Ok , it’s been about 3 weeks… for two weeks with no grid power in the RV for except a couple of days when installing SPD‘s in the power trailer.
So for a few out there ( some non- believers and scoffers) who wanted me to report how it went .
Here is my report….with nothing but the batts ,CC and multi, and the sun…all went pretty
well.
took a day or so to learn and adapt…
nice weather resulted in good charging… could run most everything i wanted during the day ( even though underpaneled at this point) and have full bank at dark for the night… I ran all the gear at about 80- 85% …never more except to just try it out……all went well
Lights , computer ,tv ,internet , phone chargers , max air fans , electric blanket, normal electric Dometic RV refer( 400 watts) ….electric water heater (1500 watts) Rv converter , water pump ,micro wave ( 1500 watts) . The key is to plan what you need and when you need it …it’s easy…
I can run the Air Cond ( 1500 watts);and all other light stuff plus refer , but I must turn off refer to get it past the initial surge event…after that it’s ok with the refer running…( this is why I’m gona install the Easy Start )
I use A/C about 5-8;hrs a WEEK once July and august get here but it’s just not over 65 to 75 everyday and ususlly chilly at night …40 to 50F …AC isn’t a concern normally .most don’t even have it around here… I rarely use it at all.
I cannot run water heater and micro wave at the same time… that’s the only compromise I must make ..that’s the only no-no …I totally don’t care… it’s meaningless …if that’s a big deal to someone , they won’t survive any event worse than staying at a Motel 6 for a week anyway.
All else can be run when ever with no preemptive thinking or measures…
at night…tone it down a bit …..save power..
I Did this for 12 years my sail boat with 1/8 the usable Batt power … this all seems like second nature to me…
SO , week 3 , I mixed it around… the water heater , refer and stove can run off propane…
well I have a 500 gallon tank 25 ft away plumbed to the RV . So I mixed in some with the solar to run the hot water when needed, the stove top if needed and now it’s like a no brainer .. there’s nothing to think about…it’s easy and when winter gets here propane powers the furnace and warms the whole place very efficiently .. furnace fan is about 85 Watts when blowing ..
Down to about Zero , it’s on about 50% duty cycle…( 4 season camper) ..the tank usually lasts about 2 years when full. About 6-700 $ to fill it ( 400) gal…80% Full….I could easily stretch it three years ….
So between the solar for electricity and the propane for heat 4 months a year I foresee no real issues. It’s been fun…
I do have Honda and champion dual fuel inverter gen sets to fill in if needed to run the Multi and charge the batts and a 9600 champion dual fuel if I need to do somthing big or run the well to fill up the storage tank or somthing…
they all have plumbed fittings to the big tank so to avoid using the 20-30 lb tanks unless I needed them as back up.
WHAT I WILL CHANGE….I need to increase my Array size about 3000 watts… maybe this fall…then 1500 more next year …thst much would be more than enough….I would also like a Sundanzer medium size DC chest freezer for the tool shed… that draws very little power and would hold a few hundred lbs of meat and essential long term frozen food ..
I did not buy all could UNTILL I saw this could and would work…Honestly , I can’t believe this thing even works at all and that I’m still alive…….it all work great for 3 months now…I really do not see anything else I need .. that may change …but that’s all I can see at this point..
I did not build this to go boondocking …we already live far away from anything…and anybody ..
I did not build this to go to a camp ground… I do not wish to be able to see a bunch of people I don’t know.
I didn’t build this to be cool or trendy , ( no one out here even knows what I been doing for the last two years )
I built and tested this to see with just what I have ,can I do without the grid….and live great…YESSS..!
I DID build this to be portable for several reasons…..
With just the panels I have ,and a little propane now and then, I can live fine year round…with the new panel addition , it would be a cake walk…
I can power my tool shed with an extension cord if need be , or the lil Honda or heat it with a Mr buddy…( yes , the shed is plumbed for quick connect to the big tank.)
BUT I do not intend to mess with the Mobil home (50 ft away) …and it’s grid connection as my wife lives in that…and I have NO desire to enter into that discussion…or adaptation…let it be…! ..BUT…one snowy windy cold nite , I will have my day…!!
( Hey babe , ) is the power still out up there??? Damn , I bet it’s cold with no heat… AWWW….We’ll come on over , Im cooking , drinking and watching movies…………… poor thing…come on in .. warm up for a bit..wanna drink..?
I will get the last laugh on this solar thing yet…
So for a few out there ( some non- believers and scoffers) who wanted me to report how it went .
Here is my report….with nothing but the batts ,CC and multi, and the sun…all went pretty
well.
took a day or so to learn and adapt…
nice weather resulted in good charging… could run most everything i wanted during the day ( even though underpaneled at this point) and have full bank at dark for the night… I ran all the gear at about 80- 85% …never more except to just try it out……all went well
Lights , computer ,tv ,internet , phone chargers , max air fans , electric blanket, normal electric Dometic RV refer( 400 watts) ….electric water heater (1500 watts) Rv converter , water pump ,micro wave ( 1500 watts) . The key is to plan what you need and when you need it …it’s easy…
I can run the Air Cond ( 1500 watts);and all other light stuff plus refer , but I must turn off refer to get it past the initial surge event…after that it’s ok with the refer running…( this is why I’m gona install the Easy Start )
I use A/C about 5-8;hrs a WEEK once July and august get here but it’s just not over 65 to 75 everyday and ususlly chilly at night …40 to 50F …AC isn’t a concern normally .most don’t even have it around here… I rarely use it at all.
I cannot run water heater and micro wave at the same time… that’s the only compromise I must make ..that’s the only no-no …I totally don’t care… it’s meaningless …if that’s a big deal to someone , they won’t survive any event worse than staying at a Motel 6 for a week anyway.
All else can be run when ever with no preemptive thinking or measures…
at night…tone it down a bit …..save power..
I Did this for 12 years my sail boat with 1/8 the usable Batt power … this all seems like second nature to me…
SO , week 3 , I mixed it around… the water heater , refer and stove can run off propane…
well I have a 500 gallon tank 25 ft away plumbed to the RV . So I mixed in some with the solar to run the hot water when needed, the stove top if needed and now it’s like a no brainer .. there’s nothing to think about…it’s easy and when winter gets here propane powers the furnace and warms the whole place very efficiently .. furnace fan is about 85 Watts when blowing ..
Down to about Zero , it’s on about 50% duty cycle…( 4 season camper) ..the tank usually lasts about 2 years when full. About 6-700 $ to fill it ( 400) gal…80% Full….I could easily stretch it three years ….
So between the solar for electricity and the propane for heat 4 months a year I foresee no real issues. It’s been fun…
I do have Honda and champion dual fuel inverter gen sets to fill in if needed to run the Multi and charge the batts and a 9600 champion dual fuel if I need to do somthing big or run the well to fill up the storage tank or somthing…
they all have plumbed fittings to the big tank so to avoid using the 20-30 lb tanks unless I needed them as back up.
WHAT I WILL CHANGE….I need to increase my Array size about 3000 watts… maybe this fall…then 1500 more next year …thst much would be more than enough….I would also like a Sundanzer medium size DC chest freezer for the tool shed… that draws very little power and would hold a few hundred lbs of meat and essential long term frozen food ..
I did not buy all could UNTILL I saw this could and would work…Honestly , I can’t believe this thing even works at all and that I’m still alive…….it all work great for 3 months now…I really do not see anything else I need .. that may change …but that’s all I can see at this point..
I did not build this to go boondocking …we already live far away from anything…and anybody ..
I did not build this to go to a camp ground… I do not wish to be able to see a bunch of people I don’t know.
I didn’t build this to be cool or trendy , ( no one out here even knows what I been doing for the last two years )
I built and tested this to see with just what I have ,can I do without the grid….and live great…YESSS..!
I DID build this to be portable for several reasons…..
With just the panels I have ,and a little propane now and then, I can live fine year round…with the new panel addition , it would be a cake walk…
I can power my tool shed with an extension cord if need be , or the lil Honda or heat it with a Mr buddy…( yes , the shed is plumbed for quick connect to the big tank.)
BUT I do not intend to mess with the Mobil home (50 ft away) …and it’s grid connection as my wife lives in that…and I have NO desire to enter into that discussion…or adaptation…let it be…! ..BUT…one snowy windy cold nite , I will have my day…!!
( Hey babe , ) is the power still out up there??? Damn , I bet it’s cold with no heat… AWWW….We’ll come on over , Im cooking , drinking and watching movies…………… poor thing…come on in .. warm up for a bit..wanna drink..?
I will get the last laugh on this solar thing yet…
Last edited: