Sometimes small systems are plenty

mena661 wrote:
Almot, I occasionally run through the exercise of running from just solar and batteries (from a full timers POV) with a mostly electric or all-electric rig. Can be done but not "practical" with FLA batteries (FLA's require occasional equalizations which requires duplicate banks) and not on the cheap either and not with limited space. If you ignore A/C usage it's easy. MUCH harder with A/C usage. Problem is not storage, it's charging.

I don't know what we are arguing about, anymore. Yes, A/C is nearly impossible without generator or shore power. Luckily, this is the ONLY 120V item that you have to have - when it's hot - otherwise you will suffer, can't stay inside and can't sleep well. You will not suffer if you stop using any other 120V item for 2-3 days, not physically anyway. Though I can believe that for some people staying away from TV would cause enormous mental suffering, tantamount to what teenager is feeling when texting function in his Iphone stops working for half an hour.

There is no problem with equalization while on solar. Most controllers even have a designated button for that. Getting to 100% SOC every day - while on solar - is a different matter, you would need to be close to ABS stage early in the morning, never using more than 25%-30% of the bank overnight. Not possible with 120V fridge, and difficult with microwave, and with most other 120V devices - because most of them are power hogs. With few exceptions like small TV or electric shaver, they all draw "mere" few amps @120V, we never give it a second thought in a shore home. But this equals to dozens amps @12V.

How fulltimers get around this problem - don't know. Have yet to see a fulltimer that is using most of those 120V items that people have in their homes (even excluding A/C), and who is not either plugged in at all times, or runs generator every day. Handy Bob - well, I haven't seen the guy. His batteries must be working hard.