Solar on my truck camper

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  • SunEagle
    Super Moderator
    • Oct 2012
    • 15163

    #16
    [QUOTE=Mustang65;91144]
    Originally posted by thepartyhound
    and possibly a 3-way refrigerator (11.2 amps is a number I came across for the fridge running on DC) if there is enough battery capacity.

    Just so you know, on a 3 way fridge you can run it on LP and the only electric needed is a few mW of 12 volt power to run the circuit board.

    Running a heater fan on even my batteries will bring them down by morning to 12.4 Volts, and I do not like to drop below 12Volts.

    If you decide to purchase a Gas Generator, understand campgrounds do not allow the noisy ones, that everyone can afford, pretty much it has to be the silent running ones like Honda (about $2k)..

    You can only run the generators between the hours of 9 and 9 at most campgrounds, if they are the quiet types.

    LED's are a must

    With my setup I can watch TV (inverter), listen to the radio, laptop computer,charge phones... all day (solar charging) and at night until about 11PM, with LED's for lighting, we have not had much need for heat, but that is a battery killer (the fan).

    Good Luck
    Don
    2013 Jayco Eagle 284BHS
    250Watt Grape Solar Panel, MorningStar MPPT 60 Charge Controller
    1500 Watt Ramsond PSI, 2 Trojan T145 Batteries
    2 - AirSight Wireless IP Cameras (used as rear view cameras)
    EnGenius WI-FI extender, Netgear wireless modem (n)
    MagicJack Internet Phone
    2012 Ford F150XLT, EcoBoost w/3.73
    157" Wheel base, HD Towing Package

    Our Solar RV Album http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/album.php?albumid=145
    Pretty neat system you have there. The only place I see a potential problem is the lack of a fuse between the Ramsond inverter outlet and the 30 amp receptacle that you plug your shore power cable into. There is no overcurrent protection should you plug too much 120 load in the RV since it is set up for 30 amp at 120volt and the inverter output is less than that.

    Comment

    • Mustang65
      Member
      • Aug 2013
      • 42

      #17
      [QUOTE=SunEagle;91145]
      Originally posted by Mustang65

      Pretty neat system you have there. The only place I see a potential problem is the lack of a fuse between the Ramsond inverter outlet and the 30 amp receptacle that you plug your shore power cable into. There is no over current protection should you plug too much 120 load in the RV since it is set up for 30 amp at 120volt and the inverter output is less than that.
      When I started wiring in the system, I checked with Ramsond support and they (for what it is worth) said that each of the outlets on the inverter have internal circuit breakers. I have yet to pop one, but if it can, I will pop one sooner or later. I would have 2 additional outlets on the inverter to get me through the crisis. I am going to upgrade and install a circuit breaker next to the inverter, hopefully before I start camping again. ..... and of course I am never satisfied so I will be adding additional solar power/batteries.

      Thanks for the concern

      Don

      2013 Jayco Eagle 284BHS
      250Watt Grape Solar Panel, MorningStar MPPT 60 Charge Controller
      1500 Watt Ramsond PSI, 2 Trojan T145 Batteries
      2 - AirSight Wireless IP Cameras (used as rear view cameras)
      EnGenius WI-FI extender, Netgear wireless modem (n)
      MagicJack Internet Phone
      2012 Ford F150XLT, EcoBoost w/3.73
      157" Wheel base, HD Towing Package

      Our Solar RV Album http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/album.php?albumid=145

      Comment

      • dkpro1
        Solar Fanatic
        • Apr 2012
        • 155

        #18
        first things first

        [QUOTE=Mustang65;91144]
        Originally posted by thepartyhound
        and possibly a 3-way refrigerator (11.2 amps is a number I came across for the fridge running on DC) if there is enough battery capacity.

        Just so you know, on a 3 way fridge you can run it on LP and the only electric needed is a few mW of 12 volt power to run the circuit board.

        Running a heater fan on even my batteries will bring them down by morning to 12.4 Volts, and I do not like to drop below 12Volts.

        If you decide to purchase a Gas Generator, understand campgrounds do not allow the noisy ones, that everyone can afford, pretty much it has to be the silent running ones like Honda (about $2k)..

        You can only run the generators between the hours of 9 and 9 at most campgrounds, if they are the quiet types.

        LED's are a must

        With my setup I can watch TV (inverter), listen to the radio, laptop computer,charge phones... all day (solar charging) and at night until about 11PM, with LED's for lighting, we have not had much need for heat, but that is a battery killer (the fan).

        Good Luck
        Don
        2013 Jayco Eagle 284BHS
        250Watt Grape Solar Panel, MorningStar MPPT 60 Charge Controller
        1500 Watt Ramsond PSI, 2 Trojan T145 Batteries
        2 - AirSight Wireless IP Cameras (used as rear view cameras)
        EnGenius WI-FI extender, Netgear wireless modem (n)
        MagicJack Internet Phone
        2012 Ford F150XLT, EcoBoost w/3.73
        157" Wheel base, HD Towing Package

        Our Solar RV Album http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/album.php?albumid=145

        RV furnace must go big power draw very inefficient about 50 % get a Blue flame heater 99.8 % use the space from throwing out rv heater for battries...




        Now this is RV solar

        Comment

        • SunEagle
          Super Moderator
          • Oct 2012
          • 15163

          #19
          [QUOTE=dkpro1;91150]
          Originally posted by Mustang65


          RV furnace must go big power draw very inefficient about 50 % get a Blue flame heater 99.8 % use the space from throwing out rv heater for battries...




          Now this is RV solar
          http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/album.php?albumid=99
          That is a serious looking solar pv system.

          Comment

          • Mustang65
            Member
            • Aug 2013
            • 42

            #20
            Now that is a nice setup... thanks for the heater tip... probably will not get it past the wife, so thicker blankets
            Don

            Comment

            • dkpro1
              Solar Fanatic
              • Apr 2012
              • 155

              #21
              Thank you

              Originally posted by Mustang65
              Now that is a nice setup... thanks for the heater tip... probably will not get it past the wife, so thicker blankets
              Don
              It took a while to get to this point but it is very good now paid for it all by doing instals on rv's in south AZ. in the winter

              ps. we use a elc. blanket at night very low draw set on low ....my inverter is on 24-7

              Comment

              • Mustang65
                Member
                • Aug 2013
                • 42

                #22
                Originally posted by dkpro1
                It took a while to get to this point but it is very good now paid for it all by doing instals on rv's in south AZ. in the winter

                ps. we use a elc. blanket at night very low draw set on low ....my inverter is on 24-7
                In case I missed it in one of the other posts,
                What is the output of your panels?
                What do you have for batteries?
                Charge Controller?
                Inverter?

                Nice winter time activity... installing systems.
                Don

                Comment

                • dkpro1
                  Solar Fanatic
                  • Apr 2012
                  • 155

                  #23
                  my sys.

                  Originally posted by Mustang65
                  In case I missed it in one of the other posts,
                  What is the output of your panels?
                  What do you have for batteries?
                  Charge Controller?
                  Inverter?

                  Nice winter time activity... installing systems.
                  Don
                  I have 2 system's 12 volt and 24 volt

                  on the 24 volt
                  1400 watt's grid tie panles aray vmp 37 volts
                  Morningstar Tirstar 45 mttp
                  4- T125's in series
                  Go power 1500 watt Pure Sign


                  on 12 volt
                  275 watts 12 volt panles
                  Morning star sun saver dual .....takes care of 12 house and motor battry
                  1000 watt go power PS.
                  2 T 105's



                  FILL THE ROOF BABY!!!!

                  run a 5 cf deep freez
                  and an apartment size ac fridge
                  40 inch LED tv ..with direct tv
                  22 inch LED in beedroom
                  lots of crock pot cooking
                  took out 1500 watt heating element from hot water heater replaced with 1000 watt

                  Comment

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