We have a Class C RV with one solar panel. Although we have camped for the past fourteen years, we have usually camped with complete hook-ups, and so, have had no need to really use the solar panel or any type of inverter in order to have power. The few times we have not had hook-ups, we just "roughed it."However, both my husband and I are now retired and are planning to head out West on a three month trip. Some of our stays will be a National and State Parks that have no hook ups. I have just spent three days reading about inverters, but I have some questions.And, we are not worried about running bigger appliances or lights ( I know the solar panels can run the lights, our fridge can run on propane, and I am not worried about the microwave, etc). I am thinking more along the lines of the cell phones, laptops, and maybe the tv/dvd player.So, FINALLY, to my questions:Will the solar panels power the phones, laptops, and tv/dvd ?Do I need an inverter with the solar panel? Do the inverters hook up to the coach batteries?Is a 500 watt inverter big enough?From what I have read-I would get a pure sine wave inverter with an automatic shutdown, overload indicator, a cooling fan, usb ports, power outlets.Anything else?And, what is a good brand inverter?I realize this is a bit wordy.Thank you for any help.

“The few times we have not had hook-ups, we just "roughed it."Dry camping and boondocking are not “ruffing it.” With the right equipment it’s almost the same as plugging in, minus AC. I “ruff” it 95% of the time and want for nothing. One solar panel capable of producing how many watts? Do you have a charge controller? If so what are it’s specifications? How many house batteries? What type? How many amp hours? We will get to inverters...However. your goal...the recharging of batteries for cell phones, laptops and TV...is very doable. I do!

You only need an inverter to run AC (115 volt) stuff. For phones and laptops, chargers which plug into 12 V (the common "cigar" DC outlets) are readily available and are more efficient than using an inverter and AC charger. Most RVs have lighting (and other basic infrastructure like water and heat) which uses 12 V.There are TVs which run on AC, and there are TVs which run on 12 V DC, so it's hard to say what you have/need. A 500 W inverter should be way more than enough to run any modern TV. If you're going to buy an inverter, I strongly recommend you get a "pure sine wave" one. Their output is similar to that from the outlet at home. Cheaper ones are hit-or-miss whether they'll work with electronic devices.

My 28 inch Jenson HD LED TV uses 40 watts...and “watts is watts.” 0.34 amps at 120 volts and 3.40 amps at 12 volts. You need an hour reading basic RV electrical facts. Then ask, senior member.

Probably 150 to 300 watt inverter is plenty. Inverter runs off the battery. Solar charges the battery. Driving should also charge the battery and running the generator will(if you have one).How many watts is the solar panel? Need 100 to 300 watts depending on use. LED lights would also be a big help on conservation. If you have a 12v connector get a USB adapter for the phones.I recommend at least two batteries for off-grid camping.I have and recommend a GoPower 300w sine wave inverter. Very low idle draw and a provision for a remote switch if mounted out of the way. A small transfer switch would allow connecting to the existing outlets.http://www.boatandrvaccessories.com/products/go-power-gp-sw300-12-inverter

100 watts of solar may produce about 500 watt hours per day. Add up what the devices use. If it is more--then more solar wattage would be useful.256 watts was more than enough when I was part time. But now that I full time it is not even close to what I use per day.

Iverter and Solar Power Questions:Help Appreciated

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cruising_spud
Explorer II
Feb 09, 2018
Again, thanks for the input. Once the weather warms up a bit (it's about 22 degrees right now), I will head out to the rv and start plugging adapters in.

Also, thanks for the names of quality inverters.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Feb 09, 2018
As to purchasing an inverter Morningstar makes a wonderful 300 watt unit with no fan. It, instead, uses a large heat sink. That means it uses less energy than units with a fan.

Go Power and Samlex make quality inverters in that wattage range, but they do have fans.
mike-s
Explorer
Feb 09, 2018
cruising spud wrote:
We do have phone adapters for the car. If the rv is not running, and we plug the adapters into the 12v outlet, the phones will still charge?
Ask yourself that question - it's easy to try and see what happens. Don't assume all of the outlets are the same - ones on the dash may switch with the ignition, ones in the "house" are probably on all the time.
cruising_spud
Explorer II
Feb 09, 2018
Thank you everyone for the responses.

A few more questions-

We do have phone adapters for the car. If the rv is not running, and we plug the adapters into the 12v outlet, the phones will still charge? And, we can just buy a similar adapter for the laptops and they will charge, too? Even without the rv running?

And, I will need to check the television, but honestly, with the laptops, the tv can go by the wayside for a few weeks.

We do have a generator, and I will check the wattage of our solar panel later today.

And, thanks for the heads up to go with a pure sine wave-that's what I was leaning towards, due to the laptops. And, the GoPower one looks great.

Again, appreciate the input.
kerrlakeRoo
Explorer
Feb 09, 2018
On your inverter, as others have said 500 should work for most needs, if you want a cushion, go to 750.
On the solar, since you are in a C I'll presume with a genny, you can readily bump up your batteries with an hour on the genny, but to top off the batteries takes hours, which is what the solar does best. If you already have one panel look into its size and the controllers info. One beautiful thing about solar is that you can add to it. If your controller can handle 20 amps, you can add just another 100 watt panel and not have to change anything else. Later if you need more, consider future upgrades as well and when you buy controllers, wiring etc, leave yourself some flexibility.
Nobody can flatly tell you what you need, unless you want to buy the biggest system possible.
It will take you monitoring your usage a few times to get comfortable with matching needs to equipment and methods.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Feb 09, 2018
100 watts of solar may produce about 500 watt hours per day. Add up what the devices use. If it is more--then more solar wattage would be useful.

256 watts was more than enough when I was part time. But now that I full time it is not even close to what I use per day.
time2roll
Nomad
Feb 09, 2018
Probably 150 to 300 watt inverter is plenty. Inverter runs off the battery. Solar charges the battery. Driving should also charge the battery and running the generator will(if you have one).

How many watts is the solar panel? Need 100 to 300 watts depending on use. LED lights would also be a big help on conservation. If you have a 12v connector get a USB adapter for the phones.

I recommend at least two batteries for off-grid camping.

I have and recommend a GoPower 300w sine wave inverter. Very low idle draw and a provision for a remote switch if mounted out of the way. A small transfer switch would allow connecting to the existing outlets.
http://www.boatandrvaccessories.com/products/go-power-gp-sw300-12-inverter
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Feb 09, 2018
My 28 inch Jenson HD LED TV uses 40 watts...and “watts is watts.” 0.34 amps at 120 volts and 3.40 amps at 12 volts. You need an hour reading basic RV electrical facts. Then ask, senior member.
mike-s
Explorer
Feb 09, 2018
You only need an inverter to run AC (115 volt) stuff. For phones and laptops, chargers which plug into 12 V (the common "cigar" DC outlets) are readily available and are more efficient than using an inverter and AC charger. Most RVs have lighting (and other basic infrastructure like water and heat) which uses 12 V.

There are TVs which run on AC, and there are TVs which run on 12 V DC, so it's hard to say what you have/need. A 500 W inverter should be way more than enough to run any modern TV. If you're going to buy an inverter, I strongly recommend you get a "pure sine wave" one. Their output is similar to that from the outlet at home. Cheaper ones are hit-or-miss whether they'll work with electronic devices.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Feb 09, 2018
“The few times we have not had hook-ups, we just "roughed it."

Dry camping and boondocking are not “ruffing it.” With the right equipment it’s almost the same as plugging in, minus AC. I “ruff” it 95% of the time and want for nothing.

One solar panel capable of producing how many watts?
Do you have a charge controller? If so what are it’s specifications?
How many house batteries? What type? How many amp hours?
We will get to inverters...

However. your goal...the recharging of batteries for cell phones, laptops and TV...is very doable. I do!

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Iverter and Solar Power Questions:Help Appreciated

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