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djconklin · 10-02-2012, 02:52 PM

I'm planning on buying an RV--either a 32' or 34'--and moving to "Slab City", CA. It gets very hot down there in the summertime--how watts per day can I be expecting to use? i.e., how often will I have to run the generator?

I am planning on "facing" the RV with 2" thick panels of polystyrene and covering it up (with vent holes (don't worry!)--this should cut down on the amount of time the A/C would need to run.

Ed-Sommers · 10-02-2012, 03:57 PM

Unless you are already a desert rat, your chance of making it through a summer in that area without shore power is just about nill! Running the generator for 24/7 is what it would take for most people, and that gets expensive.

Many of the locals sleep on the roof of their RV trying to get a little breeze on those close to 90-100 degree nights.

Those panels could help a little during the day (but it's so how you won't notice), but sultry nights cannot be escaped except by aircon.

Ed

clyon51 · 10-02-2012, 04:00 PM

That is a big DEPENDS. If you have 2 six volt deep cycle batteries for the house, limit 12v light use, run the 12v ceiling or Fan Tastic vent several hours a day, you could go 48hrs without running the genny. If you have an inverter, watch lots of TV, run other 110v appliances, then maybe 24 hrs. Of course that's just the 12v system. AC is going to be strickly genny or shore.

djconklin · 10-03-2012, 07:46 AM

When we built a house we used 2" thick panels of polyureathane--they were so good that if you put your hand on it then within a minute you'd feel your body heat coming back at you because it couldn't penetrate. These panels have an even higher rating and they have a "silver" layer facing one side (have it face the outside).

I figured if I switch the lighting to LED's and for half the year or so I don't need to run the A/C at all then I shouldn't need much power.

>you could go 48hrs without running the genny

This gets the closest to what I wanted to know. So, to fully charge the batteries, how long would I have to run the generator?

djconklin · 10-03-2012, 07:47 AM

>Running the generator for 24/7 is what it would take for most people, and that gets expensive.

Yep! I'm toying with the ideas of setting up a dumping station, collecting the methane and using that for power.

>Many of the locals sleep on the roof of their RV trying to get a little breeze on those close to 90-100 degree nights.

Decades ago I was out in the desert with my cousin collecting mice for his biology doctorate. One night we slept in sleeping bags, in the tent, fully clothed and nearly froze to death!

clyon51 · 10-03-2012, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djconklin

>you could go 48hrs without running the genny

This gets the closest to what I wanted to know. So, to fully charge the batteries, how long would I have to run the generator?

I replaced all lights with LED as well as the 2 old CRT TVs with 12v LED. We have no inverter and no need for one. The wife uses a 12v CPAP 8 hrs every night. We go 48hrs + before the two 6v GC batts reach 50% discharge (12.0v). Since during that time the genny is run briefly for micro and hair dryer, that adds a bit more time.

If you have a 3 stage charger which puts out 14+v, the genny should bring the batts up to 90% charged in and hour or so. I never fully charge them boondocking. Once the charger drops to 13.6v it takes much longer to fully charge.