190 watt overlander solar

[Rambling Drabek’s]

Can anyone shed a little light on this? How much can you run off the batteries with the factory 190 watt roof mounted solar panel? Will it run the A/C and other items at the same time? We’re about to order a new NP and wanted to check the box for the solar panel. Thanks

[KevinKuhns]

I have this on my NorthPoint. It's my understanding that the solar is to charge your batteries, it doesn't actually run anything.

[Scottenj]

Originally Posted by Rambling Drabek’s

Can anyone shed a little light on this? How much can you run off the batteries with the factory 190 watt roof mounted solar panel? Will it run the A/C and other items at the same time? We’re about to order a new NP and wanted to check the box for the solar panel. Thanks

First off, 190 watts of solar isn’t very much, I put 800 watts on my roof and sometimes wish I had more.

The solar system basically charges your battery by providing DC power, it doesn’t directly run anything.

Your AC system runs off of AC power so you would need an inverter of around 3,000 watts to run one AC system. You would also need a big battery bank and even then you couldn’t run the AC for very long. There is something called a Microair you could put on your AC system and then it would run off a 2,000 watt inverter but you would be voiding your AC system warrantee. My AC system with the Microair draws 10 amps at 120 volts, that is 1,200 watts so 190 watt solar isn’t even close to keeping up.

I have a 300 Ah battery bank and 800 watts of solar, on a bright sunny day I could run my AC System for about 5 to 6 hours maximum and that is running the batteries all the way down. 300 Ah is about 4x the battery size they will likely put in your unit and I have very expensive Lithium batteries you can run down close to zero, regular lead acid batteries can only be run down to about 50%.

The 190 watt system can likely recharge your batteries for you each day if all you do is run lights and a water pump, that’s it. To me that is a “we have solar marketing solar system, not a real one.

[TaftCoach]

Originally Posted by Rambling Drabek’s

Can anyone shed a little light on this? How much can you run off the batteries with the factory 190 watt roof mounted solar panel? Will it run the A/C and other items at the same time? We’re about to order a new NP and wanted to check the box for the solar panel. Thanks

190 Watts will generally top off your batteries. You will have enough energy to run lights, water pump, and possible your furnace fan each night. It will not run your AC, microwave, or residential fridge. Not even close. It will easily maintain your batteries while in storage unless of course you are in shade.

[Rambling Drabek’s]

Wow, I had no idea. Thanks for the input. I think we might pass on that option. I appreciate your responses.

[KevinKuhns]

Originally Posted by Rambling Drabek’s

I think we might pass on that option.

At the typical buy price its $400, get it. Unless you plan on most of your camping being boondocking, this kit is much better spent $ than thousands you could end up paying in my opinion. Get this kit, then use your camper for a bit until you learn if you need an expensive system.