Solar battery charger question and generator question

Just got back from 7 days of dry camping. It was HOT most of the time. We ran our generator a few hours during the day just for the A/C, and several times so the wife could use the blow drier. Our converter has been shut off for at least a year now, so no battery charging from the gen at all. We have 150 watts of solar that kept our two 6 volt batteries topped off every day. We watched TV, listened to the radio, and had 2 roof vent fans running almost constantly, in addition to the usual battery consumers like fridge, water heater, water pump, lights, etc.

We run 2 x 100w solar panels for use at night and park in the shade! We have portable panels which are stowed in the rear locker space and permanent long leads connected direct to our house battery. The leads are coiled up on top of the battery and when stopped we just pull them out and use the quick Mc4 connectors. Yes we have to move the panels sometimes during the day as well to ensure best charge.

The biggest problem I see with solar, is that it requires direct sun. So instead of parking your rv in the dark shade of trees where it will be cool, you will always be parking in the direct sun, where it will heat up you rv. So you your rv will always be hot in the day time but you will not have enough power to run the AC. I don't know about anyone else, but I am always look for the darkest shaded spot to park my rv in. Not good for solar though.

I have used and now use both solar and a generator.
Due to my camping style, im in the woods under thick trees most of the time, so the generator gets the most use. My solar is not mounted to my rv, its free standing but i still have a difficult time finding and following sunny spots throughout the day.

Generator use in NP's usually have hour restrictions regulated by individual parks.
You might find it easier to lift and move a 46 lb. 2000 watt generator like a honda 2000 that can be paired to an additional unit giving you a total of 4000 watts. Otherwise a 3000 watt might be in the 100 lb range. If you can manage the weight, go for one single unit.
IF not......
You would use only one 2000 watt generator until you needed to run your a/c. A 13,500 A/C will probably need more than 2000 watts to get it going unless you install a hard start capacitor on the RV a/c unit.

http://www.modmyrv.com/2009/05/27/rv-air-conditioner-hard-start-capacitor

For solar I recommend 200 to 400 watts.

Generator I recommend 2x Honda 2000 or Honda 3000.

I have not owned a generator, and have been camping in a trailer for about 15 years. BUT, we camp in the mountains in the west, so it is rare that it is so hot that we would have liked to run the AC.

We have had 100w solar, 200w solar, and now (overkill) 320w solar, all roof-mounted panels. With only 100w, we would occasionally draw battery down low. Once I added a second battery (110aH ea), we only ran low if it rained 3 days straight. After adding the second panel, we have never run low on power.

So, my current setup of 2 110aH batteries and 320w of solar (overkill, as 200 would be fine), even with no sun for days, or camped under trees, we get enough solar input to top-off our batteries daily.

Now, if you camp where it is over 85° and humid, you likely want a generator, or pair of Hondas, to run AC. Pair of Hondas are easier to move than a single generator, but more expensive. Don't bother the neighbors, though. Generator noise is annoying to most of us who can camp without.

kerrlakeRoo wrote:
X-2 on the genny, and will go on to explain,,,,,
With a genny, 3000 watt or more, you will be able to recharge your batteries, as well as run either your AC, Microwave, or a coffeepot, not all of them at once but you can choose. If you live somewhere that you may occasionally lose power due to weather, you can use it to power electronics, lights, Refrigerator at home also.
With a smaller genny you can recharge batteries but AC and othe functions can become questionable.
With Solar , you can recharge batteries whenever you have sufficient sun available to provide what you need, And you will be surprised how well it does at recharging the system.
Now,,, what do you need to do?

As to size 3000 watts is about a minimum for running an AC and with you having a 30+ foot unit it's likely a 15K btu so go a little bigger if possible.
Cheap open frame units are functional and will work to the point that they will perform the functions you listed. Cost would be anywhere from $280 to $329. They will be loud and annoy you and everyone around you on most occasions and may cause problems with some neighbors.
Inverter units are much quieter, / less noisy but the cost is about triple.
Cheapest inverters are Harbor freight 3500 for $649,,, to Honda 3000 for about $1995, and there are a host of models in between.
Happy huntin.

I like solar but also carry a Westinghouse Inverter...very rarely used. Solar system should have at least 1 solar watt per battery AH. But when you buy a solar controller buy bigger than you think you need so that you can add panels. Most solar systems and batteries won't run AC, many will have trouble running the microwave for anything but the shortest time but everything else (including TVs, radio and fans) can be used via batteries charged by solar. If you camp next to me I'll be charging my batteries from sun up to sun down...and you won't hear anything...hint, hint.

X-2 on the genny, and will go on to explain,,,,,
With a genny, 3000 watt or more, you will be able to recharge your batteries, as well as run either your AC, Microwave, or a coffeepot, not all of them at once but you can choose. If you live somewhere that you may occasionally lose power due to weather, you can use it to power electronics, lights, Refrigerator at home also.
With a smaller genny you can recharge batteries but AC and othe functions can become questionable.
With Solar , you can recharge batteries whenever you have sufficient sun available to provide what you need, And you will be surprised how well it does at recharging the system.
Now,,, what do you need to do?

I went more than 30 years without using a generator, or solar, but that was primarily for shorter camping trips, long weekends mostly with occasional week to 10 days. If you're only going to be camping a few days in one spot, you can just go with a beefed up battery bank and a little conservation unless you need the microwave, air conditioning etc.

If you don't have a generator already, my recommendation would be to start with one of those, then supplement with solar if and when you can. Generators offer a lot of flexibility, work virtually everywhere, and can provide a lot of power if you get the right one. They are however in my opinion, often a pain in the backside.

For ac use, you'll almost certainly need a generator of 3000 watts or more to work reliably, especially at altitude and when anything else in the trailer might be drawing power. I recommend an inverter unit as they tend to be much quieter, and less annoying to your neighbors.

Welcome to the madness