How to measure how much solar we need?
(hope this is right section) Brought home TT last month and now have basics taken care of and RV is road ready. Now starting to think about bigger long term projects. One project is, we would like...
Forum Discussion
Path,
You asked how much solar we have and if we like it.
We have 300 watts of solar and love it. Never have felt the need for more. We mainly boondock in Oregon, in the winter (just returned from the Steens and Alvord Desert....yes, during the recent cold snap....and the lowest the batteries dropped was to 83% .... before compensating for the 5 degree temps). We don't have a TV, but run everything except the AC (including the microwave when charging conditions allow). And I have yet to even start my generator on a camping trip (should just get rid of it, but it is nice to have at home.....).
When we go to the Oregon coast (in the winter) and stay in the State parks, sometimes I don't even bother to plug into their power....I forget. No big deal, the solar almost always provides a little (even in the rain) and we have enough batteries to carry us though for about a week in that easy climate.
As you can see, I differ in opinion from some others on this, but hey, it works for us. I suspect the main difference for us is that we usually only stay in one spot for two or three nights before moving on (usually plenty of solar charging going on when on the road). Perhaps not having a TV helps some too. During the day, we are usually out hiking or skiing/snowshoeing so power consumption then is very minimal. And of course it helps that my wife is very good at checking the Trimetric before turning on the inverter to run the microwave.
Solar is only part of the equation. IMO power consumption and storage capacity need to be addressed equally.
You will love solar. Just do it.
Steve
You asked how much solar we have and if we like it.
We have 300 watts of solar and love it. Never have felt the need for more. We mainly boondock in Oregon, in the winter (just returned from the Steens and Alvord Desert....yes, during the recent cold snap....and the lowest the batteries dropped was to 83% .... before compensating for the 5 degree temps). We don't have a TV, but run everything except the AC (including the microwave when charging conditions allow). And I have yet to even start my generator on a camping trip (should just get rid of it, but it is nice to have at home.....).
When we go to the Oregon coast (in the winter) and stay in the State parks, sometimes I don't even bother to plug into their power....I forget. No big deal, the solar almost always provides a little (even in the rain) and we have enough batteries to carry us though for about a week in that easy climate.
As you can see, I differ in opinion from some others on this, but hey, it works for us. I suspect the main difference for us is that we usually only stay in one spot for two or three nights before moving on (usually plenty of solar charging going on when on the road). Perhaps not having a TV helps some too. During the day, we are usually out hiking or skiing/snowshoeing so power consumption then is very minimal. And of course it helps that my wife is very good at checking the Trimetric before turning on the inverter to run the microwave.
Solar is only part of the equation. IMO power consumption and storage capacity need to be addressed equally.
You will love solar. Just do it.
Steve
