furyous68 wrote:
I am an RV greenhorn... don't even own one yet. But, we're in the market & the biggest thing I want out of it is to be as self-sufficient as possible. The very first thing I will be doing (besides checking over the engine, trans, rearend, and general health of the coach) is updating the charging system with a solar system.
Self-sufficiency has as much to do with energy sources as it does with energy conservation. You need to estimate your energy budget that you (and, most important and not always predictable - your partner) are comfortable with. Buy your RV and go camping with 2*6V batteries, then you will have a better picture.
Very roughly, in Ca, you are looking at 500-800W solar and at least 300 AH battery bank (in 12V terms).
Doing it "the old way", with 12V bank (comprised of either 12V or 6V batteries), means there are fewer parts to fail than with 24V bank (which again can be made of either 12V or 6V units). Just my 2 cents.
It sounds like your RV is going to be a motorhome, rather than a trailer or 5-er. This is different and not familiar to me, so I'll stop there.
Don Piano has suggested a good read.
