).

He's my take on this and doesn't fully take into account what extra power the inverter will consume to generate 230 Volts AC and as Jaahn says we don't know how long you ran the inverter for, so my calculations...

230 Volts * 5 Amps = 1150 Watts
Lets say you ran the Coffee Machine for 10 minutes ????
So, 1150 / 60 minutes = 19.16 Lets round that to 20 Watts per minute to allow something for the inverter.
20 * 10 = 200 Watts   then 200 / 12volts = 16.67 Amps off the battery capacity in 10 minutes
In my book that's a heavy load off your battery bank.

2 * 100 Amp batteries gives you 100 Amps usable power depending on what lower level you prescribe to.

So this draw is almost one fifth of power available in 10 minutes.

When batteries are drawing a heavy load they will show a lower voltage. Then when the draw is off they will stabilise and show the actual voltage and that can take some time.
Personally I think you need bigger batteries and lots more solar..... but that's another issue.

Jaahn wrote:

---

Hi Phil,

In a word (well several !) not enough solar for free camping.

To put up some perpective , if your 240v charger can put out 20amp and do it for 24 hrs then a solar panel which puts out 7amps max for ~ 8 hrs (some of that at much less amps) will not be any comparison. Compare 480Ahr against say 56 ahrs !! see the problem.

You must have some other form of charging !

Jaahn 

-- Edited by Jaahn on Sunday 28th of February 2016 01:52:16 PM

---

 Yeah I agree Jaahn, we are investing in another 100W panel in a few months time. Last lot of free camping we did was in bright sunshine and the batts did well on the solar. Mind you we had a few caravan park stops as well so not a real good test.

Should be interesting this Perth trip, will test out the batts and the solar.

Hope you are well mate...

grahamg wrote:

---

why would you be using 20amps for 24hrs? 

---

 I Think Jaahn was telling us that the charger (hooked up to the 240) has enough to supply 20 amps all day. We have a generator as well that will cool us on a hot day and charge the batts if needed. 

Cheers

-- Edited by Phil C on Monday 29th of February 2016 12:18:06 PM

Phil, your inverter would be drawing over 120 A whilst the coffee maker was working flat out. Providing you keep that within sensible limits (time) all will be OK.

If you wish to get a better indications of what is happening to your batteries then next time disconnect your solar panels before the test. Don't reconnect your panels or switch the power on for an hour or three. Keep an eye on the battery voltage and when you see that the recovery has ceased that will give you an indication of what amount of charge has been used (use the appropriate charge/voltage graph for your battery.)

oldtrack123 wrote:

---

HI Phil
While not downgrading the advantages of LiFePo batteries, you would understand that their charge /discharge efficiency ,whiles quite high ,, like every thing electrical cannot be 100% efficient.
That simply means you HAVE to put back in more than you take out!!!!
If you take out a 100Ahrs per day ,you have to put back 100Ahrs PLUS
Many Li enthusiasts post " That they can run "Everything"" but seem to not indicate their available recharging power

---

 Gday PeterQ

One day I will change up to LI but the wallet will need some fattening up first and our hunger for cruising will need to stop as well.  Im probably wrong with my DC current, you suggest 120A, now that tells me I have a crackerjack set of batts which is happy time.

We just had a night of free camp, lights, water pump (2 showers) TV etc. Batts did well and held onto 12.9VDC. Next day the solar put it up to 13.2VDC, so Im pretty happy.

We are in Penong today and on our way to 3 free camps back to back. This will be a sure test for all the electrical systems on board although I suspect the gen will need to do some work as heavy rain is predicted.

Hope you are well mate, cheers

As I have the same 610 watts of Solar/PL40 as before the upgrade and using the previous AGM's for 5 yrs I can say that the AGM'S  would be still Float Charging on Similar days at 3 to 4 pm  to achieve 100% Charge whereas the Lithiums using the same amount if Not More Power since the using of Coffee pod machine, Hot Water element, Induction Cooktop (never used before on Leads) will be fully Charged by Noon to 1 pm. 

I Know there is a lot of "Hoo Haa" goes on between others regards to Battery Types but I can say from past experience of Lead Acid Deep Cycle's/AGM's over 30 yrs of Camping/Caravanning with Solar and Generators that I Know that the Best Change I have Ever made for Full Time Vanning was to LITHIUM'S and the other half knows the difference from the way everything operates now compared to before. No Worries at all now as we use way More Power now than previously with No Hassles.

We Love Those Lithiums..

Jaahn if it's the price your asking about I didn't mentioned as there was no question about $.

Our 500 Ah  Winston Thundersky Strapped, including connecting bars, Balanced and freight with a one Cell Battery Charger for Balancing if needed (still haven't had to use this)

1. 100Ah for the Ute Aux. Including one Relativity.(Balancing module).

2. 2 x 200 Ah packs. Including 2 x Relativities. 

3. Junsi Cell Loggers x 3 approx $23 each.

Total Cost $3,500 and on our way south we called in at Kuttabul to fit the 2nd 200Ah  pack which Trevor helped me wire up and fit for no extra charge.

I have since purchased from Hobbyking a Digital Signal Remote Battery Monitor for $125 so I can keep an eye on the Cell Voltages while mobile with the ABR Sidewinder DC-DC Charger running in Winter time down the southern states when the Sun Power is poorly.

Cheers Kev.

So as I mentioned before that the Leads were still in Float at 4pm the PL40 was also only reading approx 96% SOC. Whereas the Lifes at 1pm are switched off at 100% SOC on the PL40. I do agree that you need to put more back than used but I have never said that I use more than is put back.

It's a Real Paradigm change as all New Technology can be and there is always something new in the pipeline. But for what I wanted and have achieved I am glad we fitted them. 

As we have been sitting under trees at Boddington RV Stop for 2 days to keep cool is something I would have never done before with the Leads and also using the Extra 240 volt appliances. 

I only use the Gene for 40+ days otherwise it has been in Hibernation since Oct 2014. Total fuel usage for Honda 12 litres over 3 days. I am still to have the AC wired to run of the Inverter.

Cheers Kev.