Solar Rule Of Thumb....
I was wondering with so many variables is there a rule of thumb on how large of a solar system you need to keep your batteries charged so not having to run the generator. The factors I would includ...
Forum Discussion
Our camping style is 98% dry, with an average of 90 nights/year. Since 2011- 2016, when we installed 190W solar and 140W more for a total of 330W on a TC and 2016 when we installed 490W on our present TT until now, we have used our Honda 2000 maybe 3 times although we always drag it along just in case. The TC had 4 6V AGM's(400AH), the TT has 4 6V GC-2's(450AH). We have had a 2000W, charger/ inverter in both RV's.
As the OP's original question was regarding eliminating/reducing generator time, the 3 key components to eliminating generator time,(no A/C), are,
1) Battery storage: This is your gas tank. Probably more important than most people think.The farther you can go to find fuel(solar) if your fuel stations are not reliable(clouds, trees), the better. For us, with a moderate electrical footprint, 450AH of storage is about right.
2) Solar: 1W to 1AH is fine but as has been stated many times, more solar is better whether, fixed, tilted or portable.
3) Consumption and Conservation: Many things can be done to cut down on our consumption of AH's from changing out old incandescent lights to LED's to just turning down the thermostat when it is cold out at night and putting a warm down duvet on the bed.
Dry/boondock camping without generator time should be simple if you have a plan and are set up from the start.
Dave
As the OP's original question was regarding eliminating/reducing generator time, the 3 key components to eliminating generator time,(no A/C), are,
1) Battery storage: This is your gas tank. Probably more important than most people think.The farther you can go to find fuel(solar) if your fuel stations are not reliable(clouds, trees), the better. For us, with a moderate electrical footprint, 450AH of storage is about right.
2) Solar: 1W to 1AH is fine but as has been stated many times, more solar is better whether, fixed, tilted or portable.
3) Consumption and Conservation: Many things can be done to cut down on our consumption of AH's from changing out old incandescent lights to LED's to just turning down the thermostat when it is cold out at night and putting a warm down duvet on the bed.
Dry/boondock camping without generator time should be simple if you have a plan and are set up from the start.
Dave
