Generators, solar panels whats the better choice?

Are you familiar with Murphy's Law?

It corollary when referencing solar systems is that when you REALLY, REALLY need it you will be forced to camp under heavy cover and it will be cloudy the entire trip!

We've had both a generator and solar for many years. The solar is great 80% of the time here in the southwest! but we wouldn't plan on any extended boondocking without the generator.

I'm leaving in two days to CG host in Sequoia National Park. There are no hookups in my campground and it is well shaded. It will be at 7000' so the furnace may be necessary even in the summer. (It snowed a few weeks ago.) yup, I'll be glad for the generator.

Since you do not mention the need for air conditioning or even microwave... just get the solar.

If I need air I go find hookups. Solar will also save you the trouble of removing the battery. For all I know 140w and the single battery will serve you fine. Consider LED lighting for best results.


Any trips to the south? www.solarblvd.com

Here is a simple flow chart.

Budget-->Energy Audit-->Battery bank size-->number of watts-->PWM or MPPT. What ever type of controller is chosen, make sure it has adjustable set points and a temperature probe that is on the battery.

One rule of thumb is between 60 and 150 watts of panels per 100 amp-hours of storage. The smaller the battery bank the higher the wattage needed (per 100 amp-hours). Here is a link to the rather special spreadsheet which includes an energy audit, that N8GS has created to help size solar battery charging systems!

Solar Spread Sheet N8GS

For a nice explanation of solar, try this link:

Golden rules of solar

JiminDenver wrote:
Solar is wonderful if you set it up right and camp in sunny locations. I'd want to know more before I'd pin it down to 130w.e.

I just picked 130w because that what my in laws have and that's where I started pricing them out

Solar is wonderful if you set it up right and camp in sunny locations. I'd want to know more before I'd pin it down to 130w.

A generator is a simpler answer but a pain to deal with and listen to. A larger one can run the air and it doesn't care if it's cloudy.

For us it is both. Enough solar to let us do anything but run the air and a cheap generator we never need but it's nice it is there if we ever do. This may be "Sunny Colorado" but the monsoon can bring a week of clouds. We don't plan on conserving or going home early, so a back up is good to have.

Hi,

Set a budget. Reliable air conditioner use requires a 2800 watt genny, or a pair of 2000 watt units that are paralleled. It is always cheaper to stay at an inexpensive electric only campground than to run generators for powering an air conditioner.

Solar is a one time cost. Designed carefully it will extend battery life by years.

2oldman wrote:
Both 1 and 2.

Yup
All summer long, something like 90% of our trips are boon-docking. Often in sunny locations. The 60watts of panel is enough to ensure we don't need the gen-sets...
Except when the temps get too high, then the Honda's run the A/C

Come fall/winter/spring most of our trips are at full-service campgrounds

260W of solar, a controller, and 2 x GC26V's = $480, never remove or screw with a charger again and your 12V system is always ready to go. No AC possible.

1 Honda 2000 generator = $1000, haul it, gas it, chain it, and run it every day to charge your battery. AC improbable.

Both 1 and 2.