How many of you use solar?

Thanks for the info guys. I appreciate all the help.

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Design a proper sized battery bank and charge it with 'one time cost' solar energy, or go to a campground and pay through the nose for energy, or run a noisy, smelly, expensive to run, dangerous generator all night.

Even a modest solar system will reduce fuel costs for running a generator. And if you happen to be "camping" at a park that charges for electricity solar will reduce those costs, too. So don't give me the "solar won't save me a dime".

BTW I full time.

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In my opinion, my solar charging system was incredibly inexpensive - just a little under $1,300 for 650 watts. I suppose its like anything - you can invest your time and energy for a DIY system or simply pay someone to do it all for you.

As a full-timer, my system paid for itself very quickly.

Going solar is the nearest thing to a free lunch anyone gets. It is a one time cost. An excellent system can be had for the cost of filling a class C motorhome fuel tank 6 times.

A 600 watt solar system may eliminate generator use except for running the roof air. If you need to run the air, then head for https://freecampsites.net/ and turn on a filter for electric sites.

The generator is an ongoing expense and require maintenance. It is "oh so nice" to run out of fuel for a generator just when you planned to sit down for supper.

Price for solar may be well under $2 per watt for materials.

Price for running a generator in Canada is $6 per day with minimal use for fuel only. Price in USA is perhaps $4 per day. Then there is the initial price of the generator, and the cost of oil changes every 100 hours of run time. And, of course, a tune up, and replacement when it finally wears out.

My system was $1700 in 2005 and has paid for itself over and over and over again.

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Thanks Harold 1946

Chowan wrote:
Thanks so much for all the replies. Very interesting setups.
So how much fuel does your generator use per hour?

My Onan 5500 uses about 3/4 gallon per hour under full load.

I had solar panels for keeping the batteries up in storage on my '96 Pace Arrow and '03 Mountain Aire. To me they were useless because I stored inside. When camping we were always in a CG.