Who has Solar/ what controller/panels?

I have 6 100 watt mono panels with a 40 MPPT controller and 6 AGM 6 volt batteries. It will charge 35-40 amps with bright sun and low batteries. The controller has a 3 stage charge. This controller is 97% efficient not 60% like the cheap ones.

Not sure if you've done it yet, but I'd run a switch to your converter rather than adding a breaker. Breakers are breakers, not on/off switches, and shouldn't be used in this fashion.

Many inverters have remote switches or like my Tripp-lite, a setting that will turn it off when there is no call for power. Last year we left the small inverter on 24/7 and turned the big one on as needed. This year the idle draw of the big one is a drop in the bucket compared to the systems so we leave it on 24/7.

1000w toaster oven is a huge draw. Not only in the fact that it is 1000w plus the losses to the inverter, but also the fact that they tend to need to run a considerable amount of time if used as a oven. A microwave can use more but for not nearly as long, I think the longest we have run our 900w unit pulling 1375w is 12 minutes. That was with 750w of solar and our big bank. Last year we had 490w and 250 Ah and was limited to 10 minutes before the bank hit 12.0v under load.

For your regular oven I have heard pizza stones, unglazed tiles or air bake cookie sheets help even out the RV ovens. I have found that if I over pre-heat and then turn it down when I put the food in that it helps. I also have two solar ovens that we use when it is sunny.

I think solar would be a good plan as long as you don't plan on camping in the shade. You would need a portable on a long leash in that case. ( I like 50 foot) Aside from the toaster oven I would think two 100w panels or even better a single 24v panel would handle those two batteries and run the fan while they are in float. I bet you have a better resting voltage in the morning too.

So you have a good start on designing your system. You are getting a grasp on your needs, know what your batteries are and will have to work around them for the rest of the system. You still need to add in roof space, weather conditions and budget. They all interact with each other and every choice in one area is a limitation in another.

I will say that if you are getting your batteries up to 100% daily and taking them to 12.1v, you don't have much capacity to handle a cloudy day. You could use the truck mod to do some bulk charging early and let the solar do the rest.

lawrosa wrote:

Right know I am using 100 watt plug in invertors for cig lighter outlets in camper. I have two. They serve me well so far. Im not sure what they draw just being plugged in..

http://www.carid.com/stanley/120-watt-power-inverter-mpn-pca120.html



Well so far I run an LED tv. about 25 watts

Summer with no A/C I have been running a 20" box fan at night only to sleep. Try not to hang in camper during day as its too hot. 90 F..LOL This fan on low runs 25 watts also.


So thats minimum 50 watts or 4.6 amps.

I make coffee with a perculator. My shore power coffee pot is 900 watts I think. I dont need to use this.

I tried to cook in the oven but things dont cook well. Burnt edges or undercooked in the middle.

My toaster oven is 1000 watts. but not sure if I should attempt to run it.

I have two 12 volt 75 AH batterys..

I been charging them back up with my truck mod I made off the alternator. I do this daily as by morning my batterys are about 12.1 volts.

See here..

http://forums.woodalls.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28265300/srt/pd/pging/1/page/4.cfm

This is why im looking at solar. But also if I get an invertor to power outlets in my RV im sure that invertor will use amps while im sleeping. Unless I go out in the storage department to turn it off..

It sounds like you may only need a 300 or 400 Watt inverter. There are inverters with remote on/off switches to reduce power consumption by the inverter just "standing by".

You will probably want to get a "Pure Sine Wave" (PSW) inverter. They are a bit more expensive than Modified Sine Wave (MSW) inverters. MSW inverters can cause problems for some devices. That is a whole 'nother topic of discussion on this forum.

Samlex PSW 600 Watt Inverter with optional remote on/off switch

As far as the propane oven two suggestions:
1. if you buy a pizza stone and put it on the bottom of the oven it should help a lot with smoothing out the heat and stop burning the edges of your food.
2. get "air bake" pans. they have 2 layers with air between them and folks in the RV.net cooking forum swear by them.

Air Bake Pan on Amazon

Ed

Yes, think about what you will want to run with your inverter. Television? charge phones? Electric coffee maker? LED lights? Incandescent lights?

When you tell us what you would like to run with it, we can give you better advice on the inverter size you should be looking at.

Right know I am using 100 watt plug in invertors for cig lighter outlets in camper. I have two. They serve me well so far. Im not sure what they draw just being plugged in..

http://www.carid.com/stanley/120-watt-power-inverter-mpn-pca120.html



Well so far I run an LED tv. about 25 watts

Summer with no A/C I have been running a 20" box fan at night only to sleep. Try not to hang in camper during day as its too hot. 90 F..LOL This fan on low runs 25 watts also.


So thats minimum 50 watts or 4.6 amps.

I make coffee with a perculator. My shore power coffee pot is 900 watts I think. I dont need to use this.

I tried to cook in the oven but things dont cook well. Burnt edges or undercooked in the middle.

My toaster oven is 1000 watts. but not sure if I should attempt to run it.

I have two 12 volt 75 AH batterys..

I been charging them back up with my truck mod I made off the alternator. I do this daily as by morning my batterys are about 12.1 volts.

See here..

http://forums.woodalls.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28265300/srt/pd/pging/1/page/4.cfm

This is why im looking at solar. But also if I get an invertor to power outlets in my RV im sure that invertor will use amps while im sleeping. Unless I go out in the storage department to turn it off..

JiminDenver wrote:
I would suggest looking at what you want to run off of the inverter before deciding on one. For the small stuff like the flat screen, satellite, phone charging, computer, etc. I had planned on getting the Morningstar 300/600 PSW fanless unit for around $200. A bit pricy for that size but when you go through the effort to be as quiet as we do, the fans on small inverters make a lot of noise. At least ours would turn off and on as needed, some never turn off the fan.

Yes, think about what you will want to run with your inverter. Television? charge phones? Electric coffee maker? LED lights? Incandescent lights?

When you tell us what you would like to run with it, we can give you better advice on the inverter size you should be looking at.

One thing I can say about both of my big inverters is that the fans have been larger, temperature controlled and variable speed. Under small loads they either don't come on or at a very low speed. Under heavy load they run but are not nearly as loud as the tiny 150w Powerbright.

The outlet for the inverter in the shore power cord box was installed using the external access hatch. The "feed" to the plug was done by fishing another cable beside the #10 shore power cord where it connects to the power distribution panel.

A few folks will place a slow cooker in the sink in their travel trailers and use the inverter while going down the road. It works well and I've never had a spill.

I agree with Jim--the Morningstar is an exceptional inverter. I only wish they made a larger capacity unit.

I would suggest looking at what you want to run off of the inverter before deciding on one. For the small stuff like the flat screen, satellite, phone charging, computer, etc. I had planned on getting the Morningstar 300/600 PSW fanless unit for around $200. A bit pricy for that size but when you go through the effort to be as quiet as we do, the fans on small inverters make a lot of noise. At least ours would turn off and on as needed, some never turn off the fan.

Aims has a poor reputation.

Put the outlet inside the shore power cord box. That way it can be used when trundling down the road and it will be protected from the weather.

OK so mark AIMS off my list..LOL

I dont think I can put the outlet in the box as I have no access to it.. The power cord box is under kitchen cabinets under the stove..

Ummm this is a TT. I will not be trundling down the road.. It will only be used when parked..