now researching solar power

Super_Dave wrote:
I originally wanted solar and a generator but could only afford a generator to start. 6 years later, the generator has been all I needed. A little run time at meals has been enough to keep the batteries charged and run the 110v appliances. Hard if not impossible for solar to keep up with running 110v.

Before solar, in our other TC, every morning I had to go outside and start up the genny to grind coffee. Then it's "Honey, I need to dry my hair. Can you turn on the Genny?" which ran full throttle. Later on "I want to make some marguaritas in the blender. Can you run the generator?"

She can't have breakfast without toast. There I go out again and fire the genny up again only this time it's running at full throttle.

Leave the TC for awhile on the beach while we go sight seeing. Get back and after a few days off the truck, try to raise the TC with the remote. Batteries dead. Back to the generator.

Want to make some pop corn or warm up some left overs. Not the genny again. Hey, we have to charge all of the our small electronic appliance batteries like cellphones, cameras, Ipad and laptop, guess what, they all are 120V so again have to start the friggin generator.

Oh, I forgot the 120V TV. "Lets watch a movie tonight and get cozy, honey," she says. So, guess how much fun it is watching TV and listening to the genny at the same time. Ya real intimate.

Fast forward to now. All of the previous 120V appliances are powered by inverters(2000W and a smaller one) and almost entirely, the power is coming from solar and the alternator when travelling.

Just to muddy the waters a bit, an AC/DC, 7.5cuft fridge/freezer is running 24/7. No A/C.

Some numbers for the nay sayers:

180: number of nights camped with present TC
2: nights with electric hook ups.
3: hours Honda 2000 with present TC

We are smart with our electric consumption but we do not live in a cave.

Dave