Solar success

[MGD1961]

Had the chance to really test the solar I installed 2 years ago.

We supported the 12 volt fridge and all other common loads for 6 days without needing the generator in sun from 10am until sundown

350 watts flat on the roof with 250 aH of AGM batteries

The BEST quality batteries you can buy. All Mastervolt equipment.

I have thought about LifePo lithium but I don’t think we need it

Just saying

[Aussieguy]

it's a good saying tooo !


for typical 12v usage overnight solar will work
what area did you go to?

do you have a shunt or ammeter ... so you can see what is happening with your batteries

[dangerranger]

I'm right there with you! We don't often stay off grid but we can do it with two batteries the solar and just a little help from the generator every couple days. DR

[Aussieguy]

Originally Posted by dangerranger

I'm right there with you! We don't often stay off grid but we can do it with two batteries the solar and just a little help from the generator every couple days. DR

Yo Ranger dude you doing something wrong if you need the genny!

My genny is spitting chips .......complaining I don't take her out no more!
I keep here happy by whispering how good she will be when a hurricane comes past

Like Sunday!
That reminds me better get BOTH out and test them before sunday

[PhilFromMaine]

Originally Posted by MGD1961

Had the chance to really test the solar I installed 2 years ago.

We supported the 12 volt fridge and all other common loads for 6 days without needing the generator in sun from 10am until sundown

350 watts flat on the roof with 250 aH of AGM batteries

The BEST quality batteries you can buy. All Mastervolt equipment.

I have thought about LifePo lithium but I don’t think we need it

Just saying

Sounds good. Around here in my camping radius the problem is finding a site that is solar friendly using ground panels. I haven't visited a site yet where people with roof mounted panels can do solar. There are some campgrounds that have good sun at some sites, but they also have 110 service so why bother with the solar.

Regarding your AGM batteries, they may be the best alternative there is for real "plug and play" power. As we know, lifepo4 takes some looking after to stay healthy.

I stayed at Cobbscook State Park and easily got through 10 days of camping with 200 AH of lifepo4 and 400 watts of solar using ground panels. For the most part, I powered my inverter and ran both DC and AC from the inverter to the 30 amp shore power connector.

[GolfingDave]

Originally Posted by MGD1961

Had the chance to really test the solar I installed 2 years ago.

Doing the same thing now with the extra solar and batteries I recently installed several weeks ago.

I just flipped my converter breaker off. Plan on keeping it off until cold weather comes in to check it at lower temps when I need some heat overnight. A few cloudy days in a row told me to add a third panel. A couple of severely overcast days and the SOC increased after the third panel was installed.

Now if they could just make a solar panel that works in the shade.

[MGD1961]

Originally Posted by Aussieguy

it's a good saying tooo !


for typical 12v usage overnight solar will work
what area did you go to?

do you have a shunt or ammeter ... so you can see what is happening with your batteries

We were in south western New Hampshire. Backed up to a tree line with the trailer facing south. Open field in front .

I have a Victron 712 shunt. I zeroed the SOC when I left the house after being plugged in for a couple days. Never saw lower than 60% soc. In the morning And was in the 90% range when we went to bed. Some short heater use first thing in the morning at 1200 feet altitude . Was back to 100% after towing home.

My conclusion is this is sustainable indefinitely if I were to have a drive day once a week.

Had the generator with us but never needed it.

[corn18]

I think you have a great setup. It really doesn't take a big, complicated setup to boondock a long time.

[dangerranger]

Originally Posted by Aussieguy

Yo Ranger dude you doing something wrong if you need the genny!

My genny is spitting chips .......complaining I don't take her out no more!
I keep here happy by whispering how good she will be when a hurricane comes past

Like Sunday!
That reminds me better get BOTH out and test them before sunday

It not the solar or the battery's, Its that the wife likes power! She likes her Micro, curling iron, Air Frier, etc... DR

[Rhumblefish]

Originally Posted by corn18

I think you have a great setup. It really doesn't take a big, complicated setup to boondock a long time.

Says the man with 1600W of solar, and 900ah of LiFePo!

There’s no such thing as overkill!

[corn18]

Originally Posted by Rhumblefish

Says the man with 1600W of solar, and 900ah of LiFePo!

There’s no such thing as overkill!

My requirements are different. Once you require running an air conditioner, it gets a lot bigger and more complicated.

[MGD1961]

It’s the age old question. What is camping I guess. Luckily wife is not very demanding. We never had need of 110vac

[Aussieguy]

Originally Posted by dangerranger

It not the solar or the battery's, Its that the wife likes power! She likes her Micro, curling iron, Air Frier, etc... DR

tell your wife to fork over around 3,000 to 5,000
then you can frizz hair anywhere.... especially in the middle of CA

I'm still looking at adding a 2000w (or more Inverter ) to power some light loads...

But simple camping on 12v along with the occasional mooch dock or a paid campground with hookup seams to work for us for now

Did a quick drive to Ohio last week in July... weather was pleasant
would have been OK if we went camping without a/c

[MGD1961]

Originally Posted by MGD1961

It’s the age old question. What is camping I guess. Luckily wife is not very demanding. We never had need of 110vac

One exception. I did charge my laptop in the truck off the little inverter outlet. I did watch a little tv on that with a cell phone hot spot

[TeachTexas]

Originally Posted by GolfingDave

Now if they could just make a solar panel that works in the shade.

Apparently they do:
https://avasolar.com/best-low-light-solar-panels/

[corn18]

Originally Posted by MGD1961

It’s the age old question. What is camping I guess. Luckily wife is not very demanding. We never had need of 110vac

I want my wife to come with me and she is a glamper so I set it up so everything still works even without hookups. That ain't cheap. But she is happy.

[MGD1961]

Originally Posted by corn18

I want my wife to come with me and she is a glamper so I set it up so everything still works even without hookups. That ain't cheap. But she is happy.

I’ve got a 2000 watt inverter sitting in my office. I’ve just never bothered to install it or frankly, tell her about it. lol

[PhilFromMaine]

Originally Posted by MGD1961

I’ve got a 2000 watt inverter sitting in my office. I’ve just never bothered to install it or frankly, tell her about it. lol

We have an inverter to be able to watch movies on the 110 TV. The power comes from a non-house battery via the 30 amp plug. I did check the amperage usage once and it was actually not that much more using the inverter.

[Rhumblefish]

Originally Posted by corn18

My requirements are different. Once you require running an air conditioner, it gets a lot bigger and more complicated.

Maybe not all that different… I’d suggest your requirements are based on running a 50 amp fiver. With 1,000w of solar and 600ahof LiFePo on my little rig, I’m happy to run my ac through a 3500w inverter, and still manage the rest of the coach’s requirements … despite a much smaller footprint. With 2/3 of your needs and 2/3 of your system, I don’t think I could run the AC all night … but certainly more than enough to be very comfortable offgrid.

[Tony Ramirez]

Originally Posted by MGD1961

I’ve got a 2000 watt inverter sitting in my office. I’ve just never bothered to install it or frankly, tell her about it. lol

It's probably not the right or PC thing to say, but the less the DW knows, the easier my life seems to be.