Forum Discussion
Canadian_Rainbi
Aug 17, 2014Explorer
Yes, do the solar thing. While you are at it, install a decent PSW inverter, 2000 Watts minimum. And take along a 40 Amp or better portable battery charger that you can plug into shore power directly.
Often shorepower at Mexican RV parks is less than adequate, sometime dangerously low, or high, or both, depending on time of day.
The reason for the other charger is that it is unlikely to be damaged by poor line voltage yet will give some charge to the batteries. If you have lots and lots of panels and never camp under trees or other shaded places you could skip the charger, but it is a good backup if you need to charge and can't or don't want to use your generator.
When we are camped with shorepower in Mexico we usually leave the inverter enabled. Our inverter (Xantrex Prosine 2.0) will cut power to the coach if incoming AC is out of spec. Leaving the inverter enabled means the TV doesn't switch off in the middle of something "important" :) We disable the invert function at bedtime and when we are out.
We have often found sites where in shorepower is unusable; open ground or hot/neutral reversed. In these cases the portable battery charger can be put into play if the usage exceeds the solar charging.
Often shorepower at Mexican RV parks is less than adequate, sometime dangerously low, or high, or both, depending on time of day.
The reason for the other charger is that it is unlikely to be damaged by poor line voltage yet will give some charge to the batteries. If you have lots and lots of panels and never camp under trees or other shaded places you could skip the charger, but it is a good backup if you need to charge and can't or don't want to use your generator.
When we are camped with shorepower in Mexico we usually leave the inverter enabled. Our inverter (Xantrex Prosine 2.0) will cut power to the coach if incoming AC is out of spec. Leaving the inverter enabled means the TV doesn't switch off in the middle of something "important" :) We disable the invert function at bedtime and when we are out.
We have often found sites where in shorepower is unusable; open ground or hot/neutral reversed. In these cases the portable battery charger can be put into play if the usage exceeds the solar charging.
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