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Old 02-03-2019, 04:02 PM   #21
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There is a basic Dometic kit which is likely a capacitor and then there is the Dometic SmartStart and MicroAir Easystart. The later two are quite expensive and appear from reviews to be quite effective. The stock AC is not going to have either of these. This thread might be worth reading.

http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f9...-ac-10581.html
Actually, the current AC used by Escape does have the Smart Start technology built in. You can hear it ramp up as it runs through the cycles. Not sure when they started using it, but I didn't have it on my 2011, and have it on the 2017.
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Old 02-03-2019, 04:03 PM   #22
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and then you have to remember to charge both batteries separately?

thanks, but I'll stick with the GC batts in series.

you do not want to run 12V batts in parallel unless they are hard wired with short heavy gauge cables since new and always charged/discharged together, otherwise, the stronger battery will discharge into the weaker one.
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Old 02-03-2019, 05:11 PM   #23
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Actually, the current AC used by Escape does have the Smart Start technology built in. You can hear it ramp up as it runs through the cycles. Not sure when they started using it, but I didn't have it on my 2011, and have it on the 2017.

Must have made a change then as ours does not have it.I do have an oversized starting capacitor up there almost a hard start type. But no fancy electronic box or board for the soft start kit. I was looking awhile back to see if I have room for one of the kits and I do. By ramp up are you referring to the 2 speeds it seems to have while running?
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Old 02-03-2019, 05:32 PM   #24
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Keeping it simple

Where is Senaca?
For me maintaining a Honda 2200 generator adds another layer of complexity to camping. That tiny carburetor clogs really easy when not used especially using our taxpayer brewed corn gasoline. I bought a Honda 2000 six years ago about the time I discovered Solar . I used the generator once when I did something dumb that discharged the trailer battery and ever since have been using solar. So go south into the heat in winter and go north or the mountains in the summer.
The dual 6 volt batteries and solar is what I consider Simple.
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Old 02-03-2019, 06:23 PM   #25
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Thank you for all the replies. Very helpful. FWIW, my build sheet was due in December and my completion date is next month--with a late May pickup and orientation--so I'm more trying to understand how the basics of RV electrical systems than make any purchase decisions. I appreciate the advantages of solar, battery upgrades and a generator for extended boondocking, I'm simply unsure, at this point, whether our style of camping will require any of them. So I decided to wait and in the meantime keep it simple.

Then the possibility of picking up a 2000 watt generator for around US$200 came up. Hence my questions.

From reading this thread, and starting "The 12 volt Side of Life" article, I have another question--does anyone know if the converter that ETI currently installs includes a three stage charger component, or not? The article states: "Many better inverters include a 3 stage battery charger as part of the unit."

Thanks.
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Old 02-03-2019, 07:09 PM   #26
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From reading this thread, and starting "The 12 volt Side of Life" article, I have another question--does anyone know if the converter that ETI currently installs includes a three stage charger component, or not? The article states: "Many better inverters include a 3 stage battery charger as part of the unit."
The converter-charger is in the WFCO 8955 Power Center. It is three stage charger (bulk, absorption, and float stages).

The quote mentioned charging as a function within an inverter. Escape does not use that style of inverter; all trailers get the WFCO converter-charger, and there is a separate and optional inverter. If you get the inverter, that doesn't affect charging at all, which is still done by the WFCO.
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Old 02-03-2019, 07:15 PM   #27
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Any 2000 watt generator for $200 would be junk, too loud, too heavy and probably dirty electricity. If you did buy one, it should be an inverter type set up , Honda seems to be the popular. But with solar, you would only need an genie for a/c unless you get hookups.
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Old 02-03-2019, 09:39 PM   #28
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and then you have to remember to charge both batteries separately?

That's the beauty of this set up. If one battery is down I can quickly remove it, put it in the back of my TV and hook it up to trailer plug on the TV. And when I drive off to do some sightseeing lo and behold when I get back to the campsite I have a fully charged battery.



Ya gotta love it.
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Old 02-03-2019, 10:02 PM   #29
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That's the beauty of this set up. If one battery is down I can quickly remove it, put it in the back of my TV and hook it up to trailer plug on the TV. And when I drive off to do some sightseeing lo and behold when I get back to the campsite I have a fully charged battery.
Ya gotta love it.
Keep in mind that the smarts of many new vehicles do not supply power to the rear trailer connector unit certain criteria are established...like trailer lights having to being plugged in.
Also many new vehicles have very thin wire to the trailer connector and don’t pass the same amount of current as in the old days. There are fixes for the thin charging wire on the internet for various vehicles.
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Old 02-04-2019, 06:17 AM   #30
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I would agree on the $200 generator, buyer beware. Lots of companies now making quieter generators so I would do your research before you buy one. Also I would consider a dual fuel, that will run off gas and propane. I have the Champion 3100 watt that I bought when we had our Casita, we used it a few times when we tailgated but it is not dual fuel because at the time I bought it did not know there was an option for that.
The Escape we bought does not have the solar or dual batteries and that is one of two things I wish it had, other being outside shower.

Enjoy the journey.

Steve
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Old 02-04-2019, 06:32 AM   #31
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Originally Posted by sunrisetrucker View Post
That's the beauty of this set up. If one battery is down I can quickly remove it, put it in the back of my TV and hook it up to trailer plug on the TV. And when I drive off to do some sightseeing lo and behold when I get back to the campsite I have a fully charged battery.



Ya gotta love it.
Unless it is the day of departure and you will be using 12v/propane for your refer.....
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Old 02-04-2019, 11:38 AM   #32
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Senaca,
The 12 Volt Side of Life is a good read, but an older article. Another interesting read is The RV Battery Charging Puzzle by Handymen Bob. I like both articles and printed them both out.
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Old 02-05-2019, 08:49 AM   #33
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Thanks for the recommendation on the second article. I'll read it. The first article was extremely helpful, for the basic orientation, and for some of the more general observations. My takeaway--getting a handle on your personal pattern of electricity consumption and your personal style of camping have to be the drivers of making sensible choices. Until you've done the first and know the second, you're flying blind.

BTW, you guys are making unwarranted assumptions about the quality of a $200 generator. I don't want to pick a fight, and, sure, if you buy a new Golden Lotus (or whatever) off ebay (bilingual instructions--Mongolian and Mandarin) you'd be right. But if you've got a neighbor who's hired somebody to conduct a garage sale and that somebody has told him he'll be lucky to get 40 cents on the dollar, max before the sales guy's cut, for stuff that's new in the box with the price tag still on it, it's not that hard to do.
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Old 02-05-2019, 11:36 AM   #34
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BTW, you guys are making unwarranted assumptions about the quality of a $200 generator. I don't want to pick a fight, and, sure, if you buy a new Golden Lotus (or whatever) off ebay (bilingual instructions--Mongolian and Mandarin) you'd be right. But if you've got a neighbor who's hired somebody to conduct a garage sale and that somebody has told him he'll be lucky to get 40 cents on the dollar, max before the sales guy's cut, for stuff that's new in the box with the price tag still on it, it's not that hard to do.
Nothing wrong with buying a used generator if you can save a lot, just make sure it’s an inverter style. I think if I had it all to do over I would have waited on a generator since I have yet to really NEED it.
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Old 02-05-2019, 12:08 PM   #35
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Nothing wrong with buying a used generator if you can save a lot, just make sure it’s an inverter style. I think if I had it all to do over I would have waited on a generator since I have yet to really NEED it.
Same here.
I bought a used one off Craigs List but have yet to find a use for it.
With our new Escape, the plan is to leave it home.

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