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09-26-2016, 10:04 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Eagle, Idaho
Posts: 61
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Solar Panel Wattage
Now that I have decided to buy new batteries, it's time for a solar panel redo. How many watts are enough? My coach has a residential fridge and we do our share of "dry" camping. I also have 6 6 volt house batteries(t-105s). 400 seems like the minimum. I understand that the inverter takes a tremendous amount just to "invert", let alone power things. I would like to do this only once, which is not normally how I do things. Please tell me your experiences and/or ideas.
Thanks
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Pat and Cathy
2005 Alpine 40FDQS
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09-26-2016, 10:48 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 7,870
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There is no definitive answer to this.
You have to weight the cost, complexity and weight on the roof of the additional solar panels and smart controller against additional generator run time.
For many, house battery banks are sized to provide overnight power without supplemental electricity from solar or generator. 400 amp-hrs should do that.
Adding more battery capacity is the same trade-off: cost and weight vs additional generator run time.
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Brett Wolfe
Ex: 2003 Alpine 38FDDS. Ex: 1997 Safari Sahara. Ex: 1993 Foretravel U240
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09-26-2016, 05:28 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lake Wales, FL
Posts: 3,113
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Solar Panel Wattage
Pat, we have a '05 with residential fridge and two 50 watt solar panels (standard from WRV). We have no problems (with a battery bank in new condition) running 2 - 3 days without running the genny. Obviously, if the battery bank has aged or we do not get a full day of sun, this will be less, it also depends upon what else we run during this time.
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Dave, Bobbi and Fenway
2005 38' FDTS Alpine Limited, 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
Lake Wales, FL
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09-26-2016, 06:00 PM
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#4
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,186
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How many solar watts do you have now? How long does your battery bank last on average until you reach 50% SOC ?
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09-26-2016, 06:06 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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I have 400 watts of solar and 4 8D batteries. How long can I go boondocking?
I don't know yet. Due to the DW's poor health we never got to find out. Now that she died I haven't yet had the time to go anywhere.
I know overnight, then a 600 mile drive then overnight is no problem.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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09-26-2016, 06:27 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Show Low Az
Posts: 1,321
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6, 6 Vdc batteries
1000 watts solar
The ratio of AC to DC is 1 to 10, 1 AC = 10 DC. The inverter uses at least 5 amps.
Do i have to run generator? yes because every few days, the batteries need a good charge. Starting in Bulk mode 80 amps, then 2.5 Hrs in absorption.
Every 12 to 24 hours it will make ice and defrost. That will jump up power consumption to 20 Amps DC by itself.
My system cost me around $2000, this includes the Midnite 150 Classic Controller.
Misc part $200. Made brackets out of angle aluminium.
For those of you bean counters
Generator 3/4 Gal full load. Since my generator does not run with a full load, I use about 1/2 gallons Diesel.
Ok, without solar, I would run the generator in the morning 2 hours. At this time I would use all the heavy electric items. Next run at night, watch TV and anything else. Run for another 2 to 4 Hrs.
Currently, I do not like to elevate panels, so this year I am adding 600 additional watts
Cost less then $1 a watt.
By the way I run 45 Voc panels.
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Dale&Susan, 08 Alfa Gold, DaGirlsRv Blog
2015 F-150XLT_2000W Solar_800 AmpHr Lithium
Magnum_MSH 3012 & PT100
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09-26-2016, 07:05 PM
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#7
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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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Depends on what you want to do. Just battery maintaince or never run generator with lots of power usage? I had 600 watts on previous coach. Planning 1200-1600 watts on current coach.
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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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09-27-2016, 08:21 AM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Eagle, Idaho
Posts: 61
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paspad1, I currently have only one 50 watt panel (it's what the coach came with). I also am in the process of replacing my house batteries because they are shot. I just returned from 12 days of dry camping in Reno(air races) and the generator got a workout. I'm new to this coach so it's a learning curve but I don't want to go through the whole generator running constantly thing again. Trying to figure out the best battery/solar panel combo for my lifestyle.
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Pat and Cathy
2005 Alpine 40FDQS
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09-27-2016, 08:46 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Somewhere On the Road
Posts: 1,213
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Our rig has 1380 watts of flat mounted roof panels (~ 2 inches off roof) and 660 amps of batteries. In good (as in poor - fair - good - excellent) sun we can sit indefinitely w/o generator if we do not need A/C and reach full charge state by 1 - 2 PM.
Loads include:
- PSW 2800 inverter always on
- RR w/icemaker in steady use
- MW in 3 - 5 minute runs ~ 4 times/day
- Water pump
- Sat TV antenna up - TV on 2 - 3 hours a day
- LED lights as needed
- AH to provide hot water and rare heat
- Phone/computer charge ups every other day
We could do this with less solar wattage - but - when conditions are less than 'good' we still do OK with generator runs of ~ 2 hours a day. Let us know how you proceed and what experience you have - thanks ...
__________________
Steve
2015 Itasca Ellipse QD | 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
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