Lantley
Ellicott City, Maryland
Senior Member
Joined: 08/23/2005
View Profile
 Offline
|
valhalla360 wrote:
o almost twice as much as a built in generator (or 12 times as much as a portable)...and you still have limited electric if you want air/con with the massive solar/battery system.
Solar has it's place but once you want air/con, it's technically possible but not practical.
The above statement may have been true 5 years ago. But technology moves fast.
The above statement is outdated in 2022.
My neighbor has a A/C capable RV Solar set up. I have seen it in action. It is very practical and makes my built in Onan look like yesterday's technology.
The best part is he installed it himself. THere is lots of info and lots of kits and packages for the DIY'er
I would not say A/C capable RV Solar is not practical. Because solar can be used in lots of places where gensets cannot.
Lots of CG's prohibit gensets or limit their use.
Solar has no usage limitations. Solar has no exaust risk.
In the real world solar can be used in situations when gensets cannot.
Solar A/C works well and run time is only limited by the battery bank.
The cost between solar and gensets are relatively close, in the end solar has advantages that gensets do not. Mainly silent operation and no exhaust.
Depending on your needs many are willing to pay more for these solar advantages.
Solar is the wave of the furture. It is here now.
Back in 2012 when I bought my current rig RV Solar did not exist. However today most manufacturers have OEM RV solar options.
While gensets are still the easiest cheapest way to have A/C power.
I would not say that gensets are the superior way or the only way.
Solar power has arrived and is a very practical way to power your RV.
19'Duramax w/hips,12'Open Range,Titan Disc Brake
BD3,RV safepower,22" Blackstone
Ox Bedsaver,RV760 w/BC20,Glow Steps, Enduraplas25,Pedego
BakFlip,RVLock,5500 Onan LP,Prog.50A surge,Hughes autoformer
Porta Bote 8.0 Nissan,Sailun S637
Correct Trax,Splendide
|
time2roll
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Lantley wrote:Solar has it's place but once you want air/con, it's technically possible but not practical. OK and for many people... running a generator 24/7 to sit inside and stay cool is not practical either.
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
675w Solar pictures back up
|
valhalla360
No paticular place.
Senior Member
Joined: 08/19/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Veebyes wrote:No matter how you slice it the luxury of having A/C is awfully expensive.
Out here in the real world most of us with 5ers seem to get along fine with a 2000W portable inverter genny at less than $1000.00. It does not run the A/C but it does everything else just fine.
You can get an awful lot of CG nights with power for the cost of a built in genny.
$1000 will buy you a dual fuel 4500w Champion Generator with electric start. That will easily run the air/con.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV
|
valhalla360
No paticular place.
Senior Member
Joined: 08/19/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
time2roll wrote:Lantley wrote:Solar has it's place but once you want air/con, it's technically possible but not practical. OK and for many people... running a generator 24/7 to sit inside and stay cool is not practical either.
24/7/365...certainly not.
But when you get 2-3 really hot days, running the air/con to stay cool is a god send. Having to pick 9 hours a day that the solar/battery system can support and being miserable the remaining 15 hours, not so great.
|
Lantley
Ellicott City, Maryland
Senior Member
Joined: 08/23/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
If you are looking to run genset 24/7 for days in a row I agree a genset is your best option. But I also believe there is a huge market of campers that would be happy to have Solar capable A/C for 9 hours a day.
|
|
|
Veebyes
Bermuda & Maryland Eastern Shore
Senior Member
Joined: 11/24/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
There always seems to be an awful lot of confusion between solar power & battery power.
Solar does nothing but provide battery bank charging power, at a low rate unless a very sunny day & a large solar array. Solar does not provide 120VAC.
The generator provides 120VAC which provides power to the converter/charger, or pure charger, which in turn provide much more battery charging power than solar on the best of days. The generator simultaneously provides 120VAC to the rest of the unit the same as being on shore power.
The two are not the same & are not interchangeable.
Boat: 32' 1996 Albin 32+2, single Cummins 315hp
40+ night per year overnighter
2007 Alpenlite 34RLR
2006 Chevy 3500 LT, CC,LB 6.6L Diesel
Ham Radio: VP9KL, IRLP node 7995
|
pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 12/18/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Veebyes,
I'm sure you are aware there are DC air conditioners.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.
|
time2roll
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Lantley wrote:If you are looking to run genset 24/7 for days in a row I agree a genset is your best option. But I also believe there is a huge market of campers that would be happy to have Solar capable A/C for 9 hours a day. I am looking for hookups as my best option.
|
Lantley
Ellicott City, Maryland
Senior Member
Joined: 08/23/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
time2roll wrote:Lantley wrote:If you are looking to run genset 24/7 for days in a row I agree a genset is your best option. But I also believe there is a huge market of campers that would be happy to have Solar capable A/C for 9 hours a day. I am looking for hookups as my best option.
Correct if hook ups are available.
Running genset 24/7 gets old in a hurry.
Unless you have no options and you really need electric...other than to watch TV...LOL.
Solar Power is silent, so in the long run many opt for 9 hours of quiet A/C vs. 24/7 of genset A/C with genset noise. For the record the genset noise is shared with your neighbors
|
Veebyes
Bermuda & Maryland Eastern Shore
Senior Member
Joined: 11/24/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
pianotuna wrote:Veebyes,
I'm sure you are aware there are DC air conditioners.
No, but if it heats or cools it sucks power bigtime. That power has to come from somewhere & if it is DC it needs a wicked big battery bank to give any cooling duration.
My first Alpenlite 34RLR 5er had such a battery bank. 6 6V batteries in series parallel. Sad to say, I lost that trailer to a blowover.
|
|
|
