Solar power system

[Myrtle]

Did you know Myrtle has a fabulous solar power system? The system runs all her house lights, appliances, computer equipment and even an electric blanket. 

Check out the system details and photos in her featured article on Inspired Camping 
http://www.inspiredcamping.com/cool-campsite-essential-solar-energy/ 

Her Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/MyrtleAndMe

Her blog
http://myrtleandme.blogspot.it/?m=0

[John "T" Nordhoff]

 If youre considering Solar for an RV you really need to figure your requirements, lifestyle, how much dry camping etc, and actual use and run a cost benefits analysis in my opinion as its NOT a cheap undertaking.

 Based on my requirements and how we use the RV and how much dry camping we do (a fair amount, at times 6 days straight with no hookups) I get by with 375 Amp Hours of energy storage. Thats three 12 volt Group 31 (if I recall correctly) RV Semi Deep Cycle batteries in paralell and a 50 watt rooftop solar panel. If Im in the sun most of the day and its charging at say 2 to 4 amps (depends on sun and angle)  and during the day theres like NO 12 volt load use (occassional fan) it pretty much keeps up with my night use of lights and exhaust fan etc. And if it doesnt I can run the Onan 4KW genset or the RV engine with its 80 amp alternator maybe 15 to 20 minutes at night to bring the batteries back up. HOWEVER ID BE BETTER OFF WITH 100 WATTS OF ROOFTOP SOLAR that way I might (based on my use) never have to run the Onan or the RV engine

 

 ENERGY STORAGE Okay I have 375 Amp Hours (thats an energy storage number and thats what you need to look at how much energy you need to store) and that pretty well does me okay. I have semi deep cycle RV Marine batteries BUTTTTTTTTTTTTT on my next RV Im gonna use true deep cycle batteries (more like Trojan Golf cart) PLUS INVEST IN (Xantrex isnt cheap) A 3 TO 5 STAGE "SMART" CHARGER SUITABLE FOR DEEP CYCLE BATTERY CHARGE AND MAINTENANCE as such will increase battery life. Most of my busnut buddies use a minumum of 6 up to 10 105 AH Trojan Golf cart batteries but with my requirements I can get by with perhaps 4 BUT I WOULDNT HAVE LESS THEN 4 MIND YOU. Id opt for a true deep cycle (like Trojan or other brands of golf cart batteries) verus the semi deep cycle RV Marine battery (based on my research and experience). BUT AGAIN invest in a 3 to 5 stage SMART Deep Cycle Charger if youre gonna spend all that money on batteries to increase their life.

 

 NOTE on those set ups many are using a smart Inverter/Charger setup versus a converter and charger.

 NOTE those dudes who have 8 or 10 batteries may also have hugeeeeeeeeeeeee inverters as they wanna be able to run a rooftop AC at least some limited time off battery power but thats overboard in my opinion and for my needs. Thats why for my 26 ft Class C and a few days (maybe even 6) days of dry camping 375 up to maybe even 500 Amp Hours of battery energy storage capacity  and a 100 watt solar panel is just fineeeeeeeeeeee.

 

 NOTE if youre hardcore and want to dry camp at Quartzite alllllllllll winter,,,,,,,,,,now youre gonna have to get way more solar panels (maybe 200 to 400 watts WOW) and maybe 500 or even more amp hours of battery stroage buttttttttt for my dry camp needs and maybe a week max at a time dry camping Id recommend 375 (minimum) to 400  (my next RV) amp hours of true deep cycle battery storage and 100 or so watts of Solar plus a SMART 3 to 5 stage Inverter/Charger.

 

 If youre ONLY battery storage fear is the furnace or 12 volt exhaust fan cant run all night, you can probably get by with only two (one can do depends on load if its not too hot or cold) house batteries but I just sleep better with the three I have.

 

 OF COURSE LED LIGHTS SAVE A BUNCHHHHHHHHHHH ON 12 VOLT LIGHT LOADS

 

 SOOOOOOOOOO determine your use and needs,,,,,,,,,,,buy enough battery power (how may amp hours, I like 250 to 400 for my needs) and solar power (100 or more watts),,,,,,,use LED lights and use energy sparingly,,,,,,,,,,,,use 3 to 5 stage smart Inverter/chargers and deep cycle batteries AND LOOK FOR ME IN UTAH OR COLORADO ON BLM LANDS   wooooooooooo hoooooooooooooooo

 

PS its WATER thats the crucial and limiting factor as much or more then energy storage for longer term dry camping. Thats why I modifed my rig to carry 110 gallons of fresh water,,,,,, store 70 gallons of gray water,,,use an electric recirculating RV toilet (big time water saver)

 

 See yall down the road, be safe be smart

 

 Ol John T in Indiana    "Lifes not really that short, its just that youre dead for such a long time"  

[Lakota Wolf]

EXCELLENT Ideas, Battery storage Plus enough water. Hit the nail on the head . Its the things we take for granted at home but easily forget on the road.

[richard nance]

i thought about solar panels but i want to park in the shade if possible.

[Myrtle]

We charge as we drive as well :)

[richard nance]

lol.i never thought of that.great idea.

[John "T" Nordhoff]

 Yep, while driving the house batteries are coupled to the engines alternator (via a solenoid when RV engine is operated) and it, being a 60 to 80 amp unit typically, can replenish BOTH the engine and house batteries in not too much driving time.

 

 UPDATE I since sold that RV described above, and now have a 2001 Class C equipped as follows:

 

-- 460 Amp hrs of total battery energy storage. Thats four heavy duty true deep cycle Golf Cart batteries in series paralell. NOT the quasi deep cycle so called RV/Marine batteries like sold at Wally World I used before.

 

-- A Xantrex Truecharge2 Smart precise computer controlled 40 amp 3 Stage battery charger that charges the batteries when plugged into shore power or the genset (Onan 4KW) is running

 

--200 watts of rooftop solar panels and charge controller/regulator. Depending on the sun and battery state and load, that can pump 15 amps into the house battery bank.  NOTE even if in the shade, my panels might still pump 5 amps. In the shed under my pole barn roof on a bright day they still produce maybe 1/4 to 1/2 amp and keep the batteries at 12.7 volts. Additionally, if I run the genset say 30 minutes (maybe 1.5 qts of gas) per day (coffee maker and microwave and hair dryer etc) and the Xantrex charger is pumping out maybe 30/40 amps all that time, thats 15 to 20 amp hours of energy back into the batteries which almost keeps up with the little light and vent fans and water pump use we consume say from 6 to 10 PM.  

 

 With all that and 110 gal of fresh water on board plus extra holding tanks I installed, the two of us can dry camp maybe 8 days before we need to find a place to take on fresh water and dump our tanks, but by then were pretty itchy to move on anyway. My solar panels and Xantrex Charger and Onan Genset enables us (energy wise) to almost dry camp indefinitely, its again fresh water thats the limiting factor if dry camped and NOT hooked up to any outside utilities.

 

 John T