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04-23-2016, 07:40 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 148
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Decisions
If you had $500 (give or take with taxes). Would you buy a decent 3k watt gen or a 200w solar kit? I see both at Home Depot. AC isn't a priority. Rarely dry camp and just wanna run lights, charge battery, fridge and outlets
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04-23-2016, 08:19 PM
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#2
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,182
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joeymozzer
.... Rarely dry camp and just wanna run lights, charge battery, fridge and outlets
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If by rarely "dry camp" you mean no shore power......then why need either ? Connected to shore power you have all the power you need.
The generator would give you the ability to run your AC, microwave oven, hair dryer, etc the solar (at the price you are considering spending) would not.
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04-23-2016, 08:21 PM
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#3
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,182
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You can get a solar kit much cheaper than $500
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04-23-2016, 10:12 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 148
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Rarely meaning I would like to go more than never. I would like to go at least 2-4x a year
__________________
2014 Coachman Clipper 17BH
One local trip under my belt....many more notches to nitch
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04-23-2016, 10:16 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 148
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What would 200w of solar be good for? Doubt I'll need a hair dryer lol just to charge phones, laptop and watch movies on DVD player
__________________
2014 Coachman Clipper 17BH
One local trip under my belt....many more notches to nitch
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04-24-2016, 07:01 AM
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#6
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,182
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Decisions
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joeymozzer
What would 200w of solar be good for? Doubt I'll need a hair dryer lol just to charge phones, laptop and watch movies on DVD player
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You also need lights, power for your propane refrigerator, smoke alarm, water pump, etc...
...it all adds up ...
How many and what type of batteries do you have ? You need to figure out how much battery capacity you need to make it from dusk to sunrise and only use 50% of the battery capacity. (The 50% number comes from the fact that batteries will degrade MUCH faster if you routinely discharge them more than halfway each time you use them)
Then you size the solar setup large enough to charge the batteries fully, even in cloudy or winter conditions. Also be aware that solar panels only achieve about 85% of the rated output in real-world conditions ( and that is in the best case scenario)
So this 200w setup I mentioned will most likely output on average 170w or less.
As a hypothetical example: You have a 100ah battery. In the morning you have discharged it to 50%. You need to put back into that battery about 50ah (+15%) to recharge it
It would take the 170w solar 4.8 hours to do that given ideal sun conditions. Factor in clouds, etc and you can see this will just barely meet the needs of using just one small battery.
Note: these are just "rough estimates".....the charging will probably take longer because a battery doesn't take constant current right up until it's fully charged....the charging current gradually tapers off less and less.... Charging a battery from 80% to 100% takes quite awhile due to this fact.
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11-29-2016, 05:16 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Plaskett Creek USFS Campground CA Hwy 1
Posts: 507
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Solar! Either option requires good batteries.
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11-29-2016, 05:23 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
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Not many details to advise well from. But I say Generator. 200w of solar is minimal and likely will not provide for the need - not enough capacity, may be shaded, may be bad weather. Imho.
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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11-29-2016, 05:46 PM
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#9
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Between the Oceans
Posts: 8,017
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vsheetz
Not many details to advise well from. But I say Generator. 200w of solar is minimal and likely will not provide for the need - not enough capacity, may be shaded, may be bad weather. Imho.
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... generator first. generator is a necessity, solar is a nice to have. jmo.
__________________
Steven & Polly
2000 Country Coach Intrigue 40' ISC 350
2018 Ford Explorer 4WD
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11-29-2016, 08:11 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: S.F. Bay Area
Posts: 201
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Please, don't park near anyone if you're using that $500 generator from HD! It would be like running a lawn mower while everyone else is trying to enjoy the peace and quiet of the outdoors. Spend a little extra and get a decently quiet Honda or Yamaha.
If you don't need A/C or a hair dryer or the microwave, then solar would be the way to go. I installed our 400w system for about $600 and love it!
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11-30-2016, 05:12 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SW Louisiana
Posts: 8,824
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I agree spend an extra few bucks and get a good Yamaha or Honda 1000 watt inverter generator (typically $600, or $950 for 2000 watt), don't waste money on the $500 made in china junk they sell in the big box stores. Yamaha's are typically slightly better bang for the buck than the Honda's they seem to have a one upmanship rivalry in Japan, however here in the US Honda has better name recognition and typically sells a slightly inferior unit for a slightly higher price.
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11-30-2016, 09:55 AM
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#12
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Between the Oceans
Posts: 8,017
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Isaac-1
I agree spend an extra few bucks and get a good Yamaha or Honda 1000 watt inverter generator (typically $600, or $950 for 2000 watt), don't waste money on the $500 made in china junk they sell in the big box stores. Yamaha's are typically slightly better bang for the buck than the Honda's they seem to have a one upmanship rivalry in Japan, however here in the US Honda has better name recognition and typically sells a slightly inferior unit for a slightly higher price.
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while recognizing these two, i would look into champion. america made, solid, proving record, just a portion of the cost comparing with these two; though maybe slightly louder. overall better bang for the money imo.
__________________
Steven & Polly
2000 Country Coach Intrigue 40' ISC 350
2018 Ford Explorer 4WD
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11-30-2016, 01:58 PM
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#13
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,182
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Decisions
Quote:
Originally Posted by CountryFit
while recognizing these two, i would look into champion. america made......
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Nope. Not American Made. Now I admit that might be more than is happening with Honda or Yamaha generators.....but they aren't making them here in the USA.
They do design and engineering in USA, but manufacturer in China.
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11-30-2016, 04:10 PM
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#14
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Between the Oceans
Posts: 8,017
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pasdad1
Nope. Not American Made. Now I admit that might be more than is happening with Honda or Yamaha generators.....but they aren't making them here in the USA.
They do design and engineering in USA, but manufacturer in China.
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i stand corrected... looking forward realizing the promise to bring them back here.
__________________
Steven & Polly
2000 Country Coach Intrigue 40' ISC 350
2018 Ford Explorer 4WD
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