Solar or Generator??

[Ramblin_Recks]

We are going to have some short boon-docking trips (3-4 days). I do not know my actual energy needs right now, but the DW and I are conservative when it comes to water and power. I really just want to get the biggest return on my $1400.00 budget for this project.

So initially I plan to get 2 T-145s, Trimetric monitor, and then I get bogged down solar or generator…

If it is a generator, I’m leaning towards a Honda EU2000i, or a Yamaha EF2400SHC and a new converter/charger (like maybe PowerMax PM4B Boondocker).

I’m thinking the generator is more versatile and could be used for other tasks than charging the batteries. I know I need to carry gasoline, but that’s ok.

If its solar, I’m thinking this system is “set-it and forget-it”, once it is installed making it easy to keep the batteries charged… but only to charge batteries. I think I would need to buy 4 T-145s (or 105) for solar. Then I start

thinking about my pin weight, I have not got mine weighed yet , but 4 batteries would be about 250-300 lbs., and we added the W/D Stack in the front closet. My BFT can handle it, but I like to keep the “weight police” at bay ;).

Solar or Generator??

Thanks for your thoughts.

[BFL13]

For the Purist: Here's a guy camping at Rathtrevor the last couple of days-- No car, no generator, no solar, no nothin'

Pup tent, kyak (paddle, no motor) Freezing at night, no girl or dog in sleeping bag to keep him warm. Presumably working his way up or down-Island by sea.

Almot's kind of guy! 🙂 No thanks! I like the 5er, furnace, and inverter powered everything! 🙂 (At least most of the recent snow has melted)

[pnichols]

JiminDenver wrote:
That was before I listened to the Champ run for 2 hrs a day for a season AND before I found my cheap panels. It's not bad INSIDE the rig but pity the fool that has to put up with it outside.

What was the dB sound spec for that Champ?

I'd like to compare it's spec to the noise level spec of our little Honda EX650 charging generator.

[mena661]

I don't see how an almost shaded CG is rare. Tons of shaded CG's everywhere. There's a CG about 45 mins from where I live (that's the closest that fits RV's believe it or not) that is totally shaded. Solar would not work there at all either.

[BFL13]

Almot posted--"Forget about that photo by BFL13 titled "Good luck with any solar here". He probably stayed there 1 or 2 days, and scared the heck out of you all"

Poor old Almot for whom a picture is not worth a thousand words 🙂

Just got home from same place, different site, (Rathtrevor) same deal. Did two nights, needed recharge today down 322AH, at 12.1v, but came home, so it is getting done on converter at home.

I sure could have used PT's 15AH/day of solar- ha ha.

Here's another scary picture when I tried a solar panel there--got a whole half an amp!



Same site two days ago. Forget solar it's all trees all the time (they put in new picnic tables)

[pianotuna]

Hi Snowman,

The reason I chose UniSolar was because it had no glass. When I purchased them they were $5.50 per watt. That meant going with the Blue Sky 3024di MPPT to grab every erg of power I could.

My system is serials parallel and by happenstance works better than my wildest dreams.

When/if I add 800 more watts I'll be considering poly, but size will definitely be an issue.

Snowman9000 wrote:
At rated watts, your panel makes 2.4x the watts per square inch of what the Unisolars do. I would like to know how they compare per square inch in the shade. I am doubtful the Unisolars regain the advantage on that basis.

[JiminDenver]

Dave

That was before I listened to the Champ run for 2 hrs a day for a season AND before I found my cheap panels. It's not bad INSIDE the rig but pity the fool that has to put up with it outside. Comparing that season with having solar last year is just something you have to go through to appreciate the silence of the panel.

I may just insult them both and pick up a Champion 3100i with remote start.

Mister generator will have his day eventually. The solar will just make it easier for him to run the AC at 10,000 ft when needed. Last year was very cool with a high of 80 once while we were up there. The year before we saw record highs for two weeks.

[pnichols]

crosscheck wrote:
Back then you had JiminDenver saying he wouldn't get solar and pnichols is now talking flexible solar panels.

I've always been a fan of portable solar panels or fuel cells ... since day one! 😉

That is after, or in addition to, a small quiet fuel efficient generator for maximum camping flexibility once one spends all that time and money to get out and about with one's RV -> in other words, always be ready for anything.

I also don't trust putting more holes in the roof than what's already there, we like to camp in shaded spots, and we don't trust Mother Nature anymore to always provide several days in a row of sunshine. 😉

[Snowman9000]

JiminDenver wrote:
I know that PT gets more out of his 256w in shade or cloud than I do with my 230w poly. My 230w poly gets more than my 220w mono, it can't even wake up the controller in cloud cover that the poly can pull 4-5a.

Part of a balanced system is also knowing your needs and what conditions you will be in. In my case we had 2 days of total sun, 3 days of total cloud cover and the rest were early sun and clouds by noon. So poly is the best mix of the two extremes. 16a in good sun and at least enough in the clouds to get back to float.

Remember that if you have enough power for the low light times, you will always be happy. Only have power while the sun shines and eventually you will say hello to my little friend, mister generator.

At rated watts, your panel makes 2.4x the watts per square inch of what the Unisolars do. I would like to know how they compare per square inch in the shade. I am doubtful the Unisolars regain the advantage on that basis.

[crosscheck]

For some of us it has been a long winter so I thought I,d add a link to a thread a few years back that might put a smile on your face.

Back then you had JiminDenver saying he wouldn't get solar and pnichols is now talking flexible solar panels.

What is this world coming to?

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/25514288.cfm

Since this link a few years back,we have added another 140W panel and now George is really PO'd.

Dave

[EsoxLucius]

120 watt UniSolar for $120 on Craigslist: http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/rvs/4331404856.html

[JiminDenver]

This listing on ebay for the 65w roll for $144 shipped is interesting because it uses velcro. I really like the idea even though I'd buy the larger rolls for $199 and add my own velco.

click

I could have them on the roof unless we were in the shade. Zip them off and they could go on the ground in the sun. The best of both worlds. 🙂

[JiminDenver]

Uni-solar is out of business so warranty is out of the question. Considering the difference in cost, pnichols could buy several, have back ups in case of a failure and still be ahead of the game.

Also I wouldn't consider them even with a warranty if they had a lot of bad reviews or reports of failure. I'm sure they are some out there but I can't remember any.

Good question on the new roof question. There may be something that will release the glue but I'd probably just cut the rolls out of the old roof and glue both to the new roof.

pnichols, I found a spec sheet on the PVL series 144w and it does have the triple-junction tech.

[pnichols]

Thanks much for that excellent Uni-Solar link! Great prices per watt ... considering they're rollable panels for easy storage between campsites.

I wonder if their rollable panels in your link also happen to be using their triple-junction technology for maximum efficiency in grey sky conditions?:

http://www.solarelectricsupply.com/solar-panels/uni-solar/unisolar-us-64-solar-panel

[suprz]

pnichols wrote:

JiminDenver wrote:
I'd be looking for some Uni-solar rolls. Last time I checked, 65w was $100 or so.

Thanks for jogging my memory on Uni-Solar.

This Aussie link for them shows powers for their flex panels only going up to 32 watts:

http://www.unisolar.com.au/index.html

Do you have a better link for Uni-Solar ... perhaps an American distributor?

Thanks in advance.

I like the Unisolar panels, but i think they went bankrupt? or out of business? That is what alot of the reviews on Amazon had and people were wondering about if there were warranty issues, how do they get that taken care of. Plus, these panels are Peel and Stick, so if you have to get a new roof on the coach, how do you get them off? or do you have to get a new panel??
.

[JiminDenver]

pnichols wrote:

JiminDenver wrote:
I'd be looking for some Uni-solar rolls. Last time I checked, 65w was $100 or so.

Thanks for jogging my memory on Uni-Solar.

This Aussie link for them shows powers for their flex panels only going up to 32 watts:

http://www.unisolar.com.au/index.html

Do you have a better link for Uni-Solar ... perhaps an American distributor?

Thanks in advance.

I found them on amazon but they were pricy at $229.

On ebay the 65w go for as low as $149 but there is also 144w rolls for $199.

Here is a link to a store that has them also.

link

If you remember cruz, he put 4 rolls on his rig, 2 65w and 2 128w and was quite happy with them.