Calling on Solar Techies
I have been thinking of going solar for some time and decided to pull the plug. My wants are a 400 to 500 watt system. I have four 12 volt batteries with 340ah. I am not planning on changing b...
Forum Discussion
1L243 wrote:
Of course I want the best system for the least amount of money.
The big issue with going solar/battery is how fast do you use the energy stored in the batteries
It is very similar to driving with your RV. 80 MPH will use a lot more gas than 55 MPH ! . Also, if you really want to drive 80 MPH, you are going to need a bigger, MORE EXPENSIVE engine ! "You get what you pay for" is true in this case ! (More below.)
1L243 wrote:
I was thinking of going with a 3000 watt pure sine inverter they tend to be on the expensive side.
Unless you want to run your coffee pot, toaster and microwave all at the same time, 2000 watts should be adequate.
1L243 wrote:
That said We do not do a lot of winter camping but I wanted to build the solar system with that option open and reduce the consumption of propane and the need to frequently refill the tanks.
But it is easier to refill a propane tank (or maybe gasoline for a generator) than to increase the amount of sunshine on a cloudy day !
1L243 wrote:
Typically when we do use a heater it's during the day at night we switch to furnace which keep a things from freezing.
Again, but like driving at 80 MPH. You might run out of fuel (energy in the batteries) before you get to your destination (energy in the batteries to run the furnace fan).
1L243 wrote:
It it best to look for a kit? or buy individual components? I plan on installing the system myself.
Depending on how much of a DIY person you are and how much you want to "assemble" parts you can save a lot of money !
The simplest, but most expensive, solution is to buy a combination inverter/charger/automatic transfer switch, like a Samlex EVO-2212. Remove your existing converter and connect the DC distribution panel (fuse panel) directly to your batteries and disconnect the AC Shore power (outside plug). Installing the inverter/charger/transfer switch requires only 3 electrical connections. Connect the AC power that used to go into the converter, connect the AC output to the AC breaker panel, connect the DC output to your battery bank. YOU ARE DONE !
If you buy all of the components separately, directly from some Chinese manufacturers, you will save a lot of money ! Hooking them together properly is up to you.
