Solar Power

[Hurk]

Originally Posted by mahdi

Thank you all for the input. The RV is in the pacific northwest and overcast all winter long with short days. In the summer should be no problem. I just want to keep the mildew off while in storage. I am familiar with DC wiring needs. I shall do some more reading and might keep it connected to AC power at $25 per month which is what i have been doing for now. I just need some insurance regarding mold avoidance when stored at a place where I cannot connect to power.

To ensure no mold during storage I open my roof vents (all have vent covers) and I crack a couple off windows. I have done this for years and works very well.

[MtnTrek]

Originally Posted by mahdi

Thank you all for the input. The RV is in the pacific northwest and overcast all winter long with short days. In the summer should be no problem. I just want to keep the mildew off while in storage. I am familiar with DC wiring needs. I shall do some more reading and might keep it connected to AC power at $25 per month which is what i have been doing for now. I just need some insurance regarding mold avoidance when stored at a place where I cannot connect to power.

Ahh, now there comes the rest of the story....

For the reasonable price of $25 per month in the gloomy damp, drippy, dreary, moldy, mildew- ridden PNW where the sun seldom shines? You'll be far better off to stay on the shore power. Acquire a real residential DE-humidifier (with a real refrigeration circuit) and keep the trailer sealed up. Drop the DE-humidifier drain hose (they have this option) into the shower drain. Also acquire a moderately priced multi-staged automatic battery tender. Providing you have just an average converter and not a multi-stage inverter / converter?

[mahdi]

Thank you Hurk. Your comments are useful since you live n a similar climate. do you use a dehumidifier?
Thank you MtnTrek. It is sunny and dry all summer, spring and fall. But the winters are as you describe. I have a regular convertor and a heating fan dehumidifier which had worked fine the past 3 years. Maybe abandoning the solar power route is a good idea.

[Hurk]

Originally Posted by mahdi

Thank you Hurk. Your comments are useful since you live n a similar climate. do you use a dehumidifier?
Thank you MtnTrek. It is sunny and dry all summer, spring and fall. But the winters are as you describe. I have a regular convertor and a heating fan dehumidifier which had worked fine the past 3 years. Maybe abandoning the solar power route is a good idea.

Never used a dehumidifier as you say I live in same climate. I have never had a problem leaving vents open with windows cracked. I just purchased a new to me 2009 Cardinal in Feb 2017. The back window inside felt at the bottom was very wet due to condensation. When I got it to my storage I opened vents cracked windows and it dried up quickly and no problem since. We have had record amounts of rain and no problem. When you open door smells very fresh!

[mocarski]

unless you want to shoot in the dark install a battery monitor like a trimetric first and see what's going on with your batteries. one you know what your coach and everythi g in it pulls you will know what you need in solar. you'll also be able to figure out if anything is pulling more power than expected and either fix the problem or turn that stuff off for storage. you can also pick up one of the portable solar kits to get an idea of how well they work. wiring is key. If it's wrong gauge or too long you'll lose a lot of power to voltage drops. on my 120 watt unit I typically get 6 amps at the panel and 5 or less at the batteries. without a bmk you won't know how much is actually getting to the batteries and how well the panels are working. Don't skimp on the solar controller. they need to have multiple charging patterns to fully charge your batteries. a temp probe and ability to customize the charging pattern to your battery manufacturer specs are huge plusses.

[mahdi]

Thank you for your input. I shall try to get it worked out

[Brad W]

I'd go with dehumidifier over cracking windows and vents, mostly because I'll be covered vs inside

I've read humidity is a concern in RV's anyway, so it seems we will want one once we live in a warm and humid climate (vs the cold and humid climate we are in now)

Where the hell in the PNW do you live that it is only wet during winter? I just recorded an inch of rain yesterday

[mahdi]

Kitsap county.

[Brad W]

Originally Posted by mahdi

Kitsap county.

We must have different ideas of what "sunny and dry all spring summer and fall" means. But whatever, not really on topic anyway I guess