Solar ?

wanderingbob wrote:
Also , my trailer has a 3,500 watt inverter installed that I have been using to run saws and compressors , tools . That is what I am using to run my freezer , it is a lot more than I need for freezer . I was given to understand that was OK as the inverter will only put out what was demanded ! In other words having more than ya need was almost as efficient ! What do ya think .

I think Smkettner is right and you better get more solar.

Inverter has idle draw in absence of loads. The bigger is inverter, the bigger is idle draw. 3,000W inverter will eat 15-20 AH a day unless you shut it down when not in use, but you CAN'T shut it down because you need it for freezer. If by "what was demanded" you mean that it turns on when detecting a load, and turns off when there is no load - then no problem.

Also, inverter only works as long as the battery puts anything out. No 12V - no 120V. Small freezer and lights will consume most of what 200W solar will harvest, and on some days you won't even have enough juice to run the freezer - not to mention tools. 50 AH harvest on a good day, 5 AH when it rains all day. If you want to be self-sufficient on solar, get more solar up front, it will be cheaper than upgrading later on.

wanderingbob wrote:
, may add two more 6 volts soon .

Don't add 2 new ones to two old ones.

wanderingbob wrote:
Amazon has a Renology 200 watt solar beginner kit for $340 with controller and a bunch of stuff . Would that be good for a dummy RVer wanting to charge two 6 volts to run a small freezer ? We use very little other stuff in RV , no tv or games and only one or two lites .

Need to know freezer size and model.

As an example, small 12V chest freezer ~2 cu.ft, NO INVERTER, can draw 30 AH per 24 hours. Or it can draw 15 AH. Depends on the ambient and how often you open it.

Add 10-15 AH for your other needs. Total - anywhere from 30 to 50 AH a day. More if you need inverter or the freezer is bigger.

200W solar tilted towards the sun and rotated couple times a day will harvest 40-60 AH, depends on location and weather.

I would go "all-in" with 500 watts and MPPT controller.
Probably two more GC2 also.

500 watts $325

MS TS MPPT 30 $375

GC -2's for a 10% Rate of Charge require 20 to 22.5 amps; that's 400 watts minimum.
Figure out how many watt hours you need over a 24 hour period. Divide that by 12 volts to get Ah over a 24 hour period. Double that and you will be close to the amount of batteries you need. That will tell you what you need in the way of solar. Probably need a gen set for some things.

wanderingbob wrote:
We expect to boondock a lot in coming months and I am just getting ready , may add two more 6 volts soon .

I think you NEED a generator as a backup power source when needed.
There are more things that will cause you to need it than you might think. Having no sun for several days in a row for your solar is just one.

Also , my trailer has a 3,500 watt inverter installed that I have been using to run saws and compressors , tools . That is what I am using to run my freezer , it is a lot more than I need for freezer . I was given to understand that was OK as the inverter will only put out what was demanded ! In other words having more than ya need was almost as efficient ! What do ya think .

Why do I have a freezer , cause my wife sez so ! How long will the batts last now , I do not really know as we have been driving every day and the truck keeps them up . We expect to boondock a lot in coming months and I am just getting ready , may add two more 6 volts soon .

That system will kick out about 8amps/hr in practical use. I have a 200w system. What many lodges do when their only source is genset or solar is to set the freezer on high, run it for a few hours, shut it down till the next day, repeat. You'll be able to harvest about 50AH during peak time and another 20 or so on 'shoulder time (morning and past peak afternoon) if you can stay out of the shade. Do you have the freezer already or can you find out how many AH's you are going to need?

How long do the batteries last now?
Yes 200 watts is a good start. Small freezer is a moderate but steady load 24 hours a day where solar is just 6 hours per day. Is the RV fridge-freezer too small?