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110 vs gas vs 12v


deepportage01

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here is the deal I would like to here all of your opinons on lighting in a fish house[wheeled house]I thought of gas lights just for the fact that you have to have gas for the heater anyway, but I know alot of guy's run 12v and 110 so lets here the pros and cons of all 3 or what you have for a combo of both in your house. I am almost at the stage of lighting and heat so any info would be great cool.gif

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Use (2) deep cycles wired parallel with a 12V charging system off the truck direct to the house batteries. Various options are out there to buy just like trolling motor set ups. You will never see a need to 110 charge your batteries.Every time you fire up the truck or drive it the batteries get recharged off the truck. Better charge this way and power all the time !!

For added power access wire a few (110) outlets in the house and connect a converter up and your set for year around use and will have double power options.

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Don't forget to add in the price of a new alternator and towing when it dies on the road and not in your driveway. Plus the extra $3 per gallon fuel just idling. Maybe that generator isn't so expensive after all.....

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Never heard of or experienced any charging system being strained or trashed through a 12v system already on the tow vehicle ? Unless the system was already weak and wasn't tested.

Everything now days is being charged through the trucks trailering harness/receptacle off the charging system.

If they were not cost effective and a liability you would see trucks, boats, fishouses laying all over the roads and they would not be selling the systems. Basically just a 8 or 10 gauge wire I believe with a 30 amp breaker, nothing abnormal.

Never even heard of anything but a "stock" alternator as well. Nothing but a normal drain is put on the system and if you have issues, your alternator and battery (truck) or fish house were bad from the start.

(2) deep cycle baterries full charged in paralell with a volt meter and in good shape will power up all your needs alone for a day and a half. Any twenty minute drive back home recharges them 100%. Starting and idiling of the vehicle isnt even needed let alone a issue. If I ever did it was to warm the truck up not any power issue with (2) deep cycles.

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I was thinking more of wearing out the brushes and bearings in the alternator. Maybe Airjer can chime in here and give his thoughts but an alternator is designed to charge one batter for X amount of miles. If you charge 3 batteries you cut the alternators life by 2/3rds. Yes, I know you are not charging those batteries all the time but is it really worth the risk and cost?

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deepportage-

How big is your shack? How many lights do you plan on running? Any other accessories (TV, radio, etc.) that you plan on running off of the batteries?

1 deep cycle in my shack is enough to light the lights for a weekend on Upper Red.

I hope to be installing 1 or 2 gas lamps this summer as well for the shack.

Personally, I think it is a personal opinion but I like to be covered for all scenarios. Not a bad idea to have lights that run on 2 different sources of power/fuel. Wish I could say the same for the furnace but that is why I always bring a sunflower with.

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it is a 18ft with a v nose. there will be a raidio,tv,hole lights,and maybe some reading lights in the bunks.I also thought about runing 4 gas lights. but here is the thing once you get all the wiring and batteries and 12v stuff would it just be cheeper to go 110 with a generator? I dont know but I think your rite on being coved with all 3 at least it's there if you need it rite?

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Your right, it would probably be cheaper with a generator. That is if you already own a generator.

I'm just guessing but you should be able to install RV style lights, gas lamps, and a couple deep cycles w/ charger for under the cost of a good, quiet, generator.

Hate to say but if something happened to the generator, or you ran out of gas, you would be left in the dark.

Now I'm going to climb onto my soapbox. When we are talking generators, you better be using a very quiet Honda. I can't stand (honestly, hate is a better word) folks running noisy a$$ loud generators on the ice! I don't like them, thats my humble opinion. wink.gif

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I do have a generator aready it is very quit but its not a honda it's a little cheepo[$200] from nothern tool but it works fine and keeps nose to a min. I think I'm Just going to bight the big one and wire and pipe for all 3 as I do not want to be left in the dark or worse with no tv grin.gif

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Well I can only speak for my experience and many others that run the system I do. I run 2 deep cycles and the end of every third year I get two new ones with no charging hassles, power issues, or any electrical issue with the vehicle.

I'll plug in to the house (110) through the converter in the summer two or three times just to keep the batteries fresh, but during the season its all off the truck and I touch nothing.Heat stays on low 24/7 and batteries are never froze and always full charged at the end of every day/night out.

There is no "risk" involved in anything and the cost and hassle of 110 chargers, jerking batteries around for a trickle charge only is all eliminated.

The Alternator is already running when the truck is started and a battery only draws what it needs "if" it needs anything.Recharging the batteries two or three times a week for twenty minutes while driving is no different then running your AC for a hour along with all other 12v accessories. Deep cycle batteries are designed for quick recharges and the little effort it takes to resupply them does nothing to your alternators life span.

There is no more hassle free cost effective power source that I have discovered in ten plus years.

Cost and quality of the batteries are individual choice and the charging systems are $100. So for $300 you are good for three years minimum and the house wiring is a wash as you are wiring it anyway which isn't no major cost to begin with.

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I had the E2000 on back order years ago when I was told about this system. But after a couple weeks on the lake I found I'd never need it with the on board direct charging so I never picked it up smile.gif

The idea is to eliminate more items, hassle, and effort so not needing to haul a generator around, gasoline and building a insulate/vented box was a welcomed relief !!

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Go all 3. Even though I don't have a crank style yet. I do have a fish house up on Mille Lacs. You have to ask yourself, are you going to use it for other things?? Some people are using them as campers now or how 'bout a hunting shack?

Just because you wire it for 110 doesn't mean you have to buy a generator for it.

I've seen people drop these in campground and plug right in.

Incase your worried about keeping straight which receptical is which, make your 110's white and your 12v red or some other color.

If you already have gas for stove then why not throw in a couple of gas lights. If your run into electrical power problems your going to wish you had them. Red Lake and LoTW are long haul. It would be a drag if you had no lights. Plus they are another source of heat.

One last thing. If you ever plan on selling it. Having all 3 would be a good selling point.

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I have all 3 on my house and highly recommend it.

Mostly I use the 12v lights and run an invertor for the tv. I've never used the electric lights, but it's nice to know they are there in case someday I rope over a generator. The gas lights get used a little, but not as much as I thought they would. Cool thing about the gas lights is they give off heat. It's really not that much $$$ to install all 3 so why limit youself when building your castle?????

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Carry a portable charge pack with you like I do for any 911 situations.

Mine has a light on it, jumpers,inverter, volt meter,compressor.

Jump your car, hook up to your deep cycles, run accessories, emergency light needs etc.

Never had to use it but if I did I'd be good another 1/2 day minimum.

Mine I believe is middle of the road or a bit above average but I know it was less then $150. Cheap added security and portability.

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I actually bought mine of HSOList from a commercial outlet seller about two years ago!!

I paid $150 but it was a much greater rated unit for around $300.

You can get them anywhere really for just a 12v source.

Auto Stores, Menards, Northern Tool, Lowes, etc.

Auto parts stores & Northern I always see them for $60 - $100 smile.gif

Vector is a rather popular brand for home or light use I know !!

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What I plan on doing is having the house wired for 12 volt with one 110 volt outlet inside the house. I'll also have a 12 volt accessory outlet for TV and another in back for cell phone or other uses.

I bought a water-proof 110 receptical that will be mounted on the outside of the house. I'll then, eventually, buy a 110 VAC to 12 volt DC converter and charger unit (like they have in campers). It's powered by 110 but supplies 12 volt to all my lights and will recharge the batteries. So, if I ever get a generator or take it camping I can just plug it in and not have 3 differenty style of lights installed in my house.

Not sure if that's the best way, but as of now.. that's how I plan on doing it.

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Kylersk:

Thats basicly what my house had in it was a RV set up.

House was made by a rv refurbisher and looked just like a camper. Inellipro 9100 40 amp converter...House had a (110) outside outelt and three of them inside. Had four 12v receptacles as well. (6) ceiling lights, (2) outside lights, (6) hole lights, Stereo, CB, 12v amplified tv antenna (2)fans, and a hard wired electronics cabinet for the Marcum & camera.

Could plug in the (110) from outside and the (2) deep cycle batteries would trickle charge through the converter at the same time the house was powered up (110). Great camping feature as well as you could use regular 110 accessories if connected to a 110 power outlet at the camp ground, or had a generator smile.gif

But when the house was hooked up to the truck it was all on board charged and never had to even pull out a extension cord to plug in to the converter or (110)at home.

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The house mentioned above actually did have that system on it. Upgrade the plugs on it at a trailer/hitch shop and you are good to go. The plastic male to female connection plugs were not top quality two years ago. They might actually be better now I'm not sure !!

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