Hey guys. Im building my van and im not sure which way I want to go for power usage. I will need to power an espar heater, rooftop a/c, ( coleman cub 9200 btu ) tv (as well as the receiver and satellite), laptop, small lights, possibly an xbox and possibly a small little refrigerator. The 1.7 cubic foot kind. I will need a generator for the rooftop a/c regardless and a battery for the espar.
So, my options are: Larger generator for everything ( I was thinking champion 3500 or 3100 watt inverter generator ) and a single deep cycle battery for the espar. I think the espar can wire directly to the battery so no need for an inverter. Or A large battery bank with an inverter for everything other than the a/c and a smaller generator for the a/c. Get a larger or second alternator to charge the battery bank when im driving, through a charger.
Im leaning toward the larger generator and a single battery because it sounds much simpler and don't have to worry about losing power at all. Plus, im going to have to buy a generator anyway for the a/c, but to be honest im a pretty big idiot about this kind of thing so I really don't know what the advantages of either are. I would love to hear some opinions. I also see some people with a battery bank AND a larger generator to charge the bank. If youre going to run a large generator anyway, why not just power directly off the generator and save the money and hassle of a battery bank? Save on fuel, I guess? My issue is weight. Im sitting at 6600 now with my fold down bed, plywood floor, full tank and me inside it. My GVWR is 9100. A champion 3500 is about 90 pounds. Those big deep cycles are pretty heavy, aren't they? I know those little fridges can suck some juice, so if it would help to just not have one, im fine with that. I could just get a really nice YETI cooler.
So, my options are: Larger generator for everything ( I was thinking champion 3500 or 3100 watt inverter generator ) and a single deep cycle battery for the espar. I think the espar can wire directly to the battery so no need for an inverter. Or A large battery bank with an inverter for everything other than the a/c and a smaller generator for the a/c. Get a larger or second alternator to charge the battery bank when im driving, through a charger.
Im leaning toward the larger generator and a single battery because it sounds much simpler and don't have to worry about losing power at all. Plus, im going to have to buy a generator anyway for the a/c, but to be honest im a pretty big idiot about this kind of thing so I really don't know what the advantages of either are. I would love to hear some opinions. I also see some people with a battery bank AND a larger generator to charge the bank. If youre going to run a large generator anyway, why not just power directly off the generator and save the money and hassle of a battery bank? Save on fuel, I guess? My issue is weight. Im sitting at 6600 now with my fold down bed, plywood floor, full tank and me inside it. My GVWR is 9100. A champion 3500 is about 90 pounds. Those big deep cycles are pretty heavy, aren't they? I know those little fridges can suck some juice, so if it would help to just not have one, im fine with that. I could just get a really nice YETI cooler.
