Stupid battery and solar questions
I figure I am going to have a lot of them, so I better put all in one thread :B.
My situation:
- I mainly want solar for running residential freezer and fridge, maybe also for charging my shave ice machine batteries. I like to carry a lot of frozen food.
- I don't have a propane system in my rig. No RV fridge, no CO2 alarm, no hot water, no furnace. Stove uses canisters.
- I do have a 300watt space heater that I run a few times a year, usually for 5 minutes but sometimes for 30 if I have the juice.
- I have a 600watt microwave but I don't really expect the batteries to handle it. Shore power or genny.
- I have an ex650 genny. I also have an alternator connection but I usually don't drive much in a day.
- I am getting a bigger van, and am going to be spending some time in SoCal setting it up. I see there are lots of used solar items there on craigslist so I might buy some.
- I have my killawatt meter with me but I do NOT have my larger freezer, so I have to make some guesses about usage.
- My small freezer draws 65watts, unknown startup amps. My peak usage(shave ice charger, lights, mattress warmer, electronic devices, etc....) is about 400watts. In 24 hours of average use, including shave ice machine, I use about 60 somethings, based on notes from a test last summer. I get confused about units. Watt-hours? Looking online, larger freezer is guesstimated to draw another 200watts. So maybe make that 60 into a 90 or 100.
I may edit this OP if it becomes clear I have left out an important detail.
I am grateful to all of you for your knowledge and help!
My situation:
- I mainly want solar for running residential freezer and fridge, maybe also for charging my shave ice machine batteries. I like to carry a lot of frozen food.
- I don't have a propane system in my rig. No RV fridge, no CO2 alarm, no hot water, no furnace. Stove uses canisters.
- I do have a 300watt space heater that I run a few times a year, usually for 5 minutes but sometimes for 30 if I have the juice.
- I have a 600watt microwave but I don't really expect the batteries to handle it. Shore power or genny.
- I have an ex650 genny. I also have an alternator connection but I usually don't drive much in a day.
- I am getting a bigger van, and am going to be spending some time in SoCal setting it up. I see there are lots of used solar items there on craigslist so I might buy some.
- I have my killawatt meter with me but I do NOT have my larger freezer, so I have to make some guesses about usage.
- My small freezer draws 65watts, unknown startup amps. My peak usage(shave ice charger, lights, mattress warmer, electronic devices, etc....) is about 400watts. In 24 hours of average use, including shave ice machine, I use about 60 somethings, based on notes from a test last summer. I get confused about units. Watt-hours? Looking online, larger freezer is guesstimated to draw another 200watts. So maybe make that 60 into a 90 or 100.
I may edit this OP if it becomes clear I have left out an important detail.
I am grateful to all of you for your knowledge and help!
