Solar RV systems

[herk7769]

Ok here you go.

19 Hi-Def 12-Volt TV DVD Combo SLC1971A - $279.99 :

This 19 inch LCD 12 Volt DC TV draws 3 amps at 12 VDC.
This is 36 Watts

Vizio M190MV 19 RazorLED LCD HDTV - 720p, 1366 x 768, 60Hz, 5ms, 20000:1 Dynamic, HDMI, USB, TruSurround HD, SRS TruVolume, Energy Star, (Refurbished) at TigerDirect.com

This 19 inch LCD 120 volt AC TV is uses 41 watts.
120/41= 2.9 amps of AC.

BUT

To generate 41 watts of AC you need 41 watts of DC. To get 41 watts of AC out of an inverter you must put 41 watts of DC into it.
41 watts / 12 volts = 3.4 amps of DC.

[ken0042]

OK, now you are just messing with me.

I think you mean 41/120 = .3 amps of AC.

[herk7769]

Originally Posted by ken0042

OK, now you are just messing with me.

I think you mean 41/120 = .3 amps of AC.

<sigh>
You are correct (though I was not messing with you); I plead old age.


But I do see you get the idea!

[herk7769]

Originally Posted by ken0042

It was more of a case of me reading the post I quoted from you wrong.

I read it as "in order for an inverter to produce 100 watts of 120VAC, you need to supply it with 1000 watts of 12VDC." However I understand now that what you were saying was "in order for an inverter to produce .83 amps 120VAC, you need to supply it with 8.3 amps 12VDC."

Yup! Exactly.
Worse yet, the higher the amperage demand from the battery, the LESS total capacity (ability to deliver charge) is available.
See the graph earlier.

[SoMoney]

Originally Posted by herk7769

My next major upgrade will not be panels, but a larger 12VDC bank. Since you MUST recharge your batteries at the 50% discharge level, the larger the bank the less strain on your batteries and the longer they last.

I will be adding panels one day, but I feel a 500AH bank is worth the investment. Think of the panels as a trickle charger for the batteres.

Hold the phone now,
I stumbled onto tweetys.com who are selling those 68W flexible solar mats and at the bottom of there spiel it states "..... Qualifies for 30% Federal Tax Credit which includes any installation costs, adding batteries, inverters and anything associated with the solar purchase. Info Here...."

If this is true then doesn't it make sense to purchase ANY kind of solar panel EVERY time you want to upgrade or swap out your house batteries? 500Ah of trojans will run you about 1000. Would a $200 68W panel purchase then qualify you for 30% tax credit on said panel and your 500Ah of Trojans? Its almost throwing in the panel for free when taxes come around.

[herk7769]

Originally Posted by SoMoney

Hold the phone now,
I stumbled onto tweetys.com who are selling those 68W flexible solar mats and at the bottom of there spiel it states "..... Qualifies for 30% Federal Tax Credit which includes any installation costs, adding batteries, inverters and anything associated with the solar purchase. Info Here...."

If this is true then doesn't it make sense to purchase ANY kind of solar panel EVERY time you want to upgrade or swap out your house batteries? 500Ah of trojans will run you about 1000. Would a $200 68W panel purchase then qualify you for 30% tax credit on said panel and your 500Ah of Trojans? Its almost throwing in the panel for free when taxes come around.

Well, I have to say this rocked me to my heels would be an understatement. I need to investigate this some more. If true, you are exactly correct. I need to start saving my nickles to get this done before 2016!

[TexasCoyote]

I just saw this thread and post. With a lot of interest. By this fall we will be living full time on our desert place (near Terlingua, TX) which is completely off-grid (9 miles from any utility infrastructure). We have one small solar panel now, which suffices for the 1995 travel trailer currently there, but will not for our recently acquired Rockwood (831FKSS). So we are investigating options and prices now. We thought that all the solar incentives had expired.

We also need to determine our power draw, especially for those phantom draws on this trailer; there are few on the older TT.

[ken0042]

If you are going to be off the grid full time, you may also want to look at wind power to go along with your solar panels. A good wind turbine will give you a lot more bang for your buck.

[herk7769]

Originally Posted by ken0042

If you are going to be off the grid full time, you may also want to look at wind power to go along with your solar panels. A good wind turbine will give you a lot more bang for your buck.

The inexpensive wind turbines are very loud.

[TexasCoyote]

Originally Posted by ken0042

If you are going to be off the grid full time, you may also want to look at wind power to go along with your solar panels. A good wind turbine will give you a lot more bang for your buck.

Actually, we have already researched wind vs solar. Comparatively, in our area solar wins hands down. Also, it is often so windy that the wind turbines have to be braked to avoid damage. The only unit I would consider is the Honeywell turbine.