Generator vs solar power

if you want to use the AC I wouldn't count on solar myself.
bumpy

We have both. When we are in the sun and the solar is charging, we have no problem with the use of power, limited of course, but we can watch TV, DH can be on his laptop and I can run the vacuum, lights, etc., with no problem. If we end up in a shady site, our power (we have 4 deep cycle batteries) last a few days - probably 4 or 5, with limited use and no TV, no computer, lights only. We end up using our generator, so we always have it on hand just in case. But, we rarely need the generator. Bear in mind that solar setup for what you need will be different than what others may need. We can run everything in our FW on solar except the microwave, ceiling fan, fireplace, and AC, but we set ours up that way. If it's warm enough that we need the ceiling fan, we instead run a Turbo fan that we can plug in to an outlet. We can also plug in the motor for the inflatable hide a bed mattress. It works for us.

Apples and oranges.......
I have 2x100W panels which keep the batteries topped up during the summer/spring/fall (excluding AC); the other 3 months I have to use a generator (Yamaha 2000W) as the electrical loads are higher due to use of the furnace.

If you only camp during spring/summer/fall then solar will suffice (again excluding AC)

Bumpyroad wrote:
if you want to use the AC I wouldn't count on solar myself.
bumpy

Agree. I don't know of any RV solar system that can run an AC. For that reason, we are planning to buy an additional Honda generator to connect to our current to run the AC when it's unbearable.

Yes, Gerry, good points. We camp in the late Fall, early winter, but set our heater to 40 at night to keep the basement warm enough to keep from freezing, and then when we get up, use our portable Heater Buddy with fan to warm our rig. While we are warming up with the portable heater, our solar is recharging.

As far as cheaper, not necessarily. Our generator cost about $800 and another will be about the same if not a little more in order to run the AC. The solar system cost us around $1800 to install with all the parts, but you may not need the amount of solar power we do. I've seen a lot of portable solar panels connected to trailers in campgrounds. That type of setup is probably more cost efficient, but than again won't run your AC.

“Our 2018 Jayco Hummingbird is wired for solar power.” Wired for solar or some solar? What is wire size?

A good solar system recharges fully your adequate batteries (powering everything except AC) every day the sun shines. What could be easier? Yes, I carry a generator as backup and for AC. Start with an energy use survey. Then adequate batteries and a solar system designed to recharge them.

Hi,

It used to be impossible. Then it became outrageously expensive. Now it is down to a luxury price. I know of 4 individuals who run their air conditioning from solar.

Go to a 48 volt battery bank using LI chemistries of 12000 watt-hours.
Have a 4400 watt inverter/charger
add 1900 watts of solar with an appropriate charge controller.

I grant you that doing this is, on the face of it, more expensive than a generator. However in 19 years I've paid more than 11 grand for generators, not including repairs, fuel and oil changes. My solar is from 2005 and has not cost one single dime. At that time it was $5.50 per watt (batteries not included). Previous to Mr Trumps tariffs that would be well under $1 per watt today.

ReneeG wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:
if you want to use the AC I wouldn't count on solar myself.
bumpy

Agree. I don't know of any RV solar system that can run an AC.

Hi NonnaJ,

Welcome to the forums!

This series of articles may help you decide what you wish to do:

https://freecampsites.net/adding-solar/

NonnaJ wrote:
Our 2018 Jayco Hummingbird is wired for solar power. Should we buy a solar generator or skip the solar, park in the shade and by a gas generator?
Will it charge our battery so we can turn it off during "quiet times" and still have power?
Which way is cheaper?

NonnaJ wrote:
Our 2018 Jayco Hummingbird is wired for solar power. Should we buy a solar generator or skip the solar, park in the shade and by a gas generator?
Will it charge our battery so we can turn it off during "quiet times" and still have power?
Which way is cheaper?

I will always advocate for some solar. Usually 100 to 300 watts is fine for general use keeping the battery charged.

If you want 120vac you will need an inverter. Small items probably 300 watt inverter is plenty and fairly easy install. Larger items you need 2000 watts inverter 4+ batteries to drive it and a bit more complex to install. USB chargers direct off the battery are very efficient.

Air conditioning consumes a huge amount of power. To do this with solar is a grand scale project. If you really must have A/C consider camping with utility hookups. Are you really going to sit in your trailer all day while the generator runs 24/7? Not my idea of camping in the wild.

You really need to discover what you need when camping and what your style is. Solar and generator both have their place.