generator vs. solar panels

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.

As has been said, solar and A/C do not mix. I have run my genset or be on shore power to run my A/C and my microwave - everything else I can sustain for days with my solar setup and decent sized AGM battery bank.

All depends on what you are going to need. Depending on your plans, you _might_ be surprised how little you need to run the AC...

Solar is not the way to go. Run the A/C and the batteries will drain quickly and then you have to wait for them to build up a charge.

The front compartment would need to be sealed off from the rest of the trailer and the generator requires air flow so you'll need to have fans with a fresh air source for the generator compartment. Like others have said you can get remote start Yamahas and Hondas but you still have to be able to put gas in them. So I'm not sure that is a solution with your condition.

If I was you, I would plan to stay in RV parks with hookups when A/C is needed and non-hookup parks when the temps are cooler.

dtappy3353 wrote:

Would a solar system be better? Solar system would cost about $2200 intalled (2-135 watt panels)?

That is WAAAAYYYYY to much money for that little system. You can get a single 235W panel for $150 each. $2200 will get you a******load of solar. I could get at LEAST 10 panels, a high dollar controller or two, and wiring for that money.

You need to do some soul searching and decide if you really need air conditioning in OR and how much sun will fall on the solar panels in the forest.

I recommend solar but $2,200 for 270 watts seems steep.

280w kit $644 shipped

Then find some help to install it.

You can carry a portable gen in the front cargo bay, but you can't run one there. the exhaust fumes can get up into the trailer and kill you. Same thing if you run it real close to the open cargo door or under an open window. Big no-no.

We keep the Honda 3000 in the truck bed where it stays, and just plug the trailer into that as required.

Next, two 135w panels should cost about $300 not including shipping, and a controller to run 270w (you might see 17 amps, and you need 20% margin over that, so a 20amp controller is too small, so a 30 amper. costs say $50-100. Call it $400 for the whole thing plus something for wires and brackets, make it $500. Labour is whatever it is, no idea.

So that quote of $2,200 for your pair of 135s is way over the top by miles! Run away!

Moved from Forum Technical Support

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

$2,200 will not get you much.....and will not run the AC very long, how many batteries in the system? What type of inverter? The list goes on, Google Jack Mayer Solar, read all his info.

What do you want to run while off the grid?


A friend of mine just got a Yamaha EF3000iSEB with a remote start.