Wheel house 110v and12v?

[Smellson]

Just picked up a new wheel house and I was wondering how everyone goes about keeping there batteries charged for the 12 volt components...regular battery charger? Also, how long can I expect to be able power a furnace and a couple twelve volt lights off of one 12 volt deep cycle?

Thanks

[mshs1]

I have the same questions. What kind of battery charging system? Where to get it??

[love to hunt]

I use a charger/converter like the ones sold at Fish House Supply http://www.fishhousesupply.com/12vlights.htm . These units will charge the batteries and run everything in your house at the same time. You can also purchase a tow and charge from them which will charge the batteries from a running vehicle.

As far as battery duration, it totally depends on the quality and size of your battery. I would say you may get a solid 24 hours from 1 very good heavy duty deep cycle. I run 2, 100 amp hr, heavy duty, Power Pro batteries and get almost 2 days, less if it is really cold, worth of run time. You may want to add a second battery hooked up in parallel for a longer run time. You would be wise to run it in the driveway at home for a test, to reveal all the surprises before heading out on the ice for a trip.

A week ago I purchased a small 850 watt generator from Menards and the plan is to run it during the day to charge everything up, and fish quite (on batteries) at night. The generator is 60 decibels (the same as normal conversation) 39 lbs and cost about $130.00. It seems to run and start good so we will see. My biggest concern is keeping the noise to a minimum.

I hope this helps and good luck.

[cold one sd]

I can't answer your question about powering your furnace because I have an Empire direct vent and I use computer fans to move the air. I bought a marine on board charger and mounted it to a plywood backboard in the storage area under my bunk. The charger is a Pro Sport 6 amp and I got it on hsolist for less than half price. Whenever I am hooked up to 110v I am charging my batteries. I leave it plugged in when it is in my driveway. I leave my generator in the topper on my pickup and plug the ice shack in during the evening long enough to give my batteries a charge. Works well for me.

[jigginjim]

has anyone else thought of using solar panels for charging batteries during the day?

[mshs1]

Thank You for the advice I love this forum

[Bothun]

A friend of mine uses a solar panel to charge his batteries. It will charge a deep cycle in about 20 hours.

[minnbowhunter]

My battery is under the cabinet in the front of the house and runs all the 12 volt-mostly just lights and a cigarette lighter( to charge the cell phone) I built a shelf above the battery and mounted the battery charger that is hooked up all the time to the battery. My gen. sits in the back of the truck. I uesd one of the outside electrical outlets with the little door on it to pluge the gen. to the house.

Ran 110v also in the house to power tv and to charge the sonar and all the other stuff. My furnace is a forced air unit. I turn the gen off when everything is charged and the battery will power the lights (not led) and the funace all night. I have never pushed to see how long it will go but the ligts are still nice and bright in the morning and I know I have waited till noon to start the gen.1000watt honda is very quiet.

[fishinalot]

I have a Empire furnace so I do not have a battery issue.

But if I had a forced air furnace, I would go with a converter like Love To Hunt did.

As far as my battery goes... I like the NAPA Stowaways!!

[matt_bewley]

well i have a 20 ft house with 4 lights 3 of them 25 watt and one exterior porch light, a three outlet cig plug, a cd player, and a 12v to 120v inverter and it seems to run about a full weekend without charging but i bring mine home and charge it if i dont bring my generator with. But with the generator what i did is also install a 120v to 12v power inverter that runs off of the generator and that powers everything and the extra power that the inverter puts out it backfeeds to the battery to charge it and it takes about 3 or 4 hours with the generator running and it is fully charged again and you can run the battery for a few more days.