Can I Use 6v Batteries Wired In Series For Extended Boondocking with AC Unit

Question:

I plan to dry camp in noise sensitive areas for extended periods 1-2 weeks. Would 2 or 4 BRW84FR Deep Cycle 6 volt batteries wired in series be able to start and run a 13K BTU AC unit for short periods of time 1hr a day, without the use of a generator? I also have a continuous 24hr low amperage draw for medical equipment. Additionally, what compatible solar system would you recommend to keep those batteries charged? Thanks,

asked by: Thomas R

Helpful Expert Reply:

You would need at least 4 of the # BRW84FR batteries to give you the bare minimum that you'll require to consider being able to make this work for you, and I would strongly recommend going upwards of 8 batteries because of the extended period of time that you'll be off grid. Because batteries can only drain so much, and because you're going to be pulling almost half of the power off of one of the # BRW84FR batteries in just 1 hour of AC use (150ah), you could easily run through 50% of your battery capacity in 2-3 days just running the AC. The other thing to consider is that most AC units require 3000w plus in order to start up, so you'll need an converter in your coach capable of providing that, like the GoPower # 34275013; you may already have this in your trailer so you'll want to check.

When it comes to solar charging and having sufficient panels to keep all of those batteries charged you'll need something like the Go Power Solar Extreme Charging System - 570 Watt Solar Panels - 3,000 Watt Inverter Charger # 34282185. This system provides 570w of charging power and will help keep your batteries charged up while you're boondocking.

You also may want to consider adding the RedArc Battery Manager 30 # RED88FR to allow you to constantly monitor your systems and ensure that your batteries are always properly charged and not short on power.

With all of that being said, you'd realistically be best served going with lithium ion batteries like the GoPower # 34282740 since you'll be able to run those down much further during use compared to lead acid or AGM batteries. They're not exactly the cheapest solution, but it's generally the best fit for a system like this.

I've linked some helpful articles on solar power in RVs, batteries and some other information that you might find helpful.