We are currently looking into purchasing 3 Marine/RV batteries and an inverter for our tailgate in Spence this year. We wanna be able to run the TV/dish set up for a long time...pretty much from the time college gameday comes on until our game is over. This could be 16 hours in some cases. I have been looking up batteries online and have been trying to make sense of the specs and different ratings that are out there for each battery but am having a little trouble trying to determine which batteries last the longest. Anyone have a recommendation on a deep cycle battery that I can get a ton of amps out of so I might be able to run 3 of these things for 16 hours?

We are obviously new to this and still trying to sort this stuff out but here are a couple batteries I found that I though could possibly suit my needs:

http://www.interstatebatteries.com/cs_eStore/Products/RT/PID-SRM-4D(Commercial).aspx?dsNavigation=Ntk%7eSearchGroup%7cSRM%2f-4D%7c3%7c%2cNy%7eTrue%2cNtpc%7eDisabled%2cNs%7eproduct+Type%7c101%7c1%7c&Title=Marine+R%2fV+-+Int+Marine%2fRV+12M+Free+-+1314+CCA

http://shop.optimabatteries.com/products/productdetail/Optima+Batteries+8016-103+D34M+BlueTop+Marine+Boat+Deep+Cycle+Starting/part_number=D34M/1737.0.1.1.54219.54060.0.0.0?pp=8&


Not sure if this is enough or overkill but I appreciate any recommendation and additional guidance. TIA

You need to look at the amp-hour rating for a deep cycle application. Take a look at the following link or google it, they can do a much better job explaining then I can. http://www.dcbattery.com/faq.html

Additionally you're going to need to figure out how much the inverter is going to pull for what you are going to run.

Honestly I'd start with 2-3 good deep cycle batteries of the same brand and rating. Then see how long it lasts the first game. If you need another battery get one before the next game.

Also make sure you buy the correct kind of charger for deep cycle batteries and make sure all the batteries are charged. Don't mix half charged and full charged batteries.

Agree with last poster. Just like a golf cart. All the batteries need to be the same size and all must be fully charged before use. Sam's has energizer golf cart batteries pretty cheap with a warranty.

I may be wrong on these calcs, so someone correct me if I am as I haven't done this in a while.

First you need to determine your load.

Say you are going to draw 5A of 120VAC for your TV and Satellite. Your load is 600W

In 12VDC, your load is 50A (600W/12VDC)

50A * 16 Hours = 800AH

Ideally you would be running your TV & Satellite in 12DC without inverting because you have a loss due to the inefficincy of the inverter. Also, you can research this, but I think you are not supposed to run deep cycle batteries down past 50% or I think I have even read on golf cart batteries that you can damage them by running them down past 8%.

So, say you need 800 A of 12VDC x 2 (to not run batters all the way down) = 1600 A

I would probably be more conservative and say 2000A.

Now you have to deal with the inefficincy of the inverter. Say it is 75% efficient. 2000A x 1.25 = 2500A so you would need 2 of the Interstate batteries or 4 of the optima in parrallel

That thing is going to be heavy

Buy a generator. Go to www.coloradostandby.com talk to Larry he is an old friend of mine. It would be hard to beat his prices. Tell him that Doug told you about his website.

How many Amps does it take to run a TV and Satelite?

Reason I ask is, wouldnt a generator work better?

Is it the cost you are worried about?



^beat me to it. I have a 27 amp invertor Gen that works great, its a Yahama very very quiet. Still curious on how many amps it takes.

[This message has been edited by Jrod05 (edited 8/21/2012 9:19a).]

The first two years that we tailgated we used 2 750CCA batteries out of a Ford Truck. We could run the TV and satellite receiver continually for most of the game weekends. The only time we ran into trouble was when someone wanted to stay at the tailgate and watch the game on TV. We then started using 3 batteries and they would run the set-up all day long.

2.Generators are prohibited in Spence Park. Marine batteries and inverters may be used to power electrical appliances

http://tailgating.tamu.edu/siteRules.html

You don't want or need to look at cold cranking amps. That is for how much current the battery can supply fast, like starting your car. A deep cycle is built different to handle long low amp draws and the ability to be discharged/charged many times.

I'm not sure I'd go with optima's any more. I had a red and yellow top from 1998 that lasted almost 10 years, but they got bought out or changed manufactures some time in the mid 2000's. I've read they aren't the sealed battery to go with anymore.

You can do the calculations and get close, but in the end I'd just start with three deep cycle batteries in parallel. My friends have tailgated at spence for a while and have used this. I'll call one of them and ask how long the setup lasts.

3 deep cycle batteries would last you a couple of days with just a receiver and an LCD type TV on it. Supreme overkill. You might be able to get away with one 27 size battery, and two 24 size batteries will last all day and well into the night at worst, if fully charged.

You can probably search up the current draw on the TV online, but if it is a flat panel, it won't be much unless it is very large. The recievers are negligible.

We once watched then entire A&M vs Arkansas from the beach on an old LCD TV I had with a dish setup using a cheap ass POS inefficienct 400W inverter and a single old used up size 24 battery I got out of my boat with about 3/4 charge on it, and had plenty of juice left when the post game was over.

[This message has been edited by MouthBQ98 (edited 8/21/2012 10:00a).]

Ok you're right, I didn't realized LCD's only take like 100 watts and plasma's ~300.

The past couple of years we've used 2 group 27 batteries to power our receiver, 26" LCD, and computer speakers. With 2 batteries, we were able to get 11 hours or so.

We're adding a 2nd tv this year, so we got at 3rd battery. I'd say just get 2 group 27 batteries and see how that works for you and then add another if needed from there.

What's the cost for one of these setups?

Depending on your budget, you may also consider investing in a Lithium Deep Cycle battery. A single size 27 battery has 800AH which is enough for a 16hr day and they weigh less than 30lbs. Charging levels aren't an issue either as you can drain them 100% and you get a few thousand recharge cycles. They are getting pretty popular with tournament fishermen who run trolling motors all day. It'll set you back about the same cost as a quiet generator, but, it may be worth it not to have to haul 3 heavy batteries around.

You're looking at $60ish dollars per battery not including your wiring and connectors, which will probably be another $30-50. You can also spend a lot more on batteries depending on brand and where you buy them.

$60 is if you're buying bottom of the line deep cycles. You buy the Batteries Plus deep cycle you're looking at $130/battery or thereabouts.

Best place I have found to buy Interstate batteries is Northern Tool. You can usually find a $20 off coupon online as well. I want say that I paid right at $110 each for my trolling motor batteries

I have (3) Marine batteries, 1500w inverter, and the cables to connect the batteries that I am trying to sell. I used this set up for a 46" lcd TV and dish tailgater set up last year in Spence Park.

How much? Interested.

consider contacting this guy. he's advertised in classifieds the last couple of years.

http://www.texasgamedayrigs.com/

quote:

---

How much? Interested.

---

I am looking to get $200 for everything. You can email at username @yahoo.com and I can send you some pictures.