Solar

[KayKay2013]

I've got a Kiwi 23B and I'm curious who is using solar panels or portable systems?
What do you like?
What gets the longest ROI?

Thanks for any feedback.

[Mustang65]

Originally Posted by KayKay2013

I've got a Kiwi 23B and I'm curious who is using solar panels or portable systems?
What do you like?
What gets the longest ROI?

Thanks for any feedback.

Hi,

CONGRATULATIONS on the JAYCO!!!

...and WELCOME TO JOF!!! The members here are GREAT!!! There is a lot of GREAT information to be found here. I am sure that you will have information and pictures to share with us... so please do!!

A question or 2 about your electrical usage. Do you use an inverter? Just 12Volt things in the TT? Planning on getting an inverter to watch Tv? Do you currently dry-camp using just the battery? How long do you plan on dry camping?

Don
My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

[PlayersZ28]

As Mustang65 says, you need to first figure out why and for what you are thinking solar. Then you can determine how much and what setup. Lots on the forums with solar to help you out.

[KayKay2013]

I will be living in the trailer as we travel the country, I'm looking for the most realistic solar power I can carry. We need it for the TV, microwave, pump, ect.

[oldmanAZ]

Originally Posted by KayKay2013

I've got a Kiwi 23B and I'm curious who is using solar panels or portable systems?
What do you like?
What gets the longest ROI?

Thanks for any feedback.

Welcome to the forum. This a great place for good feedback... but all I've got for you is a welcome.

[Mustang65]

Originally Posted by KayKay2013

I will be living in the trailer as we travel the country, I'm looking for the most realistic solar power I can carry. We need it for the TV, microwave, pump, ect.

Let's take 2 of your above items first. The Tv and Pump. Being conservative you could manage on your existing single battery setup. It would allow for a couple hours of Tv watching and running the pump only when needed.

Don't forget that you may encounter some cool/cold nights if traveling out west and need to run the heater. Based on one battery, some Tv watching and running your pump, you would more than likely not make it through the night. So, if you added another 12VDC battery (must be identical to your existing one), you may be able to make it through the night, but still without using the microwave.

If you are planning on using the microwave, you will need a minimum of at least 2 "TRUE" deep cycle batteries (like the Trojan T105 220Amp hour ratings). You will not be able to run the microwave for any extended periods of time, even on 2 deep cycle batteries. Warm ups are fine. The microwave uses about 900 watts (full power) or 75Amps of battery power.

Oh, and don't forget that you will also need an inverter. The inverter converts 12VDC power to 110VAC. The inverter will need to be at least a 1000 watt version (allows for about 1200 to 1500 watts at start up). We can go into the inverter and its wiring later if you wish.

Now for SOLAR panel kit. There are a bunch of different mfr's out there. I tend to lean toward the Renogy SOLAR kits (usually the best $ per watt ratio). Other members will give your their recommendations. If you are planning mostly dry-camping, then you will want to look at a 200 Watt SOLAR panel kit. The 200 watts will get your batteries recharged in a much faster time and ready for the next nighttime usage. You will also be doing all your cell phone, tablets... charging during the day when the sun will be producing the needed power. We use our microwave between the hours of 11 and 1, for the best SOLAR panel output and recharging of the batteries. Go for the name brand and the lowest $/watt for the kit.

Good Luck,

Don
My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

[PlayersZ28]

I looked up a Kiwi 23B and found it to be a hybrid?

If you want to live on the solar then I'd go for most watts/sqft. If you just want to handle limited offgrid then a smaller system would do it. Some items are cheaper to buy spare capacity than others (inverter, chrg ctlr), some can be added to (panels, batt's).

Also need to figure out budget. Somewhere between a roof full of 300w panels with Li batteries and a suitcase panel with OE battery lies the system that'll work for you.

I have 320w now with 4 6v AGM's and I'm in the process of adding 320w more. I can run everything but AC and don't need to worry until the skies haven't been clear for 5 days.

[allen8106]

Originally Posted by KayKay2013

I will be living in the trailer as we travel the country, I'm looking for the most realistic solar power I can carry. We need it for the TV, microwave, pump, ect.

Scratch the idea of the microwave, won't happen. Forget ROI, it's about convenience and self-sufficiency. I did my own installation and sourced my panels used off of Craigslist for $65 each and I have $2300 invested. 520 watts of solar, 1000 watt inverter, Morningstar TS-45 charge controller, Magnum MMS1012 inverter/charger, Bogart TM-2030 battery monitor. I pulled three circuits from the 120 volt panel that I wanted to power with the inverter and tied them to the hot output from the inverter. I run all my 120 volt except microwave and AC's.

[PlayersZ28]

Originally Posted by allen8106

Scratch the idea of the microwave, won't happen. Forget ROI, it's about convenience and self-sufficiency. I did my own installation and sourced my panels used off of Craigslist for $65 each and I have $2300 invested. 520 watts of solar, 1000 watt inverter, Morningstar TS-45 charge controller, Magnum MMS1012 inverter/charger, Bogart TM-2030 battery monitor. I pulled three circuits from the 120 volt panel that I wanted to power with the inverter and tied them to the hot output from the inverter. I run all my 120 volt except microwave and AC's.

I have a 2000w PSW and it'll run the microwave with no problems. It'll also run any other large loads as long as it's one at a time (hair dryer, coffee maker, matress heat, etc). If you install a system in order to boondock (can't see any other reason) then the ROI would be based on campground fees avoided and generator not bought or fueled.

I have 640w of panels (4x160), 448AH battery (4x 6v AGM), inverter, MPPT CC and wire bought. I made my own brackets and tilt struts, installed it and wired it myself. I'm just over 2000$ invested. It's been installed for 3 yrs so if I count the number of nights boondocked (3 winters away so far, 140nights free) it's already paid for itself at 25$/night avoided. The way I see it, if you boondock, solar is the way to make it enjoyable, a genny is too much hassle.

[Mustang65]

Like PlayersZ28 said.

I have 250Watts of SOLAR, 60Amp MPPT MorningStar SOLAR charge controller (planed for future expansion), which pumps out 20Amps when needed, Trojan T145, 260Ah batteries and a 1500 watt inverter. When we dry camped we used the coffee pot in the morning, probably 3x a day, the microwave was used mid-day with full sun. The TV was on most of the night, and plenty of heat when needed. Originally, I was going to add another 250 watts of panels, but the current 250 Watts met out needs, so I never added any. Batteries are charged up by 2PM each SUNNY day, by 4PM on partly cloudy days.

Cloudy/rainy days, we would go into ultra-conservative mode... boil the water and pour it into the electric coffee pot's basket, we do not use the microwave unless the batteries allow for it. TV is used the most, along with tablet and cell phone charging.

The nice part is that I do not worry about taking the batteries out, or having to make sure I turned off the battery disconnect switch between uses, the SUN takes care of it all.

Don
My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

[bono]

Did not have time to read all the posts, but noticed that somebody said no microwave with solar.

I have 640W solar panels (4 panels), inverter magnum 2800 (?), 400Ah lithium. This was first mod i did, as I towed the trailer from the dealer directly to the guy who installed the system.

We use microwaive a lot (young kids), electric kettle, hair dryer, etc. We boondock in 99% case. Actually, the only time we camped with hookups was two years ago and this was the first camping trip. Since then only boondocking.

It was expensive mod, but I am so glad I did it right from the beginning! This is also tanks to guys on this forum (Mustang and others).

Cheers!

[Semix-Hex]

I noticed that you made your own tilt struts. Would you mind sharing a pic or even better a material list? I have been looking high and low for some decent slotted angle as well as the fastener.

Originally Posted by PlayersZ28

I have a 2000w PSW and it'll run the microwave with no problems. It'll also run any other large loads as long as it's one at a time (hair dryer, coffee maker, matress heat, etc). If you install a system in order to boondock (can't see any other reason) then the ROI would be based on campground fees avoided and generator not bought or fueled.

I have 640w of panels (4x160), 448AH battery (4x 6v AGM), inverter, MPPT CC and wire bought. I made my own brackets and tilt struts, installed it and wired it myself. I'm just over 2000$ invested. It's been installed for 3 yrs so if I count the number of nights boondocked (3 winters away so far, 140nights free) it's already paid for itself at 25$/night avoided. The way I see it, if you boondock, solar is the way to make it enjoyable, a genny is too much hassle.

[RetiredLEO]

Batteries are everything.
Here is a great tutorial on batteries. His video's are great!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJD1...1fkdiHj_ays-J6

[PlayersZ28]

Originally Posted by Semix-Hex

I noticed that you made your own tilt struts. Would you mind sharing a pic or even better a material list? I have been looking high and low for some decent slotted angle as well as the fastener.

We're travelling for the winter and I'm tilting the panels for Jan & Feb (currently in Mexico).

The struts are just 1"x.125 alum strap with a hole at each end. I see no point in tilting at various angles and I put them @ 45deg. My mounts are 1.5"x.125 alum angle with two pieces making one mount and 4 mounts per panel. They are rounded on one end so that they can hing with binding. To tilt I remove the two bolts thru the angles on the pair of mounts on one side, lift the panel up and then using a couple of 1/4" bolts on each strut I just fix them on the angle. They been up in very high winds and no issues. The bolts thru the angles have nyloc's so I don't have to crack them tight and they can rotate to tilt.

[Noblewk]

Im also in the process of adding solar to our Siesmic 4114. 700 watt (4 x175J solar panels, Victron 100/50 charger, 6 Costco Golf cart batteries, Xantech 2000 pro pure sine inverter with remote and Victron 712 battery monitor. I’m also adding a second automatic transfer switch to automatically cut out the inverter in case the generator or shore power is applied. My goal is to support the coach with the exception of the AC’’s without being very conservative.
I built mounts which allow them to be tilted.

[Mustang65]

Originally Posted by Noblewk

Im also in the process of adding solar to our Siesmic 4114. 700 watt (4 x175J solar panels, Victron 100/50 charger, 6 Costco Golf cart batteries, Xantech 2000 pro pure sine inverter with remote and Victron 712 battery monitor. I’m also adding a second automatic transfer switch to automatically cut out the inverter in case the generator or shore power is applied. My goal is to support the coach with the exception of the AC’’s without being very conservative.
I built mounts which allow them to be tilted.

Sounds GREAT!!!
Can you post a few pictures throughout your SOLAR project?


WELCOME TO JOF!!! The members here are GREAT!!! There is a lot of GREAT information to be found here. I am sure that you will have information and pictures to share with us... so please do!!

Don

My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

[Noblewk]

This mount was made by using 80/20 1010-T-Slotted Extrusion,1-1/2 in. x 14-Gauge Zinc-Plated Slotted Angle, 1/4” nuts and bolts and a thumb screw. The goal is to be able to tilt and secure the panels without dragging tool on the roof. The mounts are 6” long and will be screwed into the roof with 3 screws per mount. The plate you see with 2 holes in it is a prototype that will be secured into the panel frame using pop rivets. The 8020 was tapped 1/4” to accept a 1/4” inch knob. The 8020 is mounted to the slotted angle with a carriage bolt and nut.

[Noblewk]

Here you can see the other side if the mount in the correct orientation. The knob will allow the tilting of the panel or used to secure the panel to the mount. Again the plate with the 2 holes will be mounted to the panel. Once mounted the panel will be approximately 2” off the roof. This allow air under the panel for cooling.

[Noblewk]

Here is a photo with the mount attached to the panel. As you can see the mount will allow rotation of the panel. The panels will mounted along the port side of the RV length wise, so the panels will tilt on their long sides.

[Mustang65]

A lot of thought went into your setup... Nice

Keep us updated!

If you get a chance post your pictures and a link to your post in the "RVing with SOLAR" social group to share with the other members.

Thanks
Don
My Registry

RVing with SOLAR