using solar power

[trx680]

Anyone here use solar panels to power their rvs when set up in a campground?

what do you power? And how many watts do you?

[reed_cundiff]

Routinely run the Dometic fridge on solar during day if not to hot. If it will be sunny the next day, we run the fridge 24 hours/day. Start the day down about -3500 W-hrs when we do. It is quite hot now and we leave it on propane so that we can hit the a/c for an hour or so several times a day to keep temp below 85. Use the 12 V fans when a/c is off.

We found 400 amp-hours (12 V) of glass mat and 700 W of solar quite sufficient. Older son admits he went overboard on current system with 1400 W and 9600 W-hrs of LFP. He noted we could put on 700W and 9600 W-hrs but it is absurd enough.

I have read that Tesla will sell their 50 kW-hr(if they have any of these left) and 90 kW-hr Lithium Cobalt car systems - or at least charge $12K for trade in of an old battery suite for their vehicles (9 kilo-amp-hours at 12 V or so). You could run an a/c for 24 hours a day if you had 2400 W on roof (which is possible on a motorhome or large 5th wheel). Liberty Coaches has between 20 and 30 kW-hour systems on their Liberty Ladies now (quite a bit out our demographic and interest).
Reed and Elaine

[reed_cundiff]

Routinely run the Dometic fridge on solar during day if not to hot. If it will be sunny the next day, we run the fridge 24 hours/day. Start the day down about -3500 W-hrs when we do. It is quite hot now and we leave it on propane so that we can hit the a/c for an hour or so several times a day to keep temp below 85. Use the 12 V fans when a/c is off.

We found 400 amp-hours (12 V) of glass mat and 700 W of solar quite sufficient. Older son admits he went overboard on current system with 1400 W and 9600 W-hrs of LFP. He noted we could put on 700W and 9600 W-hrs but it is absurd enough.

I have read that Tesla will sell their 50 kW-hr(if they have any of these left) and 90 kW-hr Lithium Cobalt car systems - or at least charge $12K for trade in of an old battery suite for their vehicles (9 kilo-amp-hours at 12 V or so). You could run an a/c for 24 hours a day if you had 2400 W on roof (which is possible on a motorhome or large 5th wheel). Liberty Coaches has between 20 and 30 kW-hour systems on their Liberty Ladies now (quite a bit out our demographic and interest).
Reed and Elaine

[reed_cundiff]

We have only hooked up or used generator once in last 13 months. Haved used combination of 1420 W of solar and 9600 W-hrs of LFP to run ac up to 3.5 hours. We pulled into an RV park in Richland, WA (first RV park in 4 to 5 weeks) and it was 101. I was ready to fall on sword and hook up Elaine said to not hook up and just run off the solar/LFP battery suite. Ran it for two hours and cooled interior down from 96 to 83 and only used 2500 W-hours of battery (25% DOD and we can go down to 80% DOD). It is possible and it is feasible. Like many things in life, it is a matter of choice. ROI is about two years.
Reed and Elaine

[pianotuna]

Hi Don,

My solar routinely sends amps back to the engine. I have seen up to 7 but more usually 3 or 4. So you don't need an "all electric" rv to have benefits to the alternator.

DSDP Don wrote:
Not only does solar help when camping, but it also helps when driving. If you have an all electric coach or one like ours that has a residential refer and several other systems running, the solar takes the load off of the alternator while driving.

[John___Angela]

harold1946 wrote:
If no hookups, then yes.
Everything in the RV. TV, residential refrigerator, 2-PCs & printer, microwave, garbage disposal,lights,appliances.
860 watts of solar.

Pretty much a ditto here. 800 watts.

[DSDP_Don]

Not only does solar help when camping, but it also helps when driving. If you have an all electric coach or one like ours that has a residential refer and several other systems running, the solar takes the load off of the alternator while driving.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I too, use solar when ever the sun is shining.

I'm ready for phase three which will be upgrading my solar farm to enough panels to run the air conditioner. Phase one was a large battery bank. Phase two was a Magnum 3000 watt "hybrid" inverter.

I'm very much torn by phase three--do I add to what I have (which works extremely well) or do I start over?

[RE_Todd]

I never change over to my battery charger, the solar keeps everything full and maintained.

[MrWizard]

trx680 wrote:
how many watts for running the rooftop a/c?

I won't say impossible
IT'S JUST NOT FEASIBLE !

You would need a very large battery bank and about two Thousand watts worth of solar panels and a 3000w or larger inverter
The avg roof top a/c. draws over 1200w of Power
The polar cub draws 900+ watts of power

[2oldman]

This is a good place to start for some basic education:
12v side of life.

[trx680]

how many watts for running the rooftop a/c?

[wallynm]

Our solar story.

solar

trx680 wrote:
Anyone here use solar panels to power their rvs when set up in a campground?

what do you power? And how many watts do you?

[camper19709]

When there is no electric at the campsite I use solar power. Solar power for everything except the a/c and the microwave. I have one 120watt solar panel.

[rexlion]

I used a 75W panel. I used lights, fan, water pump, and occasionally (one warm-up in the a.m.) the furnace. Also charging phone and camera batteries. 75W was plenty for my needs.