Boondocking and working with no electricity
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Mar-15-2021 08:25 AM
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Oct-24-2021 09:35 PM
To put it another way, it cost me a few hundred bucks for a decent 120 watt solar panel, and several hundred for my almost never used Honda generator. You would have to pay me a LOT of money to give up my solar panel and run my generator instead.
2013 Toyota Tacoma Off-Road (semi-beefy tires and components)
Our trips -- pix and text
About our trailer
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single list."
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Oct-24-2021 07:47 PM
Components:
- 200-500w (depending on how much you need) USED solar panels: $50-120.
(you can find great used panels on craigslist, FB marketplace, etc)
- Charge controller: $20-$80 (depending on a few things)
- Wires and connectors: $20
- Inline fuse: $10
Total cost: $100-$200.
When you park, hook up your portable panels and point them towards the sun. Free electricity from that day forward.
You should also have a battery monitor. I use this one for ~$45 and it tells me everything I need to know...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FGFFHC6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
If you only have 1 coach battery, you definitely need to add a 2nd. With that and solar, you will probably never need your generator (but you'll have it just in case you do).
Good luck!
Chris
Own two 2015 Thor Majestic 28a Class C RVs
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Oct-24-2021 06:59 AM
cyrus799 wrote:
How long will the RV battery last boondocking?
There is a different answer to this question for every RV. As an example:
In 2011 we spent 2 weeks boondocking in Yellowstone National Park in September. The days were warm enough there was no need for a jacket, but the nights got down into the mid 20's. Cold. We got there with a fully charged battery. The first night, we set the furnace thermostat at 65 degrees. About 3am, the battery was dead. The next morning, we used the generator to charge the battery back up to an estimated 80% SOC or 90% SOC. Every night thereafter, we set the furnace thermostat at 50 degrees, and slept under 2 comforters. First thing in the morning, we set it back up to 69 degrees, and in 15 or 20 minutes, the RV was warm. We got 2 nights out of the batteries doing that.
So, on that one trip, we had 6 hours and 48 hours on the same batteries in the same RV. It depended on our usage.
2017 F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab w/Max Tow Package 3.5l EcoBoost V6
2017 Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB
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Mar-19-2021 05:28 PM
MitchF150 wrote:
Power ain't free no matter how you choose to get it.. Choose your poison on how you wish to get it and go from there..
Solar costs a lot to start off with, but as long as you have sun, you can run your A/C on it if you have a system to handle it.
Good luck! Mitch.
if you can install the pannels and such your self a solare system is about 1/2 the price of a gen (well let me quallify that, I installed 325 watt 24v pannel with a 40amp Mppt controler and all the wires and such. that cost me 580.00 CDN (so about 29.99 US 😉 ) and a honda 1000 would have run me 1200.00 for me to add a second 325 watt pannel is 200.00 and I know the solar is way cheeper un the US.
Steve
2016 Cougar 330RBK
1991 Slumber Queen WS100
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Mar-19-2021 01:57 PM
People from 65 degree Pacific Norwet seem to forget this.
People whose rig goes to 125 degrees in the afternoon sun take it into account.
Boondocking is a fair weather sport.
My dream was a 2-axle U haul type utilities trailer clad with flip up side awnings, dead quieted generator, etc. Park it in the sunlight.
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Mar-19-2021 09:25 AM
MitchF150 wrote:
Solar costs a lot to start off with, but as long as you have sun, you can run your A/C on it if you have a system to handle it.
Gens are easy, but loud and use a lot of gas if you are running an Onan just to charge the batteries..
Upfront cost of a modest solar is way less than the cost of Honda generator. The problem with many users - they buy a generator before they learn how to do solar, even in sunnier places. It will of course take more than a modest solar to run A/C reliably. This is one thing that is difficult on solar. Everything else is feasible, especially with large Li bank.
If laptop is their biggest worry, Li bank alone can be a solution, with occasional charging by either generator or a small solar, or going back to shore power once in a while.
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Mar-16-2021 09:47 AM
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold
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Mar-16-2021 09:43 AM
https://www.facebook.com/Pilot-Bill-Perkins-Exotic-Living-And-Travels-in-Far-East-and-SE-Asia-1425108021122523
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Mar-16-2021 09:40 AM
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Mar-16-2021 09:25 AM
Look to get a solar system!!!
$250 will get you 200 watts, a charge controller and wires. Can you do basic handy man stuff? Mount them yourself, there is 1,000s of forum threads on this right here.
Otherwise, you will be putting some hard "miles" on your RV batteries by running them low, charging them back, running them los, over n over.
Solar is the easiest way. You will be glad u did.
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Mar-16-2021 08:04 AM
theoldwizard1 wrote:Lwiddis wrote:
"Solar generators" are expensive, low powered.
Most pre-packages solutions (like Jackery, EGO and Bluetti) are way over priced ! Quick rant about "solar generators"
DIY Portable Solar Generator (minus panels)
That's Will..He did have good reviews on a couple solar generators and recommended them...Personally,owning three in total,they have there purpose for some,not all..Take my Jackery 240..Runs my cpap/charges my phones and laptop and even runs my Engel 12v compressor fridge for over 24 hrs for less than $200..That's less than a good 12V battery and it comes with an MPPT controller/PSW inverter and a 12v regulated socket and again,less than $200..I do not think that is over priced..
400 watts solar mounted/200 watts portable
500ah Lifep04
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Mar-16-2021 07:45 AM
Lwiddis wrote:
"Solar generators" are expensive, low powered.
Most pre-packages solutions (like Jackery, EGO and Bluetti) are way over priced ! Quick rant about "solar generators"
DIY Portable Solar Generator (minus panels)
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Mar-16-2021 07:40 AM
Almot wrote:
Yep. The best kept secret of generator users :)... When it's not charged fully every day and not equalized once a week, it won't last long.
Don't let them drop below 50% and recharge to at least 80%+ and should be fine as long as you get them up to 100% every week or two...which if the OP is going back to a campground every other week as suggested will happen.
This is has been standard practice for decades with cruising boats. Operate between 50-80% with occasional runs up to 100%. Nothing unusual to get 5-10yrs out of a battery bank doing this.
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV
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Mar-16-2021 07:28 AM
Rocky2 wrote:
A little off topic but having a battery pack to charge your cell phones and laptops is inexpensive insurance for essentials go dead.
A battery pack big enough to charge a laptop can be pretty expensive !