generator vs. solar panels

Trying to run an AC thru an inverter and powered by batteries and solar is a lesson in futility. Can it be done? Yes but 90% of the people who are familiar with the option will tell you to forget it.
I would suggest a pair of Honda 2000's. 70 lbs each and you can run one for just battery charging and normal routine power needs and add the second one to the system and power your AC too.
About $2000 for the setup.
If you aren't interested in running the AC at all, then solar again does become a popular option and its merits can be measured against a single Honda 2000.

smkettner wrote:
$2,200 for 270w... I think I have found my calling in retirement.

Not just this. You need to become a "certified solar installer" - I know, they don't exist, but still ;) ... And you will have to move to Western Canada. Heck, the lowliest auto mechanic here costs almost double of what it costs in the States, and there is no AAA discount. There is AAA/CAA chapter, but no discounts. You can only imagine how much you could charge as an RV solar installer.

JiminDenver wrote:
The service shop where we got the trailer at quoted $500 to install our panels that we already have.

This is a hell of a lot more reasonable. $2200 is highway robbery (yes I know that includes the equipment).

smkettner wrote:
$2,200 for 270w... I think I have found my calling in retirement.

If this is what people are willing to pay then I'm getting my electricians license.

$2,200 for 270w... I think I have found my calling in retirement.

I noticed that in the US the rates are lower, in most trades. RVs cost a lot less too, that's why I bought in the states. $500 for a day work is good enough. Electrician only needs to locate/drill studs and route the cables, plus a couple of fuses/breakers.

Almot wrote:

renoman69 wrote:
If you include the labor for someone to install this, 2200.00 is not too high.

Renoman probably knows what he is talking about, with such a handle. And yet... $1700 for one day job? On call electrician costs how much - $500 a day? Alright, let him have another $500 for fabricating 8 brackets - assuming they need to be fabricated - even though this won't take him another day and won't cost nearly as much to order in mechanical shop if he doesn't know how to cut aluminum angle. $1000 total labor. This is - assuming the customer knows what he wants and does his homework. When the customer doesn't know ... oh well... the sky is the limit then.

Electricians and plumbers are making well over 80.00 an hour in this province and when was the last time you looked at shop labour rates in an RV service center. Maybe someone who has recently had an RV place install their solar can chime in with what it cost them but I'll bet it would be over 2K.

The service shop where we got the trailer at quoted $500 to install our panels that we already have.

renoman69 wrote:
If you include the labor for someone to install this, 2200.00 is not too high.

Renoman probably knows what he is talking about, with such a handle. And yet... $1700 for one day job? On call electrician costs how much - $500 a day? Alright, let him have another $500 for fabricating 8 brackets - assuming they need to be fabricated - even though this won't take him another day and won't cost nearly as much to order in mechanical shop if he doesn't know how to cut aluminum angle. $1000 total labor. This is - assuming the customer knows what he wants and does his homework. When the customer doesn't know ... oh well... the sky is the limit then.

skyhammer wrote:

RoyB wrote:
There are not many public camping places that even allow you to run a generator very long...

That must be an Eastern thing.Every campground I have been to allows generator run times of 12 hours so and I have stayed at several 100 campgrounds.

National Pk's have controlled hours,
even have some cg's that 'generators not permitted at all'
yes here in Calif
Sequoia/Kings Canyon is one of them
certain cg's within the park are limited runtime
other sections are 'no run'