Solar/inverter Questions

[MikeCoke]

Hi all
My rig has no Solar or inverter & I want to get both any advice or suggestions would be appreciated
Here is what I am looking at:
2 Kyocera 125 watt panels
Xantrex Freedom 1500 or 2000 watt inverter with a XANTREX LINK 1000

or the Magnum Energy 2000 watt Inverter/Charger Model ME2012
Solar Boost 2000
Replacing the 2 12 volt batteries with 4 6 volt batteries

Mike
2004 Winnebago Sightseer 27C
Tripod Mounted Direcway Internet on IA8 89W

[MikeCoke]

Hi all
My rig has no Solar or inverter & I want to get both any advice or suggestions would be appreciated
Here is what I am looking at:
2 Kyocera 125 watt panels
Xantrex Freedom 1500 or 2000 watt inverter with a XANTREX LINK 1000

or the Magnum Energy 2000 watt Inverter/Charger Model ME2012
Solar Boost 2000
Replacing the 2 12 volt batteries with 4 6 volt batteries

Mike
2004 Winnebago Sightseer 27C
Tripod Mounted Direcway Internet on IA8 89W

[Cruzer]

I'd recommend the Xanterx RS2000 true sine wave inverter/charger. That's what I put in mine to replace my Freedom 458. With the RS2000 you get a System Control Panel and you won't need the Link 1000. I got mine from www.donrowe.com who seems to always have great pricing and service. The 4 6 volt batts will give you a bit more capacity but I'd wait until the 2 12's are older to better justify the cost-benefit.

[Mac and Chris]

Sounds like a good plan. We have the solar boost 2000 and started with 2 K120's. You can add a 3rd pannel later on if desired.

4 golf cart size batteries (T-105 or similar) is a pretty standard setup. That's what we have. We use a lot of power, and don't have any reserve when dry camping. So if it's a cloudy day we have to run the genny.

Getting a good high amp charger (as you'll have in those inverter/chargers) is also a good idea. No sense in wasting time and fuel running the generator and charging batteries at a slower than optimal rate.

Here's a link to some solar and RV electric info we have posted on our web site.

Mac

[RV Wizard]

Mac, Thank you for posting the info on this topic. I am sure it will be used by many of our members. I hope that someday we cross paths; as I think we could sit around a campfire and have some great conversations. Who knows we may even invent new systems and technology of our own. Good luck and enjoy!

[Mac and Chris]

Thanks Mike, I look forward to meeting you in person some day as well. When it comes to RV tech issues, you're the man

Mac

[Scooter]

MikeCoke

You have the same RV as we do. We do not have solar (we did have 2 Kyocera 120 watt panels on our old departed truck camper).

We now have six 6-volt Interstate U2200 (two under the steps and four in the cargo compartment to the left of the steps). In this same compartment, sectioned off, is our Xantrex 458-20 2000watt inverter charger.

You did not mention a charge controller. On our old TC we had a Trace C-35, if I remember correctly.

On both these rigs we have or had the Link 1000.