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Regular
Posts: 72
Location: Hoosierville | I just read an older post from last December and January of this year. The discussion was about charging the LQ batteries. I always have my trailer plugged in at home so I haven't had any issues other than I recently camped primitively (and I rarely camp without electricity), for 3 nights and by the 3rd morning my batteries had lost most of their charge. So I hooked the trailer up to my truck and ran the truck for a while. This only worked for a very short time, then my batteries went completely dead, however after driving/pulling for 3 hours my batteries are working (okay?).
My questions are: 1. I was careful to conserve battery power so is this normal for the batteries to drain that quickly? I was intrigued by the solar powered battery trickle charger but worried there won't be enough sun to power the charger where I camp...in wooded areas and because we have a lot of cloudy days here in Indiana! Options and Expense?
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448
Location: Los Angeles, Ca. | All sounds pretty normal to me.
Your truck will charge the batteries but only slowly. You might look into a small Honda inverter generator..about $700 for the 1000 watt or $1100 for the 2000 watt. Both will charge the batteries and the larger one will run the microwave and more. ..but not the air conditioner... two of the 2000 watt generators connected together will run the a/c |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 656
Location: Rayne, LA | ?One thing to keep in mind with the 1000 & 2000 Honda generators is that they only have a 1 gallon fuel tank. So depending on the load the run time may be limited, Definetly enough to charge a battery, but if twinned to run an A/C they will not run a roof mounted unit all night. You would have to use an auxillary fuel tank. They are cheap on fuel but the extra tank is a must. I have ran one for 10 hours with a 5000 btu window unit but not a roof mounted unit. |
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Regular
Posts: 74
Location: NW | How old are your batteries? The older batteries used to last a good long time (as in being good for a few years) but the last ones I had did not hold a charge very long. I asked the battery salesman and he said due to current regulations, batteries have changed significantly & they will NOT last anywhere near as long as previously.  Darned expensive to have to replace more often. |
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Regular
Posts: 72
Location: Hoosierville | Thanks for all the responses! The batteries are interstate batteries purchased in october of 2015....$200 My A/C is a 13,500 btu roof mount and I would like to someday get the 2 generators to run everything, especially A/C . Sounds like I would need to carry plenty of fuel with me. |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
 
Location: Vermont | The primary factor you need to consider is the size of your AC unit(s). - The Honda EU3000 Handi and EU3000is will power most 13,500 BTU AC units
- Larger AC units may need two Honda EU2000i’s paralleled together.
- The honda EU7000iS works well for fifth wheels and RVs with dual AC units.
- The AC’s needs may vary based on many factors, including the ambient temperature and the efficiency of your model. Your dealer can help you to select the best generator for your individual situation.
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Member
Posts: 8
| I have arrived at the conclusion that trailer batteries need to be replaced every 3 years. They will go 4, but if you are occasionally boondocking, You will not want to test the longevity of your batteries at the expense of the contents of the Fridge and Hot water to shower. A truck will charge your trailer battery, but very slowly. We have a Honda 3000is generator, and it will charge two batteries on less than half a tank of fuel. The generator holds three gallons of gas, and will run for 7 hours, provided we don't run the AC. At the end of 2 hours my batteries will be at 90%, and I am good to go for a couple more days. The only time I have had serious issues, is when I let my batteries get too old |
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Veteran
Posts: 101
Location: Waaaaay back Slaughter Hollow | Another thing to consider is do you have a "vampire" in the trailer somewhere.
I put two new batteries into our LQ trailer, not long after we got it, and they were constantly being run down. I eventually found that the toggle switch for the light in the manger could be flipped very easily. I had the light and the toggle switch moved, and guess what? No drained batteries! |
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 Veteran
Posts: 197
Location: AZ | We have 2 Honda 2000s that we run parallel....the last uses of them were for a total of 12 hours....finally ran out of gas on the most recent trip...the 12 hours...ran the micro, charged phones, LQ batteries....did not run ac as we go to places that are cooler. |
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LQ batteries
