battery powered lighting

[HsPaap72]

so i need two golf cart batteries

2 golf cart batteries are technically better than a 12 volt marine/rv battery. Mainly because the lead plates are thicker and can withstand deep discharge cycles better. I recommend golf cart batteries over a marine/rv battery because of that.

If the amount of stored energy is not large, as in just LED lights to be powered, then a single 12 volt marine/rv battery could be a satisfactory choice. However, if two 12 volt batteries are used to increase the stored energy, it makes much more sense to go with golf cart batteries.

is the fuse block necessary

ALWAYS have a main fuse or breaker in the + line as close to the battery + terminal as possible. That is the safety device in case of a catastrophic failure of some sort... dead short in a wire... As for a fuse block to serve many circuits... that can be handy if there is ever a failure in some device. If only one fuse protects all the circuits in the event of a failure then everything goes off at once. That can make troubleshooting more difficult.

i don't have a solar set up, what alternatives are there to charging a battery?

Battery charger powered by 120 VAC home or campground power or a portable generator (Honda EU, etc.)

Something like a PD 4045 combines the AC and DC circuit protection and a multi stage battery charger. Iota engineering makes some good quality stand alone battery chargers.


LIght color is a matter or personal choice. I don't like the yellow light of a traditional incandescent for example.

Right on Don! i think most of this can be handled at a decent lighting store in or around Portland, OR area too. solar is off the table for me even on a small scale because i wont be getting much sun on mt hood i dont imagine. although we are still waiting on snow, it could very well be blue bird days all winter. this would result in me not living out of the trailer.

i have been considering a generator just to have as a backup/safety/investment piece. so that might then solve my charging situation.

i do have good experience with the blue harbor freight led punch lights, they withstood the baja 500&1000 in the trophy truck and pit camps, i think they would work good all winter in a trailer as well.

[Rainier70]

Leds don't take much battery power so what little is used could be made up by solar (even in cloud cover) or you could charge from your tow vehicle. The small battery lights from Harbor Freight work great too. Lots of good suggestions have been given already.

Whatever you decide please DON'T use Coleman lanterns or even candles in a cargo trailer or other small enclosed space. Carbon Monoxide is a cumulative poison. Your blood cells pick it up and don't release it until they die and are replaced. A little once in awhile, and it might not kill you, but a little everyday could be VERY bad news.

And since you have a wood stove, get a carbon monoxide detector. Remember that a ct is a very small area even with ventilation. Stay safe!

[HsPaap72]

Leds don't take much battery power so what little is used could be made up by solar (even in cloud cover) or you could charge from your tow vehicle. The small battery lights from Harbor Freight work great too. Lots of good suggestions have been given already.

Whatever you decide please DON'T use Coleman lanterns or even candles in a cargo trailer or other small enclosed space. Carbon Monoxide is a cumulative poison. Your blood cells pick it up and don't release it until they die and are replaced. A little once in awhile, and it might not kill you, but a little everyday could be VERY bad news.

And since you have a wood stove, get a carbon monoxide detector. Remember that a ct is a very small area even with ventilation. Stay safe!

To note on the fire issues. Thank you!
I have a CM detector mounted near the front of trailer but not super close to stove. Found out it works too.
It has not gone off yet when I've been burning a fire in here yet. So for so good.
I will be cooking with a Colman suitcase stove running off green cylinders.

Similar note, what's the best wood to burn in a potbelly/cast iron stove? Any ideas? I'm in the PNW... Fir, oak....???

[HsPaap72]

Leds don't take much battery power so what little is used could be made up by solar (even in cloud cover) or you could charge from your tow vehicle. The small battery lights from Harbor Freight work great too. Lots of good suggestions have been given already.

Whatever you decide please DON'T use Coleman lanterns or even candles in a cargo trailer or other small enclosed space. Carbon Monoxide is a cumulative poison. Your blood cells pick it up and don't release it until they die and are replaced. A little once in awhile, and it might not kill you, but a little everyday could be VERY bad news.

And since you have a wood stove, get a carbon monoxide detector. Remember that a ct is a very small area even with ventilation. Stay safe!

To note on the fire issues. Thank you!
I have a CM detector mounted near the front of trailer but not super close to stove. Found out it works too.
It has not gone off yet when I've been burning a fire in here yet. So for so good.
I will be cooking with a Colman suitcase stove running off green cylinders.

Similar note, what's the best wood to burn in a potbelly/cast iron stove? Any ideas? I'm in the PNW... Fir, oak....???

[MtnDon]

...what's the best wood to burn in a potbelly/cast iron stove? Any ideas? I'm in the PNW... Fir, oak....???

The best wood is well seasoned dry wood. Once wood is dry it contains about the same number of BTU's per pound.

[HsPaap72]

...what's the best wood to burn in a potbelly/cast iron stove? Any ideas? I'm in the PNW... Fir, oak....???

The best wood is well seasoned dry wood. Once wood is dry it contains about the same number of BTU's per pound.

Thanks
Dryer the better. And some sap!

[hankaye]

HsPaap72,Howdy;

...what's the best wood to burn in a potbelly/cast iron stove? Any ideas? I'm in the PNW... Fir, oak....???

The best wood is well seasoned dry wood. Once wood is dry it contains about the same number of BTU's per pound.

Thanks
Dryer the better. And some sap!

Stay away from the sappy woods, they create creosote which when it's allowed to build-up in the
chimney creates chimney fires. Stick to the hard woods. Here's a nifty chart of whats what.
http://forestry.usu.edu/htm/forest-prod ... od-heating
Wood was my primary heat source when I lived in Ohio, after all I had 36 acres of it. Now is time to
gather next Winter's heat ... One thing to look for is the coals column those that are marked "Excellent"
are the best to use, it's the coals that truly make the heat you want.
Here's another link, one of the best for anything related to wood burning for heat;
http://www.woodheat.org/index.php


hank

[HsPaap72]

Thanks hank!! I'll do some reading on this tonight.

HsPaap72,Howdy;

...what's the best wood to burn in a potbelly/cast iron stove? Any ideas? I'm in the PNW... Fir, oak....???

The best wood is well seasoned dry wood. Once wood is dry it contains about the same number of BTU's per pound.

Thanks
Dryer the better. And some sap!

Stay away from the sappy woods, they create creosote which when it's allowed to build-up in the
chimney creates chimney fires. Stick to the hard woods. Here's a nifty chart of whats what.
http://forestry.usu.edu/htm/forest-prod ... od-heating
Wood was my primary heat source when I lived in Ohio, after all I had 36 acres of it. Now is time to
gather next Winter's heat ... One thing to look for is the coals column those that are marked "Excellent"
are the best to use, it's the coals that truly make the heat you want.
Here's another link, one of the best for anything related to wood burning for heat;
http://www.woodheat.org/index.php


hank

[Rainier70]

If you are in the PNW, then the choices are more limited. Look for good DRY wood. Stay away from cottonwood or cedar except for kindling. Fir and hemlock are okay, but the harder woods such as alder, maple, or fruit woods are better. If you are close to an orchard, you might be able to get pruned limbs to cut up and season.

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

if you aren't too over the top

.

Jerry has too much solar?

It's only because the sun has too much light.

[Rchr]

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