🔴 ⭐Here is the meter to determine your watt usage: amzn.to/3VKtiV9 Here is the link to all our Solar Items: amzn.to/45ORhqM If you are looking at Enduro Batteries here is his Link: urlgeni.us/Enduro Use Promo Code: SwitchItUp
I just got the watt meter last week as I am working on my winter set up. Planning on being off grid in AZ all winter this year while working full time still. :)
Hi Todd and Sheila. The 1st 29 minutes where you walked us forward from your start was very helpful. As your needs expanded, you learned more about it all, and now we on the starting end can benefit from your experience. Thank you!
Great video. I couldn't have said it better, "Solar opens up your options." We're FTers who travel around the country a lot, visiting National Parks, and doing the tourist thing, mostly boondocking out west. We spent last winter boondocking near Yuma, AZ, but we're visiting our son in NC now where boondocking places are pretty rare. We found an RV park that is letting us camp in a spacious site without hook-ups for only $100/mo., saving us $500/mo. off their FHU rates, while still enjoying the benefits of staying in an RV park, like unlimited dump station use and trash disposal. Options give us flexibility and save us a ton of money. This is possible because we have no need to plug into a power pedestal at an RV park anymore, as we can power everything in our coach, including our A/C and heat 24/7 off of the sun. Of course, this requires a rather substantial solar/battery system. I guess being FTers who like to boondock or dry camp 90% of the time, we're in that 10% of RVers you mentioned. I concur with your battery advise. Lithium is the only way to go. They are by far the cheapest option on a cost per kwh per cycle basis as they last so long. The price of Lithium prismatic cells (your most cost-effective option for the DIYer like us) has dropped quite a bit over the last few years. Our first 7.1kwh battery cost us $1,569 or $221/kwh, however the 16.4kwh we bought last November only cost $1,726 or $105/kwh. You'll also need to add a $100-$150 BMS to keep things safe. Not only does building your own batteries save money, but your battery will have a smaller footprint and be lighter than a factory assembled battery too. For comparison, a manufactured 100ah $500 LiFePo-4 battery costs $390/kwh. Yes, it takes time and knowledge to build one yourself from raw cells, but you can build one for less than 1/3 of what you can buy the exact same capacity pre-made battery for, which is what you would expect, as the battery manufacturers need to pay their people, plus make a profit too. My 16.4 kwh 48v 320ah battery has slightly more capacity than 4, 300ah 12v enduro batteries in series but only cost me $1,825 with a 200ah BMS. The 300ah Enduro is currently going for $1,500 ea. or $6,000 for 4. Enduro is a pretty economical choice for a pre-built battery compared to say a Battleborn Gamechanger 270ah 12v battery for $2,500 a pop. We are retirees on a tight budget so started small, with a 620w liftable array on the side of our coach, leaving our entire roof free to rack 8, 550-watt panels (4,400 watts) 15" off our roof over our A/C shroud, vents and other roof protrusions. Not only do the panels run cooler than panels attached to the roof with z brackets, producing more power, but they provide a nice shade for the entire roof of our 35ft MH keeping it cooler inside even when our A/Cs are not running. We replaced our rear roof mounted A/C with a 28.5 Seer-2 mini-split heat pump on the back of our coach that only draws 1/3rd the power of our Furrion up front. This reduces our power consumption substantially, reducing the size solar/battery system needed. Our complete system with 23.5kwh of batteries, 5,020 watts of solar and all components only cost us about $10k to DIY - $1,500 more including our heat pump. This is not counting the value of my labor, of course. I'm retired so my labor is free, but if I had to pay someone else to design and build it for me it would have easily doubled or even tripled our costs.
Great explanation of solar, thanks Todd for this video! Can you fit in State or National Parks? I guess to add solar you have to consider the cost over time and the savings.
We have done 2 State parks in West Virginia. No on any National parks but we couldn't fit in them even with our Grand Design Momentum. Thanks for always jumping in and sharing even though you think i lost my man card... bahahahaha... todd
@@SwitchItUpLife Todd, I’m on your side but the tiny crabs and the white water thing just got me! Live watching y’all and we’re going to make one of your huddles one of these days!
What a great video Todd. Thank you for publishing. I have one recommendation to add to your system for efficiency. Your 2 5kW inverters are true powerhouses but you don't always need all that power. For power consumption savings I would add a Victron Phoenix 48/1200 inverter($350) It can handle much higher peak loads, up to 2200 Watts. It runs without problems my residential fridge, entertainment system + desktop PC and lighting. Most efficient power conversion while 1200 Watts is quite often enough power while present or definitely while away from your home. This way both powerhouses could be left in the off position thus saving power in conversion mode. Curious to know your average daily consumption in kW while using the full house including Airco system.
Very interesting video with allot of information and I surely do appreciate it. I’m so new at this and haven’t even picked my 5th Wheel yet (Riverstone 42FSKG) so truly don’t know what I need. Don’t plan on boon-docking besides a Harvest Hosts location overnight, so my question is to you is where is my starting point? What would be your number one recommendation? I’m thinking it’s just changing out the batteries to lithium. Thanks again very interesting just overwhelming for a newbie. 🤙
Hi from the Bimber's. We changed to lithium last year after killing the 2 lead acid 100 amp hour batteries from the dealer. Now we have one 320 amp hour Big beard battery. Probably have to get more in the future.
Very informative video. Our next move, unless we upgrade our rig, will be lithium……The park you’re in looks tight but it looks like you found a site big enough. If you’re still in Cape May there are lots of good places to see and restaurants…… even ones with steamed crabs! Travel safe!
@@SwitchItUpLife 19C u do the math. Sprained my bloody ankle on Wednesday, I ain't boiling but i also ain't going no where, so ironically you're still laughing! 😉😘🍻
We recently put down a deposit on a Space Craft. We’re planning on decking it out for boondocking in the SW. We cannot wait to dive in and get going! Only 3 years to delivery! 😅
