Solar power

Boon Docker wrote:

Pbutler97 wrote:
Join the Forest River owners forum where you may get your answer and probably
find someone with the same trailer. You won't get it here. There are a hundred + threads about solar here, and all are a mashed up pile of back and forth arguing about things where the participants are mostly wrong to begin with, basically BS.

Why don't you give us your expertise on the subject then. :B

Why would I? I don't have the same rig as the OP and have no idea what components Forest River installed on it, how they are connected or configured, so on and so forth. Most of what I read on this board are generalities with a lot of info gleaned from the net that anyone can get no matter if it's correct or not. :B

swimmer_spe wrote:
OP here.

Many of you are posting without knowing what my trailer is equipped with. The questions about the battery, panel and other electrical questions do not help. I am not looking for someone to do math. I can do that.I am looking for someone who has one and knows what it can and cannot do.

I am glad you found a forum specific for your model of RV because without the answers to the questions asked about the battery, panel, and other electrical items, we have no idea. Asking for this help without that information is like saying to a mechanic "my car won't run, what's wrong with it?"

time2roll wrote:

swimmer_spe wrote:
OP here.

Many of you are posting without knowing what my trailer is equipped with. The questions about the battery, panel and other electrical questions do not help. I am not looking for someone to do math. I can do that.I am looking for someone who has one and knows what it can and cannot do.

Unplug and check what works.

Fridge should work best on propane. (Probably has 12v controls and ignition)
Lights will work. Maybe not the ceiling fan
Water pump works
Water heater should work on propane. (probably has 12v controls and ignition)
Electric front jack should work. Possibly the leveling jacks.
Furnace should work burning propane. Has 12v fan and electronic ignition.
Cooktop and oven should work on propane.

No microwave
No air conditioning
No electric water heat
No electric outlets

What did I mis?

Fridge is only 12v.
The stabilizing jacks are crank.
The lights are all LED.

Pbutler97 wrote:
Join the Forest River owners forum where you may get your answer and probably
find someone with the same trailer. You won't get it here. There are a hundred + threads about solar here, and all are a mashed up pile of back and forth arguing about things where the participants are mostly wrong to begin with, basically BS.

I just posted this there. Thank you for the advice.

Housted wrote:
Solar ratings are based on being at the equator at high noon on June 30 on a clear day with the panels facing at the sun.
In other words you will probably not see the full wattage anywhere in North America.
Its not magic or mysterious just remember more solar is better than less.
The same goes for battery reserve.
I have 1000 watts of solar and a 400 Amp HR lithium battery and it serves us very well. I do not try to run the A/C off the inverter.
YMMV

Housted

and it assumes using an MPPT controller AND at a pretty low temperature.

Hint. to best aim the panel take a empty TP tube, place it perpendicular on the panel and adjust for zero shadow.

I have two 200W portable panels going to a 30A MPPT controller. In theory I should be able to get 30A out of this. In practice (1) seldom is there an absolutely clear sky, any haze, smoke, etc. even if you can't see it affects output, (2) seldom is the temperature down around 60F in the middle of the day, let alone panel temps 70F or below. I can usually count on getting 20-22 A at the peak of the day properly aimed on a bright day.

If I add my third portable 200W panel then I can max out at 30A.

I also have three 160W panels mounted flat on the roof going to another 30A MPPT controller. Again theory say 30A no problem. but (1) a flat panel at northern latitude in the spring or fall drops max output by about 50%. I can usually get 15A and when I parallel the third portable panel with the roof properly aimed up in the mid 20's.

the two MPPT controller can have the outputs in parallel, roof controller is the master, portable is the slave.

so between the combo of three 160W flat panels and three 200W portable aimed panels I can see 45A occasionally 50A or so for peak charge current, when in theory I could get around 75A. Now with proper aiming the roof panel output would go up, but with roof mounts that's pretty much impossible. And even though I can raise the roof panels, seems like seldom can I raise the roof panels to aim anywhere near south. usually end up parked so raising them the either face east or west.

Pbutler97 wrote:
Join the Forest River owners forum where you may get your answer and probably
find someone with the same trailer. You won't get it here. There are a hundred + threads about solar here, and all are a mashed up pile of back and forth arguing about things where the participants are mostly wrong to begin with, basically BS.

Why don't you give us your expertise on the subject then. :B

Swimmer,

Rule of thumb, 1 battery 1 night. That assumes no recharging.

So tell us the amp-hours of the battery and the wattage of the existing solar panel.

If you don't want to do math, then connect the rv to a kill-a-watt meter and measure for 72 hours. Do not exceed 1800 watts or the meter will turn into a poor door stop.

Pbutler97 wrote:
Join the Forest River owners forum where you may get your answer and probably
find someone with the same trailer. You won't get it here. There are a hundred + threads about solar here, and all are a mashed up pile of back and forth arguing about things where the participants are mostly wrong to begin with, basically BS.

x2! RV.net is a general RV forum. If you want model-specific information and feedback, a brand-specific forum is a better resource, than RV.net.
Forest River Forums have sub-forums for every FR brand. The Toyhauler section has a Cherokee sub-forum.

swimmer_spe wrote:
OP here.

Many of you are posting without knowing what my trailer is equipped with. The questions about the battery, panel and other electrical questions do not help. I am not looking for someone to do math. I can do that.I am looking for someone who has one and knows what it can and cannot do.

Unplug and check what works.

Fridge should work best on propane. (Probably has 12v controls and ignition)
Lights will work. Maybe not the ceiling fan
Water pump works
Water heater should work on propane. (probably has 12v controls and ignition)
Electric front jack should work. Possibly the leveling jacks.
Furnace should work burning propane. Has 12v fan and electronic ignition.
Cooktop and oven should work on propane.

No microwave
No air conditioning
No electric water heat
No electric outlets

What did I mis?

Housted…RVer with the big roof covered with solar! lol