Generator vs solar power

[NonnaJ]

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?

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[pianotuna]

Almot wrote:
I think Pnichols meant - when propane furnace fails. Not really an emergency for most people, can be easily remedied with propane heater. I wouldn't be able to sleep with furnace cycling, anyway. Thick duvet is better - never fails 😉

I'd point out that most RV's come with 3 back up blue flame heaters. Otherwise known as a cook top propane stove. Not recommended for long term use--but it keeps you from freezing, so long as there is propane in the tank.

With the newer battery chemistries, solar could run an air conditioner. Some one is selling 250 watt used panels for $35 usd. $225 for a 500 watt system. Cover the roof and sides with panels.

[Mar-d-mar]

As someone trying to learn about whether I need to get solar or a portable generator, thanks for the healthy discussion. And also the belly laugh at the end!

[Boon_Docker]

MrWizard wrote:
we all feeeze too death

Okay everyone listen up. DON"T TURN THAT SOLAR OFF! :B

[MrWizard]

we all feeeze too death

[Boon_Docker]

Come on, tell us what happens after you turn the solar off. 😉

[Almot]

I should've said that title was (unintentionally) misleading, not confusing. Though it was probably both. As it often happens when people are asking about things they don't know about and, what's worse, not trying to understand.
Will solar generator charge their battery (FOR WHAT USE?), and will they have a power after they "turn it off".
I refuse to answer on what happens after you turn the solar off 🙂

[ReneeG]

Almot wrote:

BFL13 wrote:
Let it be only for something you cannot be blamed for.

Like South BC weather and forests that won't let you live off solar most of the time.

When environment and habits are different, different methods should apply.

The OP doesn't know much (if anything at all) about battery charging, generators or solar panels, otherwise he/she wouldn't have asked about "solar generators", not to mention the confusing title "Generator vs solar".

To me, "generator vs solar" wasn't confusing because before we got our solar, we relied entirely on our generator to recharge our batteries when dry camping. Now we rarely have to use the genny.

[Almot]

BFL13 wrote:
Let it be only for something you cannot be blamed for.

Like South BC weather and forests that won't let you live off solar most of the time.

When environment and habits are different, different methods should apply.

The OP doesn't know much (if anything at all) about battery charging, generators or solar panels, otherwise he/she wouldn't have asked about "solar generators", not to mention the confusing title "Generator vs solar".

[ReneeG]

I just found this YouTube on Micro-Air Easy Start that allows you to use AC with one generator as opposed to two pigtailed together or one huge one. Worth checking out.

[BFL13]

Phil is right! Redundancy is always a good thing when away from civilization. There are no fixed rules for how much is enough--everyone has his own situations to cover for.

At the very least, don't end up having to come home early and disappoint the DW and kids, because YOU didn't think ahead enough. 😞

Let it be only for something you cannot be blamed for.

[pnichols]

The OP's Jayco Hummingbird is an ultra light trailer.

But IMHO the Boy Scout approach should be the same whether it be a trailer, a 5'er, or a MH: To help maintain the full self-containment capability that it probably came with while out on RV trips containing some camping without hookups - and the unexpected happens - a Plan B consisting of a generator to convert the entire RV to all-electric - above what solar can provide - can be a trip-saving thing.

However, that's just my thinking based on our sometimes taking RV trips of many thousands of miles requiring the flexibility to reliably camp in both hookup and non-hookup places.

[Almot]

Unless you choose to install both an onboard tank, and a built-in generator in a 5th wheel :). Probably very few of them with this option from the factory, I haven't seen any yet, but possible, in theory. Must accept the consequences then.

[Darryl_Rita]

Unless your fifth wheel has both an onboard tank, and a built-in generator. Just sayin.

[Almot]

Your propane system is more complicated. In trailers and 5-ers there are no built-in tanks or onboard generators.