Cooling Issues in my stealth camper

Big Katuna wrote:
So why so much solar?

Are you planning on running the AC on batteries?

I'm toying with that idea, yes. Fridgidaire (sp?) makes a little 5000 btu what draws only 480ish watts when running. If it's just the fan, it's considerably less. The idea would be to run the generator when I cook, etc, for 3-4 couple of hours a nite and use that to also top the batteries off... then see if I can skate by through the night without the generator. That will take 6 12 volt 200 amp batteries, which isn't cheap, but it sure would be darn convenient.

At this point, it's just a hypothetical. I did, however, get an mppt controller and I can add up to 4 more panels. So the key to this would be to get the space small enough and well enough insulated to need very little AC, relatively speaking.

Psychologically, staying in a very small space doesn't bother me at all. I'll have a full size bed that's slightly shortened but plenty big enough for me, with a 32 inch TV that swings out from the wall. If it's cool inside and I can take a bath and cook in the microwave, it's good enough for me. I am an expert in microwave cooking, by the way, and do that pretty exclusively at home. I'm also buying a small chest freezer and converting it to a refrigerator.

As I've been planning out the space here, I can see that there's no way I can have room for a permanent shower, so I am planning to make a shower I can take out and hang from hooks on the ceiling, and then place back under the bed when done. I'm leaving a big enough open area for a folding table with 3 chairs, so I can study and do computer work - and entertain like minded friends.


And of course, I'll have a small sink with water and a workspace for my "kitchen". For extra storage space, the back of my Toyota 4 Runner should more than suffice. Fun times ahead!