We're retired FT RVers who discovered we love boondocking, so designed and built our off-grid electrical system ourselves, on a limited budget. We have a 5,500w generator built into our motorhome, but it is noisy and expensive to run. It burns about 1/2 gallon an hour at about 1/2 load. That translates to 12 gallons a day ($42 in fuel alone, plus there's oil, maintenance and repair costs too) if you want 110v AC power 24/7. That's over $15k a year if you were allowed to run it 24/7, which is not permitted in most places due to the noise and smell. Our solar is completely silent with no odor whatsoever. We have a 4,400w array racked 15" off the roof of our motorhome. It shades our entire roof, allowing plenty of cooling air underneath, increasing solar output and reducing the heat load on the air conditioners. Our rooftop array can run both our A/Cs, household appliances and charge our batteries from solar at the same time, even in winter. We also have another 620-watt liftable array on the side of our MH to charge a 7.1kwh 12v battery for all of our 12v needs. Both 12v and 48v batteries provide a total of 23.5 kwh of power and are kept charged by 5,020 watts of solar. We removed our old rooftop bedroom A/C and replaced it with an EG4 28.5 seer-2, 12k btu mini-split heat pump on the upper rear of our motorhome. It's super quiet and cools as well as our 14.5k btu soft start equipped Furrion we have up front, but only draws about 1/3rd the power. We now have 24/7 off-grid air conditioning and heat from the heat pump. We have a total of 6,000 watts of 120v inverted ac power, giving us off-grid electrical self-sufficiency without the need to run our generator. Our total budget for both 12v and 48v systems was around $11,500, including the $1,500 high-efficiency heat pump. We have no need to hook-up to power pedestals anymore, as we can run everything in our MH without it. But to be fair, it would have cost us perhaps 2-3 times that amount if we paid someone else to design and build our system for us. We travel around the country a lot, visiting National Parks, and doing the tourist thing, mostly boondocking out west. We spent last winter in 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. Sure, you must oversize your system, as we have done, to account for cloudy days and bad weather. It's wise to have a generator for back-up too. Yesterday it rained all day, but our 400 voc high voltage array was still producing over 1,500 watts or around 35% of its rated capacity, even in the rain. We haven't run our generator, except to exercise it, since we completed our system, as it is sized sufficiently for our needs. Most RVers make the mistake of thinking that 1,500-2,000 watts of solar and 4-6 100ah LiFePo-4 batteries will be sufficient for their needs. Most likely, it is not. We travel around the country a lot, visiting National Parks, and doing the tourist thing, mostly boondock out west. Last year we boondocked across 10 states for 8 months straight. We spent last winter in Yuma, AZ, living virtually free on BLM land, but we're visiting our son in NC now where free 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. We would not have had this option without our solar, as most RV parks don't allow you to run your generator, or if they do, they limit generator run time to only a couple hours a day. At this rate of savings, we would pay for our solar system in under 2 years, yet our batteries are rated to last 8,000 80% cycles (22 yrs. if cycled every single day - yet we don't even cycle them 50%) and our solar panels are warrantied for 25 yrs. We're both 67 yrs. old so they will probably outlast us. Our solar/battery system has allowed us to live this lifestyle for 1/3rd what it used to cost us to live in our old stick and brick home, yet we are able to go wherever we want and do whatever we want without feeling deprived, living on a meager retiree's income. Our solar gives us more than electricity; it gives us freedom.
I too have many generators and solar panels and Li batteries on home and RV. I agree it's very expensive and there is little no ROI. However, if the World goes to $hit in a hand basket, and we lose the grid and fuel supplies for extended period, at least there is some fall back. It all comes down to how much you are willing to pay for that low probability. I personally have decided if there is any chance, I owe to my family to have it available as a back-up.
You make valid points. Most people don’t need the solar and lithium set ups. Most people go to Rv parks 🤷🏼♂️. Some people just want to have cool toys 😂. I have a generator and some solar/ lithium batteries. I like the fact I can use everything but the AC without running the generator especially to boondock. Which I do. I think I have a good balance with my set up. People just need to find that balance for the way they camp ✌🏼
Honda 2000 we run all night when we camp in the cold cost $3 to $4 in fuel for 12 hrs of running. Have one solor panel to top off batteries if we don't run a generator at night. Not worth the money for more panels and batteries. We have over 5000 hours on the Honda 2000.
I put 800 watts of solar panels on my rv roof paired with 900 ah of lifepo batteries. It's a great supplement to a generator for off grid camping. No way you live long term without a generator and propane.
I reside in northern AB Canada & I have to agree. After a trial run with a $7500 solar setup in my RV (vs my $900 3600 watt inverter generator) the results are disappointing. I'm not a fan of the noise however nothing short of now carrying a 2000 watt inverter generator can make up for the shortfall. My "average" solar input is probably the most disappointing, too low for sustainability.
For large inverter gens, I highly recommend the Genmax 10,500 tri-fuel, has 50 and 30 amp plug w 120/240 volts. 3 fuel sources, very reliable, remote start, engine internals last much longer than Predators. A new 10,500 is coming out soon with Fuel Injection for gasoline, even more efficient.
You make a good argument against large RV solar system. On the other hand a couple solar panels from Harbor Freight, and 2000 watt inverter, and a couple of the cheaper lithium batteries will run most appliances in your RV and won't cost big bucks.
My RV has an onboard generator that runs off the 40 gal tank and 340 watts of solar. The solar is barely enough to keep the batteries charged at any given time. The generator might be a little loud but it's much better than any kind of solar on my unit.
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And also if they get dirty and dust etc, they suk even more always on top of them them cleaning and cleaning and still come night you drain it out and the nex day your trying to store power again
Amen my brother. I’m an electrician and been doing this for 30 years. Return on investment can be up to 10 years or more. Technology has gotten better over the span of 50 years. Although people want a more affordable system which is Chinese modules. The US does manufacture modulates which truly produce the wattage labeled on packaging or cut sheets. At a higher cost. That’s the route I would take. Again people want affordable so we opt to go cheap with Chinese modules which don’t produce the wattage on packaging or cut sheet. Don’t get me started on electric vehicles. Let me just say there is no way we are ready by 2030 to covert over. The material needed to produce batteries and infrastructure for charging stations are so far away with the grid deteriorating. Ugh…. All I could say about that is a dang politicians. I believe it’s a controlling thing. Just saying
There is no free energy As there is resistance and friction . Hope the power supply inverter does not die. gell battery $400 to run a fridge 20hrs dies 3to 4 yrs
Yes the numbers for solar aren't very good. Home setup is big $ but will still save about 20% compared to grid over 10 years. Then comes battery replacement, now you're even again. It's basically a back up which is really nice to have. WEF control and late stage capitalism in this new world is real, so back up power is mandatory. For small RV or Sprinter van it's easy yes, 2x400 solar on the roof plus alternator will keep 4000Wh going everyday. We still carry a small Honda putt putt for emergencies, but rarely use it.
Yeah Eddie, you got a point there. the problem is we got a lot of haters and people that like to bitch about how much noise your making at night just to camp. what's this 10:00 o'clock shut down noise complaint time.
