Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > RV SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES FORUMS > Going Green
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-20-2011, 06:57 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
okmunky's Avatar
 
Solo Rvers Club
iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Yuma County, AZ
Posts: 10,868
Payback guesstiment anyone?

Any math genius ever tried to figure out how many saved gallons of generator gas it would take to pay off each $1,000 spent on solar panels on a mh? With gas prices up and generators so noisy, I am seriously considering solar now even if I have to borrow the money.
__________________
Barb (RVM18) with Morkies Lily & Bebe RIP Sena FMCA#F466348
"Homer" ‘11 Shasta Cynara, pulling "Ranger" '97 Ford Ranger toad
The Journey is Our Destination. Full-timer May 2011 - July 2021
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
okmunky is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 03-20-2011, 07:08 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
UFO Pilot's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 6,398
My 5.5 generator burns about 1 gallon per hour. If my math is correct, and gas at $4, I can run the generator about 250 hours for about $1000.
__________________
Wayne & Roberta

08 Winnebago Destination 39W Gas UFO Workhorse Chassis......It's really weird being the same age as old people. I thought getting old would take much longer.
UFO Pilot is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2011, 07:15 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
wildtoad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,314
So if you move to solar are you really going to shed the gen? Think about where you normally park and is there sufficient daylight to charge the batteries.
__________________
Tom

2016 Newmar Bay Star Sport 3004
2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport Willys
wildtoad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2011, 08:11 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
okmunky's Avatar
 
Solo Rvers Club
iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Yuma County, AZ
Posts: 10,868
Quote:
Originally Posted by wthomas1 View Post
My 5.5 generator burns about 1 gallon per hour. If my math is correct, and gas at $4, I can run the generator about 250 hours for about $1000.
So how many months of solar use will it take to replace 300 generator hours? Mine is a 4kw gen so I adjusted your number. I plan to full-time soon so if I could save 3 hours of gen time per day using solar, it will only take 200 days to pay off a $2000 solar system?

I'm a newbie so I have NO idea how many hours a day my gen will run.
__________________
Barb (RVM18) with Morkies Lily & Bebe RIP Sena FMCA#F466348
"Homer" ‘11 Shasta Cynara, pulling "Ranger" '97 Ford Ranger toad
The Journey is Our Destination. Full-timer May 2011 - July 2021
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
okmunky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2011, 08:14 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
okmunky's Avatar
 
Solo Rvers Club
iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Yuma County, AZ
Posts: 10,868
Quote:
Originally Posted by wildtoad View Post
So if you move to solar are you really going to shed the gen? Think about where you normally park and is there sufficient daylight to charge the batteries.
Oh no, just wanna save $ and noise.
__________________
Barb (RVM18) with Morkies Lily & Bebe RIP Sena FMCA#F466348
"Homer" ‘11 Shasta Cynara, pulling "Ranger" '97 Ford Ranger toad
The Journey is Our Destination. Full-timer May 2011 - July 2021
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
okmunky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2011, 10:49 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
UFO Pilot's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 6,398
You have to have battery capacity to store the solar energy so that adds to the cost. I don't dry camp often but when I do, I run the generator about 4 hours a day. I have a 130 watt solar panel, 300 amp hours of battery, and a 2000 watt inverter. The combination of generator use and solar works for my use, but may not work for you.
__________________
Wayne & Roberta

08 Winnebago Destination 39W Gas UFO Workhorse Chassis......It's really weird being the same age as old people. I thought getting old would take much longer.
UFO Pilot is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2011, 12:48 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
okmunky's Avatar
 
Solo Rvers Club
iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Yuma County, AZ
Posts: 10,868
It looks like adding solar may not be a diy project for me. I'm in the Oklahoma City area until early May and then headed to Rockport, TX for a week. After that I am planning to go east to Florida. Are there any competent rv solar dealers down south? Houston area, maybe? I'd like to get solar asap. Gas prices are just too unpredictable.
__________________
Barb (RVM18) with Morkies Lily & Bebe RIP Sena FMCA#F466348
"Homer" ‘11 Shasta Cynara, pulling "Ranger" '97 Ford Ranger toad
The Journey is Our Destination. Full-timer May 2011 - July 2021
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
okmunky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2011, 03:45 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Full Timer / Vagabond
Posts: 609
Using solar instead of a generator makes you a premium neighbor.
With a good solar system a generator is only needed for A/C.
See my post under boondocking "Solar That Really Works."
Learn how a proper solar system should be installed and settle for NO LESS. No there are very few solar experts.
Get a battery meter to see what is going on with the batteries. It measures power in and power out and power left in the batteries. Every RV should have one.

I do not know about the cost of a generator and gas but if you compare the cast of boondocking over CG's solar pays for itself in one year.
__________________
Ralph & Snickers
2006 3500 Chevy Dually - 8.1 - Allison
2006 30' New Horizon - Solar
ralper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2011, 04:01 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
94-Newmar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,043
Quote:
Originally Posted by wthomas1 View Post
My 5.5 generator burns about 1 gallon per hour. If my math is correct, and gas at $4, I can run the generator about 250 hours for about $1000.
Wow, a gal an hour? Must be gasoline. My Onan 7.5 diesel is 0.21 gal/hr no load, 0.40/gal/hr 1/2 load and 0.70/hr full load. Even with both A/C's running (which I metered at 12 amp each) Im only at 3000 watts, or about 50% of my genset capacity.
__________________
94-Newmar Kountry Star 40-KSDP
Spartan/Cummins 8.3C-300HP/Allison 3060 WTEC-II/25yr RV Tech RVIA Certified/Onan-Cummins Certified
94-Newmar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2011, 04:06 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
UFO Pilot's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 6,398
Quote:
Originally Posted by 94-Newmar View Post
Wow, a gal an hour? Must be gasoline. My Onan 7.5 diesel is 0.21 gal/hr no load, 0.40/gal/hr 1/2 load and 0.70/hr full load. Even with both A/C's running (which I metered at 12 amp each) Im only at 3000 watts, or about 50% of my genset capacity.
That's what I get for not proofreading better. I meant 1/4 gallon per hour or 1 gallon for 4 hours.
__________________
Wayne & Roberta

08 Winnebago Destination 39W Gas UFO Workhorse Chassis......It's really weird being the same age as old people. I thought getting old would take much longer.
UFO Pilot is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2011, 04:26 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Big Bear Local's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,365
Quote:
Originally Posted by wthomas1 View Post
That's what I get for not proofreading better. I meant 1/4 gallon per hour or 1 gallon for 4 hours.
You had me scratching my head and counting on my fingers, It just didn't add up to me. I have a couple of 10k gensets I use when the power goes out at the store that don't use a gallon an hour.
__________________
2021 Trail Runner 211rd 25'
2015 GMC Canyon
Mark & Carole Big Bear, Ca. RVM 54
Big Bear Local is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2011, 06:42 AM   #12
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Right Now: San Diego, California
Posts: 41
Quote:
Originally Posted by okmunky
It looks like adding solar may not be a diy project for me. I'm in the Oklahoma City area until early May and then headed to Rockport, TX for a week. After that I am planning to go east to Florida. Are there any competent rv solar dealers down south? Houston area, maybe? I'd like to get solar asap. Gas prices are just too unpredictable.
Sunelectric in Miami Florida has great prices on solar equipment. I'll be there this week getting some.

I trust myself for all installs and can't offer assistance on an installer down here but look for a post or blog by wheelingit. They had someone in south Florida install their system "properly".
__________________
Mark '91 Alexxa 28' Isuzu 4cyl turbo diesel
10.5-12mpg towing a honda civic
https://www.OneLoveRV.com
GreaseMonkey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2011, 08:00 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Ray,IN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,655
Read ralphers advice closely. It may save you expensive headaches in the future, plus_ you know what to look for and expect if you contract a company installation.
__________________
2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA." My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
Ray,IN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2011, 10:19 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: California
Posts: 788
battery meter

Quote:
Originally Posted by ralper View Post
Using solar instead of a generator makes you a premium neighbor.
With a good solar system a generator is only needed for A/C.
See my post under boondocking "Solar That Really Works."
Learn how a proper solar system should be installed and settle for NO LESS. No there are very few solar experts.
Get a battery meter to see what is going on with the batteries. It measures power in and power out and power left in the batteries. Every RV should have one.

I do not know about the cost of a generator and gas but if you compare the cast of boondocking over CG's solar pays for itself in one year.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Which battery meters do you like?

What (and where) should I look for in a good one?

Thanks!
bukzin is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:35 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.