Generator question

Hi Dan,

1591 watts (what were Dometic thinking?)/ 10 =~ 160 amps X Peukert correction =~237 amps X .5 hours =~ 119 amp-hours.

I could do this if I chose to, as I have more storage than most folks. It would take nearly two day of solar charging under ideal conditions for me to replace the energy squandered in that way, so I don't recommend it.

If you insisted on six volt jars (252 Peukert amps), six would be needed. If you went with twelve volt (279 Peukert amps) four would do it.

My point was that a decent solar system is a one time cost--and until recently two Honda 2000 watt units or one 3000 watt Yamaha generator would be needed for running an air conditioner. $3000.00 would buy a heck of a lot of solar--and IF there were enough room on the roof would come darn close to being able to run the air.

I could use the air conditioner in my RV on the battery bank for about 2 hours, but again...I don't recommend it. Personally if I need to run the air conditioner I head for some place with some shore power.

bikendan wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Hi bcarroll,

The only thing that you can't run with solar is the air conditioner. Solar costs are under $2.00 per watt if you DIY.

PT, how do you run a microwave with solar and how many batteries would it take to run the average RV microwave? i know it'd need a big inverter but what kind of battery bank would be needed to supply the power for 30 minutes.

i have baked potatoes ... 6 minutes
1 minute to heat a cup of coffee

or 10 minutes to make a pot of coffee

i would not run the MW from inverter power for 30 minutes

I don't think you'd want to run the microwave for 30 minutes from batteries. 5 minutes or so is more realistic microwave usage.
You would need an inverter, preferable a pure sine model, at least 1,500 watts. With batteries, the bigger the better. 2 6v golf cart batteries or two 12 v group 31s would probably be a minimum for using an inverter that big regularly.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi bcarroll,

The only thing that you can't run with solar is the air conditioner. Solar costs are under $2.00 per watt if you DIY.

PT, how do you run a microwave with solar and how many batteries would it take to run the average RV microwave? i know it'd need a big inverter but what kind of battery bank would be needed to supply the power for 30 minutes.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi bcarroll,

The only thing that you can't run with solar is the air conditioner. Solar costs are under $2.00 per watt if you DIY.

There may be no need to change the existing converter. What make and model is it?

I have a WF-8955PEC converter

Hi bcarroll,

The only thing that you can't run with solar is the air conditioner. Solar costs are under $2.00 per watt if you DIY.

There may be no need to change the existing converter. What make and model is it?

Thanks all for the responses...
currently I have neither solar panels nor generator, still have the stock converter on my trailer, and am just trying to improve things.
I have heard that an inverter(with a charger) would be better than the stock converter, and am weighing the cost/benefits of solar over a generator, so when I saw an Inverter generator, it piqued my interest and wanted to know more about it.
I think in the short term, an inverter generator would be less expensive than purchasing panels + misc hardware, inverter, and having it all installed.

There's no difference in the way you connect the gen. to your RV.
The difference is in the internals of the machine. An inverter generator does contain an inverter. The gen. produces AC, rectifies it to DC, then inverters the DC to 120v 60 Hz AC. Obviously, this adds cost and complexity. The advantage is that precision electronics determine the output voltage and frequency, not the rotational speed of an engine.
The engine can turn as fast or as slow as is necessary for the load. This allows for slower running than a standard gen. when lightly loaded. This means less noise and lower fuel consumption.
Inverter gens. usually do put out cleaner power than you'll get from the power company.

Chuck, that Coleman must have been way off. I assume you have a Xantex XW system. I've never seen a gen. they wouldn't lock on to. I've hooked all manner of portable gens. too them and they all work.
I have seen plenty of Outback grid-tie inverters that won't lock onto anything but a Honda inverter gen. My personal Outback system has only locked onto Honda inverter gens. and a big 20 KW Kohler. It won't recognize the run of the mill open frame types.

An answer from a different perspective.

We have a 25 year old Coleman at home which we used when the power went out. Heat, water, and light are nice, as is fridge and freezer running. Works ok, but IS loud.

A few years ago installed solar PV Xantrex system on stick house. It has a input for a generator, so tried it while installers were there ... didn't work. Hmmmm. They said maybe generator was too dirty.

Went to town and rented an inverter generator, a Honda actually. Put both generators side by side and ran them both. Put Xantrex inverter input to Coleman, no go, it would not accept input as good. Plug into Honda and it worked fine. Did it several times.

Proved the difference to me!

Hi,

An inverter generator produces high frequency and high voltage DC electricity and then "changes" it to AC power @ 60 hertz. The biggest advantage is that the motor does not need to run at one speed so it may run much slower under low loads--saving both fuel and lowering the noise. The inverter part may rival or even be better than the quality of power from a shore line.

I prefer to use solar power and I get my ac power from an inverter connected to my battery bank.

Yamaha, Honda and Champion all seem to make reliable inverter generators. There are lots of Chinese "knock offs" the best of which seems to be Kipor. As for the rest "buyer beware".