OK... full-timers ! question about solar !

Ok all we bit the bullet and purchased the solar system. I just did not ask enough questions. We got the "Go Power" system promoted by the Wynn's. I thought it came with batteries. Lucky I had 2 12 volts already because the system is minus batteries. So outside the LARGE investment now is batteries. But why is it 6 volt are better that 12?

When I was a kid my truck was 6 volt and my momos VW bug was 6 and my dad upgraded them to 12 because it was stronger. So ... why not the same here? And the price of batteries is outragiuos. $400 EACH !! But how many should we have for a good running system?

I still have 1 chiuld left to sell so that may cover the new battery cost. (just kidding of course)

Thank you.

westend wrote:
The first thing to nail down is how much power you typically use in a day. Here's a downloadable spreadsheet calculator for that purpose: Quartzfest calculator.

With the numbers derived for your power use, you can then figure how many solar modules you'll need and how much battery capacity to have. Things that will influence that are location, roof real estate, shade issues, and budget.

Everyone's needs are different and there isn't one solar solution that works for everyone. FWIW, I have a trailer with 0 parasitic loads, no circuit boards or alarms to feed. All lights are LED's. No furnace fan. My solar system basically powers a small residential fridge, entertainment devices, a water pump, and two or three small fans. I power that with a single 235W module, a 1000W PSW inverter, and 300 amp hours of batteries. I don't use hair dryers, toasters, electric coffee makers, or other high-watt devices. I'm waiting on a Forum member that is installing a slightly bigger system and is trying to run a 5K BTU AC window shaker. If he's successful, I may upgrade my system to accomplish the same.

Good luck with your solar planning. Solar is a great way to camp/live off the grid.

HI I an the author of that spreadsheet. There is an updated version of it available at the ham radio site W8USA.org. Here is the link Link
then click on "Solar and Battery Sizing". If you have any problems or questions send me a PM. Gale

I have up to 220 AH per day to use and replenish. The longest I have gone off grid/generator is seven days and I was at 100% SOC by noon on the seventh so I could have kept going. (Limiting factor is fresh water and waste storage.) The key is evaluating your usage and production, and adjusting your usage, in often changing conditions.

The first thing to nail down is how much power you typically use in a day. Here's a downloadable spreadsheet calculator for that purpose: Quartzfest calculator.

With the numbers derived for your power use, you can then figure how many solar modules you'll need and how much battery capacity to have. Things that will influence that are location, roof real estate, shade issues, and budget.

Everyone's needs are different and there isn't one solar solution that works for everyone. FWIW, I have a trailer with 0 parasitic loads, no circuit boards or alarms to feed. All lights are LED's. No furnace fan. My solar system basically powers a small residential fridge, entertainment devices, a water pump, and two or three small fans. I power that with a single 235W module, a 1000W PSW inverter, and 300 amp hours of batteries. I don't use hair dryers, toasters, electric coffee makers, or other high-watt devices. I'm waiting on a Forum member that is installing a slightly bigger system and is trying to run a 5K BTU AC window shaker. If he's successful, I may upgrade my system to accomplish the same.

Good luck with your solar planning. Solar is a great way to camp/live off the grid.

You mention you have the money to do the solar install so we'll share our very very recent install (Oct 2014 completed). Thanks to a lot of input and patience with our zero knowledge at the start from many kind folks on Escapees forum and Jack Mayers website on solar (wonderful detailed writes up!). He also assisted Howard and Linda Payne of RV-Dreams.com with their install, and they have a great write up as well = just in case it helps you.

We are not FT yet, but rarely stay in an organized CG, preferring to Boondock/Dry Camp on our many travels of up to 8 weeks often. We installed 1000w solar and have 880amp hrs batteries (8 x Costco) installed last year after our 12 year old Nevercold fridge died and we replaced it with a residential one = so far so good. Wonderful 4 day weekend, central vacuumed twice with it, TV on about 3 hrs each night, microwave, hair dryer after showering, kettle and toaster used lots and four nights free camping = worked wonderful, and feel albeit very very early days best thing we ever did. The $2500+ we saved on replacing the old fridge with another RV one we applied to the $6000 of the full from scratch solar and new batteries install plus all monitors, inverter etc. I'm sure you can do it a lot cheaper but we opted for some name brand and high grade components that were highly recommended by many.

That's our story thus far FWIW.

I fulltimed with 270 watts of solar and 2 x 150 AH AGM batteries. We have a compressor frige/freezer and my wife uses a CPAP. Both add up to about 60 AH per day so we are OK most of the time. BTW, TVs and laptop computers take a lot of juice so be sure to look at those when calculating your needs.

I have a generator for use when cloudy or camped in the woods. I also use it for the A/C and microwave. I have learned to live without the microwave except for rare, special uses. I keep my morning coffee warm in a thermos.

pianotuna wrote:


http://freecampsites.net/

Thank you for the website that list free campsites. The comments with each site are especially helpful.

Dave

Hi,

An absorption fridge may use about 6 KWH per day. All the other loads pale in comparison to that.

6 kwh of consumption means having 12 kwh of battery bank. That will be approximately 10 Group 29 105 amp-hour batteries. It will take at least 600 watts of solar to replace the energy used by the fridge under ideal conditions. I'd add another 600 watts for less than perfect conditions, so the system would be at least 1200 watts of panels.

I can run my fridge for 24 hours on the 120 volt electric setting if my battery bank is brim full and the weather cooperates. Then I have to switch back to propane.

hey thanks so much for more of your posts.... thats what i was looking for... wanted to hear what people are doing. i wouldnt be anywhere i would have to use the air conditioner.... i'm good with good cross ventilation.
thats the whole reason to be living on wheels.... when the weather gets too hot or too cold... i am ABSOLUTELY OUT of there !

what i am looking to do is run my computer.... maybe use the microwave..... have the TV on and power the DVR and all those systems.
and ...i want the fridge to be run by
solar... i dont want to use any propane. AND i want to be able to plug in
my electric coffee pot when i am not outside cooking over a fire.

the only thing that would run full time of course would be the fridge/freezer.
otherwise.... most things would be on one at a time along with the fridge
and the lights. lol

money aside....would 1000w be enough to do that ? with the requisite number of
batteries ?....let me know what you think.

please dont tell me about propane.... i know all about that and i dont want to use it. people keep trying to steer me to propane... and i just dont want to use it.... i have the money to do solar right... and thats what i want.
PLUS.... i wont be anywhere the sun isnt shinning mostly all the time.
why not ? thats what living on wheels is all about. lol

thanks so much for your opinions. i am for sure going to have someone i trust
make sure i have what i need. but i would like to hear what you think.
since i cant post the same post in the boondocking section.... i'll mention it later on to see what else people have to say.

thanks

Ropdoc wrote:

smkettner wrote:
Although 5+ days of no sun would put a crimp on operations as I carry no generator.

Just wondering, why do you not carry a genny? I am looking into solar and a generator.

Dave

Noise, stink, CO, security, fuel, weight, maintenance and general pain in the neck. Ever been relaxing in campsite listening to nature etc. and a big RV pulls up with that generator exhaust pointed out by the front wheel but right at your campsite? I have been run out a few times.

I do have 300w inverter for small stuff connected to all outlets and a 2000w inverter for microwave and short use of any high draw items.

If it will be roasting hot I am headed for hookups. Otherwise we will sweat it out. Last thing I want to do is run a generator 24/7 and hang out inside the RV. Cool down just at night is probably after generator hours.

This works fine for our small family on trips of 2 to 3 weeks. Actually DW prefers hookups but sometimes I don't even plug in :R

If I was full time it would be different as I would probably have a different (larger) RV. Most of the same stuff still applies to minimize generator run time.