Second house battery?

[soohma]

I would like a second house battery. I've bought a small convection oven that pulls 1250 watts. My house battery only has 750 watts.

Is it possible to add a second house battery? And if so, where would I put it?

[hbn7hj]

You better start this one over.. 1. what are you putting it in? 2. A second battery will probably not run your convective oven.

[booster]

Originally Posted by hbn7hj

You better start this one over.. 1. what are you putting it in? 2. A second battery will probably not run your convective oven.

Agree with this and to be able to help figure out what you would need, more details would be needed.


For running things like microwaves or ovens, most of us would probably say you would need 400ah of AGM batteries or at least 200ah of lithium batteries, plus all the hardware to charge and control them, with a big inverter.


This is why the older vans needed generators to run high load items as they never had enough battery power.

[soohma]

Well, you're both right. I didn't give enough information.

I have a 1997 Roadtrek Popular. it currently has 1 750 amp house battery.

I would be putting the oven on the pull out shelf where the TV used to be and plugging it in when needed.

I was given a small solar generator I think I could hook up and use, but I have to find out how.

With that information, what would your advice be?

[folivier]

I think you're confusing cca of 750 amps with amp hours. Not the same thing, cca are cold cranking amps and typically refer to the power available to start an engine. Amp hours are the amps that can be delivered over a period of time.
Your battery you refer to is probably 100 amphours or less. You also need an inverter large enough that supplies 120 volts AC to power your convection oven. Your convection oven probably uses 1500 watts or more/hour.
Clear as mud?

[mkguitar]

Originally Posted by soohma

it currently has 1 750 amp house battery.

I would be putting the oven on the pull out shelf where the TV used to be and plugging it in when needed.

I was given a small solar generator I think I could hook up and use, but I have to find out how.

you do not have near electrical capacity on your van to run an oven.



(without a generator*)


...batteries and inverter would run you a couple of grand


and then you need a way to charge the batteries



run your dodge motor ?


carry a bunch of solar panels ?
( a "solar generator" is a marketing term which is misleading...many of these "generators" are batteries )





* most of our generators are the Onan 2800 rated for maximum "2800" watts at 120 volts.
that is at sea level and quickly drops at altitude .
at 5000' we are closer to 2200 watts max capacity

[soohma]

Yes, clear as mud. My takeaway is that I can use the oven when plugged in, but not boon docking. Is that correct?

And yes, the solar is a battery with two panels.

[booster]

Originally Posted by soohma

Yes, clear as mud. My takeaway is that I can use the oven when plugged in, but not boon docking. Is that correct?

And yes, the solar is a battery with two panels.

Yes, that is the way it is, unless you have a generator.

[mkguitar]

yes. when on shore power you can use your oven, microwave, air conditioner, blow dryer etc.


all the stuff which plugs into 120 volt power.


depending on the power at the campground or Pal's house you may only be able to use 1 at a time ( a house hold type 15 amp plug will allow about 1850 watts total, a 30 amp campground supply will allow double that load )




our old vans have limited energy capacity and are set up so the propane does all the heavy lifting... furnace, cooker, hot water- to try to do any of these with electricity is difficult


we have never used our genny camping.


we try to choose to go where we don't need AC and our microwave is used to store our plates and bowls


some of the newer vans have much more electrical capacity...they also may cost $200,000.... thousands of dollars in electrical capacity to park a black van in the sun and run the AC


mike

[soohma]

Thank you all for your help. I have a much clearer idea of what to do now.

[Bud]

Originally Posted by soohma

Thank you all for your help. I have a much clearer idea of what to do now.

Which is basically start over, maybe not quite. You may be able to keep the converter/charger.

You can run a microwave spending less than thousands of dollars as this is the only application that you have mentioned. Something like this at minimum:

3 inexpensive agm batteries for about $450 or more

1 inexpensive inverter for about $200 or more

cabling, fuses, etc.

You may have enough charging now, e.g. say you stop for lunch and just want to use the microwave.

Have fun sorting out the alternatives.

[ChicagoTom]

I would be more concerned about the heat and a possible fire. There's a reason some Bs don't come with the convection oven/microwave. It needs to be vented properly.

[RVclassB4me]

Or get a portable gas/propane inverter generator from Costco or Harbor Freight or one of the big box stores. We like Costco bc of its generous return policy if it clunks out too soon.

And put the portable generator on a cargo tray to the rear bumper hitch.

The inverter generators are pretty good. Lower noise. About 57 Dbs.