Hi. I am new and about to convert a Ford Transit for my daughter to use when going to horse shows. We're hoping to install a shower (with a Hot Water Heater) and a compressor-driven Air Conditioner unit for the roof, both of which will be major energy drags over and above the usual Fridge and fan and lights and stuff in a conversion van.
I've been reading and trying to get smart...but am looking for a product that might not exist.
I LOVE the idea of the Renogy DC50S system, as it would allow me to use the Ford 150A Alternator to charge house batteries pretty easily. It seems some people also prefer the KISAE DMT1250 to do a similar job. What I like about those systems is the ability to have solar and/or the Ford Alternator recharging the House batteries. What I don't like is that I'd apparently have to wire up a separate system for incoming Shore Power, including a battery charger and inverter or a combo of some sort
I also LOVE the MPP All-in-One systems that Will has on his site and in some videos...those seem plug and play for a solar input and shore power inputs, but the downside is that it doesn't seem to have the DC-to-DC features that the Renogy has that would let me tap into the Ford Alternator.
Given that the ideal design calls for a ton more power than I probably have space to generate on the roof of the Transit (It's a Med Roof, Long Wheel Base, but still not THAT big), I'm assuming we will need to top up the house batteries with shore power sometimes/pretty regularly...but she wants to be off-grid as much as possible...and so I'm trying to design something that will let her utilize Solar, the Alternator, AND let me do Shore Power when needed....but being new, I'd also really prefer something that puts it all in one box without breaking the bank.
Thoughts for the newbie on how to deal with the power equipment challenge? Does the animal I'm seeking exist at any reasonable price point?
I've been reading and trying to get smart...but am looking for a product that might not exist.
I LOVE the idea of the Renogy DC50S system, as it would allow me to use the Ford 150A Alternator to charge house batteries pretty easily. It seems some people also prefer the KISAE DMT1250 to do a similar job. What I like about those systems is the ability to have solar and/or the Ford Alternator recharging the House batteries. What I don't like is that I'd apparently have to wire up a separate system for incoming Shore Power, including a battery charger and inverter or a combo of some sort
I also LOVE the MPP All-in-One systems that Will has on his site and in some videos...those seem plug and play for a solar input and shore power inputs, but the downside is that it doesn't seem to have the DC-to-DC features that the Renogy has that would let me tap into the Ford Alternator.
Given that the ideal design calls for a ton more power than I probably have space to generate on the roof of the Transit (It's a Med Roof, Long Wheel Base, but still not THAT big), I'm assuming we will need to top up the house batteries with shore power sometimes/pretty regularly...but she wants to be off-grid as much as possible...and so I'm trying to design something that will let her utilize Solar, the Alternator, AND let me do Shore Power when needed....but being new, I'd also really prefer something that puts it all in one box without breaking the bank.
Thoughts for the newbie on how to deal with the power equipment challenge? Does the animal I'm seeking exist at any reasonable price point?