Solar Powered RV
Is there a way to run the Motorhome with solar panels (especially the A/C and microwave)? If so, how much do I need?
Forum Discussion
It's nice to see the post turn into an exercise on a real world possibility.
A few problems not yet addressed from what I read here:
How do we handle the surge amps required to restart the air-conditioner's compressor? How deep will the voltage drop be on the battery-bank during this short start-up period? The battery-bank likely cannot get to get to even 50%soc and handle the load on "hot restart".
It seems to me since starting-batteries (many more thin plates) can handle high amp withdrawal, but little reserve, the ultimate battery may have to be marine-batteries. They fall between starting and true deep-cycle batteries, so we will loose the number of recycles possible, and need to replace the battery-bank more often.
And then the "biggest problem" of recharging the battery-bank in 20 minutes. Maybe we can be generous and go for (50% to 90%soc, or 50% to 80%soc).
My Schumacher SC-12000A speed-charger can handle a single deep-cycle (group 24, and maybe group 27) for a 50% to 80%soc in 1 hour. However; the voltage out-put to battery near end of that charge may approach 15.6 to 16.2 volts. That's to high to allow battery-bank to be connected to 12v circuit during charging.
Also this charger is multi-stage for 15 or 40 amps during charging. We will need a vary large scale up to handle the size battery-bank being discussed.
A few problems not yet addressed from what I read here:
How do we handle the surge amps required to restart the air-conditioner's compressor? How deep will the voltage drop be on the battery-bank during this short start-up period? The battery-bank likely cannot get to get to even 50%soc and handle the load on "hot restart".
It seems to me since starting-batteries (many more thin plates) can handle high amp withdrawal, but little reserve, the ultimate battery may have to be marine-batteries. They fall between starting and true deep-cycle batteries, so we will loose the number of recycles possible, and need to replace the battery-bank more often.
And then the "biggest problem" of recharging the battery-bank in 20 minutes. Maybe we can be generous and go for (50% to 90%soc, or 50% to 80%soc).
My Schumacher SC-12000A speed-charger can handle a single deep-cycle (group 24, and maybe group 27) for a 50% to 80%soc in 1 hour. However; the voltage out-put to battery near end of that charge may approach 15.6 to 16.2 volts. That's to high to allow battery-bank to be connected to 12v circuit during charging.
Also this charger is multi-stage for 15 or 40 amps during charging. We will need a vary large scale up to handle the size battery-bank being discussed.
