Generators!! Yes YOU!
Since when did generators become an esential piece 0f camping equipment? Must I hear a dry campgound buzzing all day long because people and KIDS can’t unplug? Do people come out to camp anym...
Forum Discussion
RambleOnNW wrote:profdant139 wrote:
Ramble, that's a great setup!! Two quick questions (not to hijack the thread). First, which brand of suitcase did you get? Second, with a 160 foot cable run, do you experience any significant voltage drop?
And (to bring it back on topic after my borderline hijack), if I had a setup like yours, I would be more willing to leave my generator home!! ;)
Profdant139 - I have a Renogy 200 watt. Open it is 36” high x 52” long. They have a lighter taller narrower one but it won’t fit in storage. I have a 2nd controller to locate near the batteries that I use for the 160’ run case since the 0.2 ohm estimated wire resistance implies a 2 volt drop. Most of the time I just use 40’ with the built in controller. I like to keep the setup flexible to use to charge the chassis battery or other batteries.
Cold camping we run our gen before 10pm and crank the heat up so the furnace doesn’t kick in for a few hours.
Ramble, your portable solar setup is real close to what I would/will add to our 2005 24ft. E450 Class C!
I'll probably never use a portable with it's controller at the panel. I'd use an MPPT controller at the batteries permanently so that voltage loss between the panel and the coach batteries will be minimum at all times.
The V10 idles so quietly, charges coach batteries so fast via the alternator, and only consumes about 0.7 gal of fuel per hour when idling ... that I've been doing that a lot lately and wondering if I even want to add any solar. Our camping style is usually only short stays at any one place, so the batteries get topped up when driving between locations.
