RV SOLAR GENERATOR

[RvNewbieFl]

Now that I'm recovered from Hurricane Irma. My current generator is only useful if and when i could find gasoline. I actually had alot of gasoline already stored on my property, but it still didn't last very long. Anyone ever try a solar generator?

I have been researching many different ones. I only found 1 that could be added onto without mods and comes with a 30amp plug built right in.

"INERGY... KODIAK...SOLAR...GENERATOR"
(Had to add the ... in the name / auto correct keeps correcting the word engery.

Has anyone ever used this generator and can share their experience. I found one on sale for $1500. Normally $2000. Not a casual investment for me.

[time2roll]

> Members Solar Installations With Pics


https://www.solarblvd.com/products/ (just to compare prices)

[RvNewbieFl]

Yes I stayed in the rv after the hurricane...(well after all my gasoline ran out) My fregerator and hot water is all LP... and I bought a cheap harbor freight solar kit for the RV... worked great... that's why I started looking into rv solar generators... none of my 110 plugs would work ... I'm not a boondocker... however I'm thinking of spending a month off grid in the rv down in The Keys...

[RvNewbieFl]

The neaigbors solar system was professinaly installed... So will mine ... but it's still illegal to use if the electric company losses power... it's the law...

[RvNewbieFl]

That was in May of this year 2017... I didn't want any more electric bills... That's impossible... because it's mandatory to be hooked into the grid, you still receive a bill for approx $50 to $60 dollars a month... fellow neighbor with solar panels explained...
$39.99 for customer fee... fuel tax $14.9O.. lol.. and other taxes...

I DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE THE LADY ON THE NEWS OUT OF CAPE CORRAL FL... SHE'S NOW HOMELESS AND CAN'T EVEN SELL HER HOUSE. BECAUSE THE CITY TOOK AWAY HER OCCUPANCY CERTIFICATE.

[time2roll]

During an outage any properly installed solar will disconnect from the grid. Utility power must be restored and stabilized for about 5 minutes before it will reconnect. I strongly believe the neighbor has an unauthorized system, no utility permit to generate and no city inspection. Very dangerous.

Same situation applies for any generated power. No backfeed is permitted. Must have a transfer switch and I recommend a city inspection.

There most certainly are solar/battery interconnect systems that will continue to operate your home during a power outage.
And if for some political reason the local utility or city does not allow even a proper system then you are out of luck on the home... focus on the RV to be usable off grid. Even if the solar does not fully provide a solution it will certainly extend the available gasoline.

[MNGeeks61]

this is really odd-sounding, and I'm not sure if it's right.

Snopes has something for this

click

Might be better off with an off-grid system of some type. Or even power your house with your electric car.

Wait, what's this? old news or...
news

had no idea Fla doesn't care for off-grid. Seems weird.

[RvNewbieFl]

Here's a link to the digital business journal... it explains some of it.

http://m.digitaljournal.com/business/op-ed-florida-residents-not-allowed-to-use-solar-power-after-hurricane/article/502947

As a new Florida homeowner I have had nothing but issues trying to get solar answers... I already have well water and septic system. So I wanted to take my entire 2000 sq ft home off grid... Generic.. said it was illegal and they couldn't not install the Generic to any solar panels...and it was illegal to install it off grid...

[RvNewbieFl]

RvNewbieFl wrote:

austinjenna wrote:

A fellow home owner went to jail here because it is against the law for them to use the solar they already had after hurrican Irma

What are you saying? If I had solar panels on my house i cant use it after a hurricane hit? That doesnt sound right

YES... it is illegal to use your solar on your home if the Electric Company doesn't have power...

It is also illegal to have any solar system not hook into the electrical grid.

However it is illegal to run any solar system hooked up into the grid during a power outage..

[RvNewbieFl]

austinjenna wrote:

A fellow home owner went to jail here because it is against the law for them to use the solar they already had after hurrican Irma

What are you saying? If I had solar panels on my house i cant use it after a hurricane hit? That doesnt sound right

YES... it is illegal to use your solar on your home if the Electric Company doesn't have power...

[time2roll]

Just install 600+ watts solar on the RV along with a 2000 watt inverter and four+ batteries.

Otherwise for home install to insulate you from high electric bills and power outages you are looking at 4+ kW solar on the roof, grid tie inverter and a 10 kWh battery for $20,000 to $30,000 from your local solar installer.

https://www.tesla.com/powerwall

I do not think Inergy is a good value for what you need.

[austinjenna]

A fellow home owner went to jail here because it is against the law for them to use the solar they already had after hurrican Irma

What are you saying? If I had solar panels on my house i cant use it after a hurricane hit? That doesnt sound right

[RvNewbieFl]

troubledwaters wrote:
If you are talking a permanent installation and you have natural gas in your home, I would seriously be considering that option. Another alternative would be propane for a portable unit with a 100 lb tank for home use.

I think this is probley my only option with the house...

[RvNewbieFl]

Unfortunately I don't have any natural gas lines on the property. However just adding solar panels to my sticks and bricks won't work. A fellow home owner went to jail here because it is against the law for them to use the solar they already had after hurrican Irma... crazy right..
So looking for other options for my home and the rv...

[the_bear_II]

How about a propane powered generator you could run off of your trailer propane tanks or a portable tank.

[SidecarFlip]

1500 clams for a black box with a Lithium battery inside and no panels is pretty steep. Get a kick out of the reviews. Probably all written by some mole.