Going solar
Am considering installing two extra batterys an a 100 watt solar panel a top our Lance 881 . What type of controller an monitor would be needed? Any suggestations on the size an make of the inverter n...
Forum Discussion
"...Do you really need that 120v appliance or can you do it with propane instead? (cooking, heating, making coffee, etc.).."
If you have the solar and batteries, then why not. Elaine figures that it costs nothing (now that it is paid for) to use the m/w to make a cup of tea, defrost, cook and it doesn't heat up the place. The same is true for running the fridge and a/c. If we are camped in heavy shadow or stuck with 8" of snow on the roof, then we change energy strategy. If we run the fridge on ac overnight, we wake up with a -3000 to 4000 Wh deficit. Charging at up to 1300 W (900 is more likely with cloud cover, solar angle etc), we are fully charged by noon. We are probably running 6000 to 7000 Wh daily under these circumstance, more if we use a/c.
Reed and Elaine
If you have the solar and batteries, then why not. Elaine figures that it costs nothing (now that it is paid for) to use the m/w to make a cup of tea, defrost, cook and it doesn't heat up the place. The same is true for running the fridge and a/c. If we are camped in heavy shadow or stuck with 8" of snow on the roof, then we change energy strategy. If we run the fridge on ac overnight, we wake up with a -3000 to 4000 Wh deficit. Charging at up to 1300 W (900 is more likely with cloud cover, solar angle etc), we are fully charged by noon. We are probably running 6000 to 7000 Wh daily under these circumstance, more if we use a/c.
Reed and Elaine
