solar power for dry camping & cpap machine

allen8106 wrote:
For what it's worth I am installing a solar system on my 5ver at about $1,811 in cost.

4 - 130 watt panels used from Craigslist. ($65 ea., total $260)
2 - Crown 240 ah 6v batteries ($135 ea., total $270)
1 - Magnum Energy MMS1012 inverter ($737)
1 - Morningstar TS-45 Charge Controller ($143)
1 - Bogart Engineering TM-2030-RV Battery Monitor ($158)
1 - Morningstar battery temp sensor ($25)
1 - Magnum Energy inverter remote ($47)
1 - GE 60 amp disconnect w/fuses ($21)
1 - Generac 60 amp manual transfer switch ($100)
1 - 500amp shunt ($34)
1 - 200 amp DC fuse ($16)

So far I have installed the batteries and the battery monitor. I have purchased everything else and am just formulating my install plan and panel locations. I am fabricating my own panel mounts, I have developed my own wiring schematic and am doing all the install myself.

I expect to be able to run everything except the microwave and the AC without ever running a generator or being hooked up to shore power, my wife also uses a CPAP.

So why all this. To show you that a good solar system install can be done for considerably less than you think and to let you know that what you wish to run in your rig can be done within reason. You'll never run the AC on solar and you'll not likely run the microwave unless you have a really big battery bank and inverter but should be able to run everything else.

Allen, this looks very similar to what I have ended up with. 4 panels, a solar starter kit, 3000W true sine wave inverter (power tech-on brand from amazon for $271), 3m VHB tape for mounting. Can you share your wiring diagram and where you are putting the fuses and shutoff switch. I am debating two different wiring diagrams. I tried to post them to my original post, but I don't seem to be doing something right. Also, where do you plan to mount your inverter?

Thanks,
Greg