Dry camping electrical questions
Hey all, so we've been camping for quite a while now and are starting to transition to no hook-up camping and have a couple of questions. We are looking to add an inverter and solar charging and could...
Forum Discussion
CamperWill wrote:
The inverter would be used for laptop charging as well as for a 600W microwave for a minute or so a day.
Unrealistic with 100W panel and single battery.
On a good winter day in the South or a good summer day elsewhere, 100W panel will harvest 20-30 AH. Enough for DC thermostat of propane fridge, few lights and pumps, occasionally laptop. Nothing else.
Few minutes reheating leftovers on MW, few times a day, after Peukert effect, will take 30 AH or more out of your battery.
I would consider some substitute for MW.
With MW you need 1500W PSW invwerter, they are not cheap. 600W is a cooking power, not what it draws. Yours will draw 900-1000W.
Without MW you can get any small 140-160W inverter that plugs into cig lighter receptacle. My $20 GoPower charges laptop just fine.
Also, with MW you will need at least 200 AH battery bank, preferably 300 AH. And a lot more solar than your 100W. People with high-power 120V devices like MW and coffee maker typically have solar 200-300W or more.
