Yet another solar question
Been RV'ing for a long time & have been reading ALL solar posts with interest. I was reading a recent solar post and one person brought up Solar Blvd. I visited their web site and ran across this d...
Forum Discussion
When first purchased the Pace I did not have a clue how my electrical system worked. I had to drive from Concord NH. to Rockchester NY. in a Plymouth Grand Voyager to pick up the coach. I purchased from a broker.
After filling out the paperwork the keys where tossed at me & then it hit me.....I have to drive this beast home! LOL
Drove across town & picked up an Auto Transport. Loaded the VAN & headed back to NH.
That night I stopped at a rest stop & got some much needed shuteye. Next morning I woke up to a cold dark motorhome. BOTH chassis & house batteries where flat dead. I was able to back the van off the trailer & jump start the rig.
After arriving home I found that the solenoid that connects both battery banks while driving (to charge the house batteries) ad some bad contacts. I ended up replacing the solenoid, the converter with a P.D. 60Amp w/charge wizard and 4 6-volt batteries from Sam's Club.
Note all the above work was done back in 2005. NEVER had a problem with the electrical since. The batteries each have a white tag marked 2005. I believe swapping out the converter was a real good idea.
Have plenty f space on the roof but I'm thinking about a panel that I can lean up against the rig.
Long term plans are to upgrade to a newer coach, perhaps 10 years newer so I don't want to go nuts on a full solar system.
When boon docking it's just mainly lights, TV, DirecTV box and perhaps the furnace. If we are camping late fall.
I did put a shunt on the house batteries and I have a device to give me all the details on the house batteries. NEVER ran them down since new.
So, that's the story & I'm sticking with it!
Thanks for all the posts!
RM
After filling out the paperwork the keys where tossed at me & then it hit me.....I have to drive this beast home! LOL
Drove across town & picked up an Auto Transport. Loaded the VAN & headed back to NH.
That night I stopped at a rest stop & got some much needed shuteye. Next morning I woke up to a cold dark motorhome. BOTH chassis & house batteries where flat dead. I was able to back the van off the trailer & jump start the rig.
After arriving home I found that the solenoid that connects both battery banks while driving (to charge the house batteries) ad some bad contacts. I ended up replacing the solenoid, the converter with a P.D. 60Amp w/charge wizard and 4 6-volt batteries from Sam's Club.
Note all the above work was done back in 2005. NEVER had a problem with the electrical since. The batteries each have a white tag marked 2005. I believe swapping out the converter was a real good idea.
Have plenty f space on the roof but I'm thinking about a panel that I can lean up against the rig.
Long term plans are to upgrade to a newer coach, perhaps 10 years newer so I don't want to go nuts on a full solar system.
When boon docking it's just mainly lights, TV, DirecTV box and perhaps the furnace. If we are camping late fall.
I did put a shunt on the house batteries and I have a device to give me all the details on the house batteries. NEVER ran them down since new.
So, that's the story & I'm sticking with it!
Thanks for all the posts!
RM
