Tell me about your 12V battery set ups.

[Lprefs]

I'm either going to 'reno' and old shack I have or sell it and start from scratch. Either way I'd like to get power set up and I'm thinking I'll go with a battery or two and an inverter. I'd also like to run a solar charge to the battery, what do you have and how is it set up? Approximately how much have you invested in it and so on? I know the battery(ies) will be the big ticket, but not sure about an inverter or the solar. Thanks in advance.

[ran7ger]

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=264746.msg3076790#msg3076790

 i rigged up something like this with a fuse block, switches, lights and chargers etc, two 12v 10ah batteries for under $100.  works well for the permanent and the portable shack.

[Big Burk]

I kept my 12v simple in my shack, the only inverter I have is a car plug in style. For the minimal 120 power usuage in the shack I use it works fine. I have two batteries I alternate leaving in shack and taking home to charge every time I go out. 12v lights, radio and 12v fan is all I pretty much run off the set up don't use the inverter much.
Neatly hidden and out of the way

[LUNKERONZ]

I have two old car battries ran together in series, to a 1000w inverter. Powers two 20" tvs, lights, coffee machine, camera, fan etc. shack is on wheels like an ice castle type. So it comes home. 24 hr recharge and she's good to go. Never have run it dead in a 12hr day with one of those small motomaster solar panels with the alligator clips. Seems to help but too small for holding the batteries at full charge. Set up works great tho. Can usually pick up old batteries at the rear if any dealership or automotive garage. They still work for awhile. Been 4 years off the last two I grabbed.....


Jig on

[Lprefs]

Thanks guys. Do you think a guy has to with deep cycle or just regular batteries? Wow that must be awesome having a coffee machine in the shack. Start brewing tims and open up a drive though on the ice lol

[Jdawgsk1]

This is what my dads shack runs off of

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/motomaster-eliminator-800a-powerbox-0112014p.html#.VLCeJUdOKrU

It's been going for a few years now works great.

[the shark]

I run the nautalis power inverter from Canadian tire, runs anything you want , swith your to power saver low watt lite bulb ... Runs a camera.  Lights, charged phone, etc.  and will boost somebody to if there truck goes dead !! Lol
Or. Princess auto has a solar panel, with inverter/charger even on cloudy days , but u still need a battery !! Cheers

[Lprefs]

Sounds liken people are having mixed experiences with the solar chargers from princess auto, but it sounds like they're usually just using a panel with wattage too low to do what they want. What's a minimum wattage to get for your panels to keep a deep cycle charged?

[BlindIce]

Sounds liken people are having mixed experiences with the solar chargers from princess auto, but it sounds like they're usually just using a panel with wattage too low to do what they want. What's a minimum wattage to get for your panels to keep a deep cycle charged?

I am an industrial electrician by trade. Solar depends on your load. Also winter is awful for solar. Good sunny days and having it aimed correctly is the only time you will get close to 100% it's capacity. For a single deep cycle battery. I would run at least 2-40 watt panels. At best you may pull 6 amps charge, avg I would say 3 amps. Cloudy days you will be lucky to pull 2 amps.

[the shark]

That sounds pretty accurate, and then hoping no-jackass will try and be a hero and steel it !!!  Get the inverter from canada tire , you'll use a lot more than in the shack to !!  🍻

[BlindIce]

If you are worried about some stealing it you could always get a Thermal electric generator if you are using wood heat. They are a bit pricey. http://thermoelectric-generator.com/teg-thermoelectric-power-generators-for-sale/

Also most people misunderstand solar. Cheap battery maintainer panels are good for just that and will have a tough time restoring your battery after use.
Don't get anything less then these at canadian tire
http://m.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/coleman-40w-folding-solar-panel-0112043p.html

If it's not a crystalline panel I wouldnt even bother with solar.

[Lprefs]

Darn. I was hoping to maybe get away with one of those 1000 watt eliminator units and the 20 watt solar panel, sounds like I'll need something bigger.

[Warren_G]

As a former 12 volt guru, let me help with a little info. There are all sizes and wattage of solar panels, what you need to be aware of is your current draw. Think of your battery as a pail of water, and the solar panel as replenishing it as you draw water out. As long as you have enough wattage to keep up with the draw, you are fine. If you draw more than you fill, eventually the bucket is empty and must be refilled some before using. Some shacks have a single LED light, and some have stereo, tv, etc. Add up the wattage rating on all the stuff you need to power, and then add about 10-15% and that will give you the required wattage of a solar panel. Of course the other concern is that the rated wattage is only meaningful when the sun is out, so a 20 watt panel wont provide much when it is really overcast.
Size, and the number of batteries will give you a little more standby time, but they will still go dead if you draw more than you put back in. If you drive to your shack, a good system would be to have a long jumper cable off your shack battery that you can connect to your vehicle battery. Just don't leave it hooked up all day with the vehicle turned off or you may have 2 dead batteries when you want to start your vehicle.

[Lprefs]

Thanks Warren.  Definitely makes sense.  I was only hoping to power a light, which wouldnt be on all the time, charge cell phone, a radio, and maybe a little 20" lcd tv, I guess I'll get out the calculator.  I suppose theres always the generator option too, but the noise would get annoying I think.

[Big Burk]

If ya go the generator route go with the Honda. I can run the 4500w under full load and it's still quite. On Eco throttle you can't hear it at all really when your in the shack and neither can other people  20ft away outside.

[the shark]

Canadian tire , on sale right now 174.99$, nautalis booster pack 800a, it'll run anything you want 12volts or 120volts, lights, phone , camera, tv , etc etc. and it's a booster pack so it's very diverse !!  I have one here and one at the cabin .. And if I knew how to send a pic I would ..