Understanding Solar
Okay, will target those with 5th wheels and using solar to help with off Grid camping. I have looked at the Renogy Portable suit case and that is a 100 watt system. I was thinking of getting 200 watts...
Forum Discussion
http://www.amazon.com/P3-P4400-Electricity-Usage-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1442115727&sr=8-1&keywords=kill+a+watt
Kill-a-watt will measure all the amperage going through it. Also you can leave it plugged in someplace in the RV all the time to monitor the voltage to the A/C when in a 30 amp campground, just unplug it if you are using a inverter to run the RV, and it will add a load to the RV.
The A/C will consume about 1,200 watts per hour, and while it can be done, the inverter alone needs to be 2,000 watts rating, with wiring rated to handle the 250+ amp start up load on the compressor, and would cost well over $2,000 to install. You would also need 4 golf cart batteries, and a minimum of about 1,000 watts of solar panels to run it.
So 'while it can be done' is it not practical, and is very unusual for anyone to actually run a A/C with anything but a generator.
I do not even run my microwave on the inverter, even though my MSW inverter is 1,500 watt rating, and the 4 golf cart batteries will put out the 150 amps it uses! The microwave no longer cooks as quickly, and had to be replaced. Now it is just generator or shore power for my microwave. .
I would recommend a 150 - 300 watt inverter, as these are the most energy efficient. Larger inverters use 3 amps per hour just to leave them on.
As for solar panels, check out the prices here. SunElec.com THey had a 140 watt panel for $229 a few weeks ago. You will want 12 volt nominal output (about 20 volts open circuit with no load on it) Then buy a 20 amp PWM controller for about $35. The more expensive MPPT controller are no longer worth it, it would be less expensive to buy more panels than to gain the extra 10% that you can collect with the MPPT controller.
Good luck on your project!
Fred.
Kill-a-watt will measure all the amperage going through it. Also you can leave it plugged in someplace in the RV all the time to monitor the voltage to the A/C when in a 30 amp campground, just unplug it if you are using a inverter to run the RV, and it will add a load to the RV.
The A/C will consume about 1,200 watts per hour, and while it can be done, the inverter alone needs to be 2,000 watts rating, with wiring rated to handle the 250+ amp start up load on the compressor, and would cost well over $2,000 to install. You would also need 4 golf cart batteries, and a minimum of about 1,000 watts of solar panels to run it.
So 'while it can be done' is it not practical, and is very unusual for anyone to actually run a A/C with anything but a generator.
I do not even run my microwave on the inverter, even though my MSW inverter is 1,500 watt rating, and the 4 golf cart batteries will put out the 150 amps it uses! The microwave no longer cooks as quickly, and had to be replaced. Now it is just generator or shore power for my microwave. .
I would recommend a 150 - 300 watt inverter, as these are the most energy efficient. Larger inverters use 3 amps per hour just to leave them on.
As for solar panels, check out the prices here. SunElec.com THey had a 140 watt panel for $229 a few weeks ago. You will want 12 volt nominal output (about 20 volts open circuit with no load on it) Then buy a 20 amp PWM controller for about $35. The more expensive MPPT controller are no longer worth it, it would be less expensive to buy more panels than to gain the extra 10% that you can collect with the MPPT controller.
Good luck on your project!
Fred.
