Solar Batteries
I am considering installing a solar system, but because of the cost I plan on doing it in steps. Plan on installing a good inverter and some solar batteries first. My question is: Can I charge sola...
Forum Discussion
What do you mean by "Solar battery"? IS someone advertizing a battery that can only be charged by a solar system? Sounds overpriced.
A solar system will protect the battery from discharge while the RV is in storage, unless you have the ability to plug it in all the time.
I consider my solar system has saved it's cost of about $3,000 twice in the past 20 years. Back in 1994, it was low cost to buy a pair of 45 watt panels, 15 amp controller, wiring, brackets, and instructions for $750. By 1997, $375 would buy a 75 watt panel, and in 1999 I bought a pair of 120 watt panels for $429 on sale. Add a inverter and extra batteries, I have about $3,000 into the system. It still works like day 1, so it is money well spent.
I saved at least $10 a night by dry camping in the best places, like by a lake, or along the river, or in a forest, for about 300 nights between 1994 and 2005. In 2005 I started full timing, saving another $3000 over the next couple of years.
Now you can buy a 100 watt panel for about $125. Add a couple of 10 amp controllers, some wire, and you have a great system for less than what I paid for a pair of 120 watt panels.
I would recommend at least 200 watts. More if you like to watch TV, run a computer all the time, or run a furnace a lot on a cold winter trip.
I also have a Olympic Catalytic heater, to warm the RV when it is cold out, without any electrical power. Quiet too (silent - no fan).
I would start with a $35 500 watt inverter that you can plug into a cigarette lighter receptacle. You can use #10 wire to install a couple more in various locations. Protect it with 20 amp fuse (or 30 but normally 20 amps is good for a 200 watt load). The larger #10 wire will offer a lower voltage drop between battery and inverter. This will run a TV and computer, charge phones, ect. Anything larger like a microwave should be run from the generator. If you do run a large load such as a 1,200 watt toaster, electric coffee maker, or microwave from the battery, it will quickly discharge the battery bank, and you would need the generator running to recharge it anyway. Yes I learned this while using my 1,500 watt inverter. It is not as energy efficient as the 300 watt inverter I use most of the time.
Fred.
A solar system will protect the battery from discharge while the RV is in storage, unless you have the ability to plug it in all the time.
I consider my solar system has saved it's cost of about $3,000 twice in the past 20 years. Back in 1994, it was low cost to buy a pair of 45 watt panels, 15 amp controller, wiring, brackets, and instructions for $750. By 1997, $375 would buy a 75 watt panel, and in 1999 I bought a pair of 120 watt panels for $429 on sale. Add a inverter and extra batteries, I have about $3,000 into the system. It still works like day 1, so it is money well spent.
I saved at least $10 a night by dry camping in the best places, like by a lake, or along the river, or in a forest, for about 300 nights between 1994 and 2005. In 2005 I started full timing, saving another $3000 over the next couple of years.
Now you can buy a 100 watt panel for about $125. Add a couple of 10 amp controllers, some wire, and you have a great system for less than what I paid for a pair of 120 watt panels.
I would recommend at least 200 watts. More if you like to watch TV, run a computer all the time, or run a furnace a lot on a cold winter trip.
I also have a Olympic Catalytic heater, to warm the RV when it is cold out, without any electrical power. Quiet too (silent - no fan).
I would start with a $35 500 watt inverter that you can plug into a cigarette lighter receptacle. You can use #10 wire to install a couple more in various locations. Protect it with 20 amp fuse (or 30 but normally 20 amps is good for a 200 watt load). The larger #10 wire will offer a lower voltage drop between battery and inverter. This will run a TV and computer, charge phones, ect. Anything larger like a microwave should be run from the generator. If you do run a large load such as a 1,200 watt toaster, electric coffee maker, or microwave from the battery, it will quickly discharge the battery bank, and you would need the generator running to recharge it anyway. Yes I learned this while using my 1,500 watt inverter. It is not as energy efficient as the 300 watt inverter I use most of the time.
Fred.
