Um, more on generators?

[newcomers]

I read the closed forum on generators and learned a lot, everyone seems to like champion. I had done some reading and found solar panels are often used to keep the battery charged, and I found a solar generator that can store power so I wondered why not use one for keeping stuff running quietly. Has anyone had any experience with solar generators in their RV's?

[JiminDenver]

Naneen

I got lucky and found two big panels for $50 each on craigslist and then added the controller and cords for a total of a bit under $200 to run one of them. I can spend $140 for a second controller and cords for the other panel but I just don't need the power.

This is a work up I did last week for the 100w set up for $200


100w for $200

Now the easiest way to get to 200 watt is going to be to double this. You could hinge the panels if you want or leave them separate for easier carrying. You would need to get a set of Y connectors and the next step up in controller.

West is right that SolarBlvd.com is a good shop, The only thing I would worry about is the shipping to Maine. I checked the shipping to Portland and you are looking at $158 for a 235w panel and $98 shipping. Still doable with the $100 controller and cords for $400

I did check the craigslist for Maine and found a 245w panel for $233. Sounds pricy but with no taxes or delivery it would save you over the above panel and shipping.

245w panel

To that I would add the same solar cables as the 100w kits and this controller.

Eco-worthy 20a MPPT controller

This the controller I use with my 230w panel. Not the fanciest but it does the job well.

So those are the basic components and you wouldn't need much more than a screw driver to put it together. You will have to create the run from the controller which I can't do for you because I don't know where you are putting the controller. Tell us the distance to the battery (shorter is better) and we can help you with wire size etc.

I use a pair of pine slates the length of the short side and a couple of c-clamps to hold my panel up. That way it is easy to adjust and they come off for travel or when I lay it flat on some logs for ventilation.

As with the 100w kit I didn't spend a long time looking this up. There mey be shops nearer to you that would do a better price on the panel or cheaper delivery.

Last thing with the big panel is to look at the weight and size. I'm a big boy and have no issues moving one around but it still takes two of us to get it in and out of the trailer. We put ours on the bed, in the walkway or on the roof of the SUV for travel. Just something to think about.

[westend]

Downloadable spreadsheet for calculating power use

Solar Blvd., a resller of modules and components at reasonable prices. Their customer service is pretty good, too.

[naneen]

JiminDenver wrote:


The easiest way is leaving the system portable. I have a 230w panel, a set of 25ft wires, and a controller that hooks to the battery. I set it in the sun in the morning and adjust it though out the day for the best exposure. Off the shelf it would cost around $400, about the same as a 70w kit here. 3 times the power for just a bit of learning and effort. A 100w set up is close to $200.

Currently our set up does well for us. We can run our trailer without worrying about the battery. That includes having the thermostat set at a comfortable level day and night, lighting the trailer end to end at night including the big porch light and we do use smaller inverters to run smaller items.

Jim in Denver - where did you purchase your components? We found a site Go Power (we use their lamps - they are awesome) that sells a portable 160W set up for $600. You price is much better!

[JiminDenver]

newcomers wrote:
http://www.thepowerapp.com/ The "humless" generator. Supposed to be quiet and can be charged with AC power and then stored. I don't know much about supplemental power, but if I was dry camping and I wanted to keep my computer or electronics charged or the fridge if I ran out of propane. IDK, i am just looking at lots of different things. I looked at genneys, but the one I looked at was way too heavy to pick up and if you want to keep things running while you're gone leaving it in the truck wouldn't make much sense. I was also thinking about it as a backup at home in case of power failures

The humless generator is pretty much like your rig. Charge it at home and it runs things for a time until the battery is depleted. You can add battery to your rig and buy a inverter that will run what you want for much less money.

When we do use our generator it is for one of three things. Run the AC, run the Microwave or charge our battery. The first two are direct things that if the generator is running we can use those. The battery runs everything else in between generator runs. How much battery you need depends on how much power you use.

As far as weight goes, anything that has a deep cycle and a larger inverter in it is going to weigh as much as a Champion 3100i (70 lbs) that will run your AC. Smaller units that can be combined weight less and are easier to move around individually.

Three years ago I was at the point you are now. Even though we had been camping for decades, tents don't use power and our biggest concern was if the ice melted. I spent the first winter researching generators, over a year setting up the solar and batteries and am still deciding on a larger inverter. This is the first year it has all come together and it is wonderful.

[JiminDenver]

The people that sell the solar generators and most of the solar kits are preying on the uniformed. The lucky ones start researching, the unlucky ones find out that any decent load will drain the battery quickly and it will be days before the tiny solar panel will charge it back up.

The good news is that now that you are interested and now have the opportunity to become informed. You will find there are easy ways to determine how much power you use, how much battery you need to provide it and how much solar you need to keep those charged.

Once you understand a bit more you'll see that the components are much less expensive if purchased separately and unlike a kit where everything is one box before you connect them together, these will come in separate boxes before you do the same thing.

The easiest way is leaving the system portable. I have a 230w panel, a set of 25ft wires, and a controller that hooks to the battery. I set it in the sun in the morning and adjust it though out the day for the best exposure. Off the shelf it would cost around $400, about the same as a 70w kit here. 3 times the power for just a bit of learning and effort. A 100w set up is close to $200.

Currently our set up does well for us. We can run our trailer without worrying about the battery. That includes having the thermostat set at a comfortable level day and night, lighting the trailer end to end at night including the big porch light and we do use smaller inverters to run smaller items.

We love the fact that we no longer use the generator to charge us up daily but we still need it for the air conditioning every so often. Like in solar the first step is to know how much power you need. After that you can consider other factors like weight, cost, noise level and whether or not the color will impress the neighbors.

So now you have home work to do. start by reading up on solar until you understand the basics, figure out your needs and then start picking out the components that will fill them. We will be happy to help out as much as we can but you have to get the process started.

[Veebyes]

Hmmmmm, looked at the website. By the time you buy all the stuff to make it work you are close to, if not over $2500.00. No thanks.

For that kind of money I can get a genny, a decent sized AGM battery & an inverter plus money left over for gas.

[newcomers]

http://www.thepowerapp.com/ The "humless" generator. Supposed to be quiet and can be charged with AC power and then stored. I don't know much about supplemental power, but if I was dry camping and I wanted to keep my computer or electronics charged or the fridge if I ran out of propane. IDK, i am just looking at lots of different things. I looked at genneys, but the one I looked at was way too heavy to pick up and if you want to keep things running while you're gone leaving it in the truck wouldn't make much sense. I was also thinking about it as a backup at home in case of power failures

[Crazy_Ray]

AS you see I have 405 watts of solar, can run my MW (but don;t) GREAT for charging my 4 btrys. LOVE MY SOLAR. Ray

[azrving]

I found other posts that show people running AC with 2400 watt Yamaha's after installing hard start kits. I don't like the idea of being right at the edge of the ability to power it but many are doing it. One person spoke of 1600 hours or more on their Yamaha 2400 $1500.00

[EsoxLucius]

One is not going to get much AC current out of 100 AH of battery.

[Led_67]

Very interesting when I checked out the link from Thats OK I seen that the solar generator is basically an inverter that has a lead acid (AGM) battery built into it... I think I will stay with the original solar panel concept

[deleted-2]

Hmmm...Yeti Solar Generator

[azrving]

What things do you want to run? If you want a/c you will have to go to something around 3500 watts. Maybe a little less but it depends on manufactures etc.
If you just want microwave and maybe a smaller hairdryer you may go 2000 watts.
If you want to stay out for say a week or so and just keep your battery up from using lights, water pump, ceiling vent you could go small and cheap.
If you are staying away from high draw items and dont want a big solar system, solar may do what you want.
If I was running my led tv or computer off it I would hesitate on the cheap one and get a Honda or Yamaha.
Dont go buy something from just what I said here. as you are doing, educate yourself
Others in here know A LOT and can help out.
They need to know what you are trying to accomplish.

[gbopp]

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