Comparing Solar Systems
I know this has been asked before! Yes I have found some great info in the archives, no I haven't found the answer I need.
My question is;
If currently we can go three days of dry camping(Hi Jolly for example) in the spring or fall, not needing to charge the batteries. Our rig is a 32 foot Adventurer with mostly LED lighting, most video stuff is 12vdc, TV is 120vac(requires using inverter), used maybe 2.5 hours if we watch a movie, normal draw for water heater and fridge and using a boombox on 12vdc maybe 2 to 3 hours a day instead of watching TV.
To extend our stay for a few more days, or indefinitely without using generator or engine to charge batteries, roughly what am I looking at adding. Of course I know there are tables to figure my average daily usage and I this is sort of cheating but would the general agreement be 2 GC2 batteries or will 4 batteries be absolutely necessary. How many panels totaling how many amps.
It is not going to be cheap to add two more batteries, the Adventurer is somewhat short on exterior storage and there is no room whatsoever in the understep battery compartment. While I have no problem installing the panels on the roof(there is a ton of info available from this site to help there) and wiring the new batteries if required or the panels and controller, I do not have the experience or equipment to weld together the steel to provide storage for the batteries.
This is my first foray into a real solar charge and maintenance system and I can do everything but the welding and it's not easy for me to sit down and fill out the estimating chart to determine what I will need. To be very clear it is a mental function I am not well equipped to do, I am severely dyslexic and get frustrated when faced with so many questions and need to remember things like how many hours a day we use appliances.
So if it is possible, how about some guesstimates to get me started on estimating costs, also what is a must read before I get too involved in this project.
TIA, d.e.bishop
My question is;
If currently we can go three days of dry camping(Hi Jolly for example) in the spring or fall, not needing to charge the batteries. Our rig is a 32 foot Adventurer with mostly LED lighting, most video stuff is 12vdc, TV is 120vac(requires using inverter), used maybe 2.5 hours if we watch a movie, normal draw for water heater and fridge and using a boombox on 12vdc maybe 2 to 3 hours a day instead of watching TV.
To extend our stay for a few more days, or indefinitely without using generator or engine to charge batteries, roughly what am I looking at adding. Of course I know there are tables to figure my average daily usage and I this is sort of cheating but would the general agreement be 2 GC2 batteries or will 4 batteries be absolutely necessary. How many panels totaling how many amps.
It is not going to be cheap to add two more batteries, the Adventurer is somewhat short on exterior storage and there is no room whatsoever in the understep battery compartment. While I have no problem installing the panels on the roof(there is a ton of info available from this site to help there) and wiring the new batteries if required or the panels and controller, I do not have the experience or equipment to weld together the steel to provide storage for the batteries.
This is my first foray into a real solar charge and maintenance system and I can do everything but the welding and it's not easy for me to sit down and fill out the estimating chart to determine what I will need. To be very clear it is a mental function I am not well equipped to do, I am severely dyslexic and get frustrated when faced with so many questions and need to remember things like how many hours a day we use appliances.
So if it is possible, how about some guesstimates to get me started on estimating costs, also what is a must read before I get too involved in this project.
TIA, d.e.bishop
