solar power for dry camping & cpap machine
***Link Removed******Link Removed***Hello, I recently purchased a 2006 Thor Wanderer 30' travel trailer. I was disappointed that I could only run my cpap machine when the trailer is plugged in. I al...
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Right now I am planning on a solar panel starter kit that includes a controller, a separate battery, a 3000W true sine wave inverter connected to the separate battery, and an extension cord plugged into the shore power outlet when I am parked. This would all be separate from the trailer, and the only connection would be through the 30 amp shore power cord, and I can use my existing AC outlets throughout the trailer. Yes I will waste lots of power in the inverter and the converter for that matter. But it will be KISS
I'm getting the understanding that the reason you wish to have this new 12V system and inverter is that you fear any rewiring of your RV's current 12V and 120V systems. The solution that you've come up with is wasteful ($$$ spent) and has the potential for not working well.
I'd suggest you take your RV to someone knowledgeable about RV electrical systems and have them install what is a practical system.
A mobile RV technician should be able to handle this.
If it was my situation this is what I'd do to have enough power to handle the Cpaps: First, determine if your Cpap machines can run on 12V. If so wire in 12V receptacles for the machines. If I wanted whole house 120V, I would add in battery capacity and an inverter to fulfill my 120V power needs. I don't use high power 120V devices so a smaller inverter is possible. I would install a transfer switch to connect to the 120V load center. That makes 120V power automatic and no extension cords are needed.
Here is what I do have and what works for me: I use a 1000W inverter and off that I run a 120V fridge and all my entertainment devices. I have 300 AH of battery capacity. The inverter's 120V output is dedicated to a couple of 120V receptacles and is not connected through a transfer switch. Additional to this, I have 235W of solar charging and the controller that handles the solar. I bought all the pieces for this system online and not in a kit. Kits have a markup to the total and are sold mostly to those that don't know what they need. You can do better without a kit.
