Forum Discussion
JimK-NY
Aug 18, 2022Explorer II
The math rarely works out well for RV solar panels running an RV A/C unit. A typical RV A/C pulls roughly 1000 watts. If you look for a small unit figure 700 watts. I would not try to go below that because the unit would not keep up. So you want to run a roughly 700 watt unit with 600 watts of solar? It looks like you live in Northern CA. Solar calculators show your 600 watts in Northern CA on this date would produce a theoretical maximum of 270 A/H. That is enough to run your A/C for a total of 4.7 hours a day. Of course that would be with no other use of electricity with perfect conditions, no clouds, no shade, no dirt on the panels and panels that actually perform to specs. On top of all of that, you need to keep your RV in the blazing sun. I have found that my TC just plain cooks like a tin can in the sun.
I have done a lot of camping in desert Southwest some of it in the summer with temps up in the 90s. If I am driving, I keep the pass-through windows open and a vent open in the camper. The truck A/C does a pretty good job of keeping the temps in the RV reasonable. When I am camped, I try to keep in the shade. Usually, I would need to run the A/C on generator for an hour or so in the evening to cool everything down well. Then I can get by with a small relatively quiet fan that blows air across the bed. When it is too hot for that, I look for hook ups or even better get out of Dodge.
A more feasible budget friendly approach would be to replace the A/C with a new unit. The new ones are quieter and have a much lower profile. Costs are not bad, but I have no idea about installation costs. You mentioned eliminating a propane tank. I guess that means your current generator runs on propane. If so I would get rid of it. My 18 year old Honda runs great, is pretty quiet and has had no maintenance except oil changes and one year I felt I needed to do more so I replaced the spark plug. I keep the gas jugs between the ladder to the roof and the back of the camper. Three or four gallons on the back and a gallon in the generator lasts a long time and is easy to refill. Even though a 20# propane tank lasts me about 2 months, I am very happy to have two tanks. Over the years I have had all sorts of issues getting refills. I will not do exchanges. First you only get 15# instead of 20# and the tanks are often out of date and later on vendors cannot legally refill them.
I have done a lot of camping in desert Southwest some of it in the summer with temps up in the 90s. If I am driving, I keep the pass-through windows open and a vent open in the camper. The truck A/C does a pretty good job of keeping the temps in the RV reasonable. When I am camped, I try to keep in the shade. Usually, I would need to run the A/C on generator for an hour or so in the evening to cool everything down well. Then I can get by with a small relatively quiet fan that blows air across the bed. When it is too hot for that, I look for hook ups or even better get out of Dodge.
A more feasible budget friendly approach would be to replace the A/C with a new unit. The new ones are quieter and have a much lower profile. Costs are not bad, but I have no idea about installation costs. You mentioned eliminating a propane tank. I guess that means your current generator runs on propane. If so I would get rid of it. My 18 year old Honda runs great, is pretty quiet and has had no maintenance except oil changes and one year I felt I needed to do more so I replaced the spark plug. I keep the gas jugs between the ladder to the roof and the back of the camper. Three or four gallons on the back and a gallon in the generator lasts a long time and is easy to refill. Even though a 20# propane tank lasts me about 2 months, I am very happy to have two tanks. Over the years I have had all sorts of issues getting refills. I will not do exchanges. First you only get 15# instead of 20# and the tanks are often out of date and later on vendors cannot legally refill them.
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