No generator, no problem!

[Mike90250]

Successful solar on an RV, I think, requires a DIY spirit, hands on maintenance approach and a full understanding of its capabilities and limitations. I would think a bought and installed system from a dealership or Larry with a Ladder has a very slim chance of meeting the buyers needs and would be destined for a short life followed by a poor attitude about solar..

And that's EXACTLY what I'm wanting to not have happen here. I see this as a forum of "realistic expectations" advising folks how to engineer a system that will work for them. I want this forum to have real answers to questions, and not be greenwashing, pie in sky, join the solar revolution comrade. I want people to be as happy with their solar as I am with mine, knowing that there are limits.

[littleharbor]

Successful solar on an RV, I think, requires a DIY spirit, hands on maintenance approach and a full understanding of its capabilities and limitations. I would think a bought and installed system from a dealership or Larry with a Ladder has a very slim chance of meeting the buyers needs and would be destined for a short life followed by a poor attitude about solar..

[MambaJack]

That's just internet forum logic, especially around here. In real life people with modern rv solar systems tend to love it, and if they don't like something about it they're glad to say so, and/or fix it. No "sugar coating" required.

I have been on this forum for quite a while now trying to gain knowledge on putting a system on my conversion, and at no point felt like it was frowned on. JUst some honest opinions and facts about the true cost, complexity, risk, reward. What I have learned here has been super valuable and rewarding. I dont get the bitter attitude toward the forum.

I think most rvers struggle with solar fulfilling there needs, mainly due to the want for airconditioning

[jflorey2]

I'm starting to think that's only on this forum. In real life I've never met a single person with a modern RV solar system that has anything but glowing praise for it. Not even once. And I've met many.

So have I. There was an RV park near the dropzone at Perris and I was always getting asked for help when people had problems. Disaster stories I've heard include: (in order of frequency)

1) People who kill their batteries because one out of several loads does not have an LVD, and they leave it on
2) People who kill their batteries because their loads significantly exceed their generation
3) Solar mounts that are inadequate that result in people losing their panels to high winds
4) Solar wiring that becomes inadequate because the system "evolves" as a result of 1) or 2) - but is not upgraded until something melts or blows out.

In addition, the majority of solar + larger inverter systems I have seen do not get the neutral switchover correct, resulting in a potentially dangerous installation.

[SunEagle]

That's just internet forum logic, especially around here. In real life people with modern rv solar systems tend to love it, and if they don't like something about it they're glad to say so, and/or fix it. No "sugar coating" required.

It is amazing I have held myself from posting on this thread for a long while.

As I stated before it looks like you have found a way to make solar & RVing work for your life style. I am happy for you and those that can accomplish the same.

But I can say that I am an RVer and I have talked to hundreds of other people at RV events. Most would rather have a solid grid connection for their rigs or use their generator because batteries just aren't enough to supply their comfort needs.

So please understand there are a number of RVer's that can't do what you do. If that is so hard for you to believe then I will just shut down this thread and any others that come up that contain all this griping.

Do you get my drift?

[Wrybread]

That's just internet forum logic, especially around here. In real life people with modern rv solar systems tend to love it, and if they don't like something about it they're glad to say so, and/or fix it. No "sugar coating" required.

[J.P.M.]

I'm starting to think that's only on this forum. In real life I've never met a single person with a modern RV solar system that has anything but glowing praise for it. Not even once. And I've met many.

Seems to me I've seen/watched examples of how it's sometimes easier to sugarcoat things than admit a screwup/bad decision/execution.

[Wrybread]

That sort of experience gets much more campfire story time, than the successful installs.

I'm starting to think that's only on this forum. In real life I've never met a single person with a modern RV solar system that has anything but glowing praise for it. Not even once. And I've met many.

[Mike90250]

There is no problem if your solar array and RV lifestyle work well with each other sans generator.

Sadly though, not every RV'er can accomplish that, and it's unreasonable to expect they will. The price of fossil fuel will ultimately drive that decision. Until then, generators will be run by the casual, and if there are not quite times in the campground, others will hear them. So the mission is to help where feasible, folks get PV safely installed or on mobile sandwich boards to minimize the generator usage. But not all folk in all locations, can achieve this.

What I don't want to see, is folks pushed to batteries and solar, without being able to sustain it, and 6 weeks later, have 4 dead boat anchor batteries and unworkable solar on their roof. That sort of experience gets much more campfire story time, than the successful installs. I'd rather have 3 successful, happy solar RV's than 3 who got burned by salesmen with happy joy stories, without a clue about the discipline to adjust lifestyle to work with solar.

[Wrybread]

Amen on the silence being golden. Not to mention never ever having to think about power, or lug any fuel around, or maintain a generator. That's pretty amazingly golden too. So odd that these are controversial statements on a forum that's the number one Google hit for "RV solar forum", but alas.

[PNW_Steve]

After calculating my loads,
I ended up with 2k of panels, 5.5kWh of usable battery, for about $4500.
That would by a nice generator and a lot of fuel.....

Yes it would. But how much quiet will it buy?

I set my 5er up for RV park stays. No solar and a relatively small house battery. This Summer we have done quite a bit of boondocking and had to run the generator quite a bit. It was a shame to be in such a peaceful spot and have to run the generator so much.

I added some solar and greatly reduced generator use.

Silence is golden.....

[extrafu]

After calculating my loads,
I ended up with 2k of panels, 5.5kWh of usable battery, for about $4500.
That would by a nice generator and a lot of fuel.....

Batteries were still not consider in the original simple math. All of what was said was unusable without them.

[MambaJack]

You forgot the price of batteries in your simple math.

After calculating my loads,
I ended up with 2k of panels, 5.5kWh of usable battery, for about $4500.
That would by a nice generator and a lot of fuel.....

[MambaJack]

I am not saying you are incorrect about solar and an RV. I am just saying that you are in a very small percentage of people that consume very little electricity. Congrats on your ability to do so.

Totally agree with this!

[MambaJack]

I guess RV roof real-estate has gotten larger over the years. Vents and air conditioner housings used to break up the roof and not be as usable

panels.jpg

Yea, lot easier with a custom build.
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