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11-26-2021, 09:08 AM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Lake country
Posts: 3
M.O.C. #26259
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Solar power
How many watts of solar panels needed , and how many batteries needed and what lnverter needed to run rv dry camping
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11-26-2021, 10:22 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 4,083
M.O.C. #20477
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Terrol,
It really depends on what devices you want to run and for how long. Search the forum and you will find a lot on the subject.
If you don't have a residential reefer, don't watch TV, don't have an electric coffee maker, don't plan on using the microwave and camp in temperate climates you can get by for a few days with just a couple of decent sized batteries.
By building an electric budget you will get a good idea of your needs.
Even with a lot of solar, a genny is always handy for those cloudy days.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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11-26-2021, 03:39 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Livermore
Posts: 5,183
M.O.C. #1920
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Terrol, as Zack said, it depends on your rig. We have the Super Solar system. It has 1200 watts of solar and 540 ah of lithium batteries, two 50 amp solar charge controllers and a 3000 watt inverter. We do not have a residential refrigerator, so that helps us significantly. We can run AC for a few hours. But, 1200 watts is not capable of keeping up with AC. A good first step would be to add a good battery monitor like the Victron 712 to track your power. And, since there will be cloudy days, don’t forget to add a generator to cover those days. Best of luck. On sunny days, we can run everything but the AC including furnace and stay above 90% charge at the end of a sunny day.
__________________
Ron and Terrie Ames plus Meg - MOC #1920/KF0NTA
2021Montana 3230CK Super Solar+ Legacy Package
2021 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn, BIM Charging
4x4, SRW, LB, Crew Cab, Pullrite 3900 Hitch
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11-26-2021, 08:54 PM
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#4
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New Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Lake country
Posts: 3
M.O.C. #26259
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Terrol
Thanks
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11-30-2021, 08:36 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: SoCal
Posts: 625
M.O.C. #25842
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We have 1,200 watts solar, 600ah Lithium and 3000w pure sine inverter. Run everything (Including residential fridge) except AC, dryer and electric water heater off solar.
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12-01-2021, 08:06 AM
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#6
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Established Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Terrace
Posts: 13
M.O.C. #29770
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RS O'Donnell, nice setup.
I am planning on a solar addition to my 3121rl this spring and was wondering what route/location you used to drop the panel wires from the roof to the solar charge controllers.
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12-01-2021, 02:31 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: SoCal
Posts: 625
M.O.C. #25842
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hooterville
RS O'Donnell, nice setup.
I am planning on a solar addition to my 3121rl this spring and was wondering what route/location you used to drop the panel wires from the roof to the solar charge controllers.
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Fortunately I didn't have to. It came prewired.
I just had to wire my panels in three groups of four series wired panels then wire those three groups in parallel so I could use the 10 gauge.
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12-05-2021, 05:58 PM
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#8
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Established Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Simi Valley
Posts: 28
M.O.C. #9024
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DON'T FORGET that solar depends on where you are camping, not just the weather. If you camp at the beach or the desert, you can quite often rely on solar. If you camp in the mountains, under pine trees and such, solar is almost useless.
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12-05-2021, 07:43 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: SoCal
Posts: 625
M.O.C. #25842
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That depends on several factors. We spent 14 days here at 9,000 ft and never had a day where we didn’t get back to 100% by sundown. Never had to run the generator at all.
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12-06-2021, 09:16 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Arlington
Posts: 1,523
M.O.C. #18081
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Very true...we have had to navigate these challenges for years when we are back in the PNW. These are the conditions that make ground deployable arrays appealing for some.
__________________
SOB
2015 Volvo VNL780 D13, iShift, 32k ET air hitch, Idle Free LiFePO4 APU
16.8KWhr LiFePO4, 2.52 kw solar, 10kva Victron split phase
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12-06-2021, 09:53 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: SoCal
Posts: 625
M.O.C. #25842
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I’ve been amazed how good solar works even on overcast days. This is right now with oven fan running.
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12-06-2021, 12:03 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: SoCal
Posts: 625
M.O.C. #25842
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Same cloud cover, already topped off.
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12-08-2021, 12:43 PM
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#13
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Chatsworth
Posts: 471
M.O.C. #10933
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We have had solar for 4 years now and are almost comfortable with our setup. We have 480 watts on the roof, a 40 amp solar controller, and 4 6volt AGM batteries at 224 amp hrs each. Our inverter is a 3000 watt which is oversize because I got it (hardly) used. I also added a Trimetric power monitor. The wire from each panel is # 8 over to the bus, then # 6 down to the controller and on to the batts.
We run the coffee maker(Keurig) to make 6 cups a day, the toaster, the tv for 2 or 3 hrs a night and the microwave for short times. Occasionally my wife uses the Instant cooker in mid afternoon. Most days in Arizona or Mexico we're at 100% by 4 pm. We are expanding our system to 680 watts on the roof and adding 2 more of the same batts. Because not all days are totally sun so we want more charging capacity for the less sunny days. I installed the system myself after a lot of "homework". I brought the two # 6 wires down from the bus to the controller right alongside the bathroom roof vent. Ours is a 3720. I hope this helps.
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