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RickyTerzis View Drop Down
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Posts: 1 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: 120-Watt Solar System for Rpod
    Posted: 19 Jul 2017 at 11:56am
Hi...i am a new user here. As per my knowledge there is no practical way to run the air con using battery power.  Maybe with the back of a pickup truck full of batteries, but that would weigh at least half ton and I don't know how long that might work or what it would take to recharge the batteries.

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jato View Drop Down
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Posts: 3331 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Dec 2016 at 5:56am
Good to know, thanks for the update Russ.
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Rustler View Drop Down
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Posts: 100 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Dec 2016 at 4:48am
Originally posted by mrharrybay

Well done! I've been thinking about adding solar for 2017 boondocking, do you feel the solar (any solar) will not run the air conditioning? That will be a deal-breaker for the Frau.

Thanks for your kind comment.

Best abandon any use of air conditioner except on shore power or mobile generator. It is just way too big of a power draw to run off solar/battery power. You would need a huge battery and inverter to supply the necessary AC power for the air conditioner. 

With boon docking one must of necessity do without some of the amenities available with commercial electric power. But I have camped out 4 nights (at the Golden StateStar Party) using just solar power and propane. It did allow using lights, and an Endless Breeze fan to move some air for personal comfort. The temperatures reached the mid-nineties each day. But that 185-watt panel had way more capacity than  was needed. Even after my telescope running off battery power all night, the solar panel recharged the battery quickly each morning and kept up with daytime loads.
Russ
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mrharrybay View Drop Down
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Posts: 13 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Dec 2016 at 8:03am
No, not thinking that at all, dual batteries just seems like a good overall rPod practice which I should adopt. It's clear to me that a/c off the grid is only going to come from a generator. Thanks.
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Posts: 1454 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Dec 2016 at 9:39pm
Originally posted by mrharrybay

Thanks, the dual battery set-up is also something that looks worth adopting for general efficiency, too.


Just to be clear, two batteries won't come close to running the air conditioning either.  Not sure that's what you're thinking, but as Furpod said, there is no practical way to run the air con using battery power.  Maybe with the back of a pickup truck full of batteries, but that would weigh at least half ton and I don't know how long that might work or what it would take to recharge the batteries.  That would be quieter, but way more expensive than a good 2400+ watt generator.

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mrharrybay View Drop Down
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Posts: 13 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Dec 2016 at 11:43am
Thanks, the dual battery set-up is also something that looks worth adopting for general efficiency, too.
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Dec 2016 at 10:59am
Originally posted by mrharrybay

Well done! I've been thinking about adding solar for 2017 boondocking, do you feel the solar (any solar) will not run the air conditioning? That will be a deal-breaker for the Frau.


Boondocking and a/c are incompatible. The only way to run the a/c (reasonably) off grid is with a generator. Producing mains power from a battery bank for a sustained load isn't something easily, compactly, or cheaply done.

Solar is used to recharge the batteries, nothing else. You don't "run" anything on solar.
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Posts: 4518 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Dec 2016 at 10:05am
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Posts: 13 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Dec 2016 at 12:43pm
Well done! I've been thinking about adding solar for 2017 boondocking, do you feel the solar (any solar) will not run the air conditioning? That will be a deal-breaker for the Frau.
2015 RPOD 178, 2015 Chevy Colorado Z71 CC SB, Tekonsha Primus IQ, Lippert hitch, Cequent sway bar, countless nameless hitch pins who will give their lives while I learn how to back this thing up
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Posts: 100 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Nov 2016 at 12:13am
Originally posted by jato

Really interesting Russ.  How much of an investment has this set you back thus far?  Will be interesting to know how it works out in the real world.  Please keep us posted!

I hadn't really totaled it up before. But here's an estimate:
  • Solarland SLP120-24U 120 watt, 24V solar panel  $274
  • Morningstar SSMPPT-15L charge controller    216
  • Subtotal $490
  • Misc. hardware, wire, powerpoles, canvas ~100
  • Total $590
For comparison a 120-watt, 12-volt Zamp solar panel with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controller goes for around $641. While it is a more polished and easier to use setup, it comes with the less expensive & inferior PWM controller. But the Zamp outfit is folding which makes for easier storage. Ecoworthy and Renogy also make folding solar panels.

The Solarland 24-volt solar panel is quite a bit more expensive than a similar 12-volt panel. The maximum power point tracking charge controller is more expensive than a similar pulse width modulating charge controller. But it will harvest a lot more energy from an expensive solar panel. And it allows using high voltage panels which will operate with less power and voltage loss. I can also use my 185 watt, 24 volt panel with the same controller. 

I will be using this solar charger at campgrounds without electric hookup and at each summer's Golden State Star Party. I might also make it to next year's Oregon Star Party. Both outings will be boondocking.
Russ
2009 Toyota RAV4
V6 w/ tow package
2016 Rpod 171 HRE
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