Who has Solar/ what controller/panels?
I read about MPPT vs PWM.. OK I understand.. But cost wise and from what I read here on this site, is a 250watt 24V panel from solar blvd and a PWM 30 amp controller is a cheap option. $170 fo...
Forum Discussion
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.
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.
