valhalla360 wrote:
laknox wrote:valhalla360 wrote:Lwiddis wrote:A generator carried on a rear rack needs substantial reenforcement.
Much simpler...and better to bolt a mount to the pin box. The pin box is very sturdy, so no worries about it falling off...unlike the typical rear trailer bumper.
If you can live with 1 Air/Con at a time, something in the 3000-4500w range is ideal.
If you are careful, the 4500w unit likely can accomodate 2 air/con units but you will need the right adapter and you have to limit the other stuff you run.
Yes, in theory you can use solar battery but by the time you build a system that can let you run air/con any reasonable amount of time, it's a whole lot cheaper and simpler just to get an appropriate generator and pay for the fuel.
My cousin and her husband did a bus conversion that's 98% electric. Propane is used for their tankless water heater and they have diesel heaters. They have 8 435W solar panels on the roof and a Nissan Leaf battery for the coach. You can see their build at www.beginningfromthismorning.com. Videos also on YT under the same name.
For anyone contemplating solar, check local companies selling used panels. Cousin used all used panels on their bus and they tested all panels with a meter before buying. All tested 430+ watts.
Lyle
So if you want to buy a system like that:
- 8 panels at 435w ~ $3000
PANELS WERE USED AND 3 YEARS AGO FOR ABOUT $2500. THEY DID ALL THE MODS THEMSELVES.
- Inverter capable of running everything ~ $1500
VICTRON INVERTER USED; I HAVE NO IDEA OF COST. WATCH THEIR VIDEOS. :-)
- Installation ~ $3000
FREE, AS THEY DID ALL WORK ON THE SOLAR, ELECTRICAL/DIGITAL WIRING, PLUMBING, TILING, INTERIOR (WHICH INCLUDED BUILDING ALMOST EVERYTHING), AND A LOT OF OTHER STUFF, THEMSELVES.
I can buy a generator and keep it maintained and fueled a lot cheaper than $12,500 (feel free to tweak the numbers but it's a big chunk of cash).
THEY ARE FULL-TIMING WITH THEIR 4 KIDS, SO THIS IS THEIR HOUSE, NOT AN RV. WORK SPACE FOR JUAN AND SCHOOL HOUSE FOR MICHELLE AND THE KIDS.
So your average RVer who isn't an electritian...you proved my point that it's technically possible but not practical.
MICHELLE USED ALL THE BUILDING AS EXERCISES IN MATH AND BASIC ENGINEERING AND DESIGN FOR THEIR SCHOOL WORK. THE 2 OLDERS LEARNED WELDING, BASIC MACHINE WORK, WOODWORKING, PAINTING, TILE INSTALLATION, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, ETC. THAT'S ON TOP OF ALL THE AUTOMATION THEY INSTALLED, AND THE KIDS HELPED WITH.
Also, that's just shy of 3.5kw of panels and can be expected to produce around 14KWH per day on average. Assuming the air/con pulls 1500w...assuming no other loads, you have around 9 hours of air/con in a 24hour period, so with a massive system, you still aren't independent of the grid/generator.
ACTUALLY, IF TEMPS AREN'T > 105F, THE 8 PANELS WILL MAINTAIN EVERYTHING AND STILL CHARGE THE BATTERY. EVEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THEY'RE PUTTING NEARLY 2000 WATTS OUT. ONLY TIME THEY HAD ISSUES WAS DURING THEIR BUILD WHEN TEMPS WERE > 105F. JUAN ADDED 2 GROUND DEPLOYED PANELS TO KEEP UP. ALSO, ANY TIME THEY'RE ON SHORE POWER, THEY'RE CHARGING.
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