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Topic: Ideal solar set up for Boondocking (Read 474 times) previous topic - next topic
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Ideal solar set up for Boondocking
Hi All,

My wife and are going to soon buy a MB and we will be full timing and doing quite a bit of boondocking. What is an ideal solar system when considering panels, inverter, batteries etc?

Thanks much

John
Hi, my Thai wife and will return to the USA and purchase a MB and travel for a year or so. I full timed for 3 years about 20 years ago.  We are looking forward to this upcoming adventure.
Re: Ideal solar set up for Boondocking
Reply #1 –
John, as a first step may I suggest you consult The Companion. There is a long article there that covers the interrelated parts of a boondocking system.
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy
Re: Ideal solar set up for Boondocking
Reply #2 –
Ideal is always changing, but I would look in the 500-600W range and plan to add 2 more batteries (total 4 - the space under the fridge in a MB is a common area to add AGMs) to your system.  Pop in a whole house inverter and you will have something that would be the envy of many.

All of that will have a substantial cost.  My rule of thumb is that you should aim for a system that will meet your needs 80% of the time.  Bridging the extra 20% can easily double the cost of the system.

Ideas:
The Lazy Daze Companion: Solar Array
Upgrade frenzy

Rich
'03 MB in NC
2003 MB
Re: Ideal solar set up for Boondocking
Reply #3 –
Rich, ideal is what an individual needs. I have no idea of what John's needs are and I doubt he does either - yet.
We have not been cramped with two lead acid batteries and we dry camp for weeks at a time. We don't stay up late, don't have (or want) a sat receiver. This year we added a second CPAP and still never take the batteries below 80% even when having to run the furnace.

Unless John intends to stay in the rig and burn amps at night,
I would tell him to start with two panels, a 60amp converter, and a battery monitor installed by AM Solar or one of their recommended installers. Use it for a year and then decide if more is needed depending on experience.
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy
Re: Ideal solar set up for Boondocking
Reply #4 –

John

Without knowing what your personal electrical needs are, it's very hard to tell you what you need.
I have set up a lot of LDs for boon docking and usually install the following.

- A minimum of 200-watts of solar and preferably 400 or more, depending on your electronics usage and furnace usage.
Extra panels are helpful for the short days of winter when the sun in low in the sky. If in doubt, add another panel, solar panels are  cheap this days.
Buy and install a solar controller the can handle at least 400-watts, with a large gauge wiring that is suitable for more panels, if desired in the future.

-Add a battery capacity meter such as a Vitron, it's indicates  how much power the battery contains and show the charge or usage rate in amps. It's a very handy device for checking health the batteries.
Victron BMV-702 Battery Monitor - - Amazon.com

The new LDs have a large, 75-amp converter (battery charger). It is adequate but quite noisy.
Older rigs should upgrade to the biggest, 'smart' converter what will fit, it's larger output helps reduced the generator run time during the winter or rainy periods where the solar isn't adequate token the battery charged..

-Add two more batteries under the refrigerator, for extra capacity during the winter and rainy periods.

-Inverters change 12-volt power into 120-VAC. How big an inverter is based on your needs. A small inverter, 400-700-watts,  has worked fine for us for over 25 years. Most of our rig's electrical toys use 12-volts only.
Other require a 2000-watt, whole house converters which can cost $5000 or more for the complete upgrade.
Prosine 2.0 Inverter | Flickr

-Hard-wired surge protector to protect the LD's electrical system from surges and poor shore power. For me, a 'must have' .
Progressive Industries EMS-HW30C

-Useful options for the full timer.
SeeLevel tanks monitor. Why guess exactly how full or empty the tanks are?
Garnet 709 SeeLevel II Tank Monitoring System

-Catalytic heater. A safe, extremely efficient form of heat that does not use any battery power.
It needs to be plumbed into the rig's propane system by a qualified tech.
Amazon.com: Olympian Wave 3 LP Portable Gas Catalytic Heater by Camco (3000...

-Cellular phone amplifier. Very useful in fringe areas.

-Vent covers, so the vent can stay open in all weather conditions.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/sets/72157602095133184/

This should be enough to get you thinking and planning.
Larry

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Ideal solar set up for Boondocking
Reply #5 –
John, Larry and Don provided sound advice.  What you need depends on your usage of stuff.  Don is fine with 2 panels and 2 batteries.  I have 6 batteries and 5 panels.  I get by, but would do better with 6 panels. 

Why the difference?  I run a lot more stuff than Don.  I have a DVR on 24/7.  I have a 120v TV that runs typically for at least 4 hours every evening, and 2 hours most mornings.  I have a CPAP machine that runs for 10 to 11 hours per night.  I have a computer that runs for several hours a day.

There are two ways to go. 

PLANNING - Before I took delivery of my Midbath, I looked at every bit of electrical usage I could anticipate, determined the watts for each and the hours for each, then totaled it all to determine the watt-hours for which I should plan.  That came out to 4 batteries and 4 panels.  Ten years later, my usage is a little higher than anticipated but not much.  When I ordered my solar setup, rather than 4 batteries, I got 6.  I did that so that, if necessary, I could run my refrigerator overnight on batteries and my inverter.  My installer didn't think that was necessary, but agreed.  Seven months after I began my new life, my fridge igniter board failed and a new board, under warranty, took 9 days to get to me.  Meanwhile, I was camped in a state park under the trees in the rainiest June that Cape Cod had ever seen.  My solar panels gave me nothing - zip.  Generators were prohibited from 8 PM to 8 AM.  Because I had put in 6 batteries rather than the 4 that met my calculated demand, I was able to run my fridge overnight on the batteries, and was ok, seeing 67% on the batteries before I started the generator.  With only 4 batteries, I would have been over-draining and damaging my batteries.

MEASURING/MONITORING - The second way to go is to start with two batteries and watch them closely to see how much you typically use.  If two batteries meet your needs, you are all set.  If your two batteries are at 50% in the morning, you need to at least double your number of batteries.  By draining them to 50% or less, you are damaging them and shortening their lives.  A safe number is something on the order of 75% to 80%, if you want to avoid premature replacement of your battery bank.

SO - we can't tell you what the ideal system is for you.  We CAN tell you what the ideal system is for us, but we all have different needs so our ideal systems are different.

I highly recommend AM Solar to design and install your system.  They can help you determine your demand, size your system, and install it for you.  They are in Springfield, Oregon.  Other installers are out there if that location is not convenient, but before you select another, try to find out if they have a good reputation, or if they just want to sell you a lot of hardware.

Ken F in NM
'08 MB
Re: Ideal solar set up for Boondocking
Reply #6 –
"I highly recommend AM Solar to design and install your system.  They can help you determine your demand, size your system, and install it for you.  They are in Springfield, Oregon.  Other installers are out there if that location is not convenient, but before you select another, try to find out if they have a good reputation, or if they just want to sell you a lot of hardware."
----

Dan Reshatoff is an authorized installer for AM Solar, located in Fremont, CA. He designs the systems, uses state-of-the-art products, and does high quality, meticulous work. The Bay Area of California location may not work for many, but if the venue is do-able, check out his website.

Quality RV Solar, LLC
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Ideal solar set up for Boondocking
Reply #7 –
Wow, he must be good. He's booked until May of next year!
Dave 04 PleasureWay TD
2004 PleasureWay TD
Re: Ideal solar set up for Boondocking
Reply #8 –
"He's booked until May of next year!"
---
Not surprising; as far as I know, he does one or two jobs per month. (He also has a fulltime engineering job and a young family.) But, yes, he does good work!  ;)
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Ideal solar set up for Boondocking
Reply #9 –
Quote from: dreed917  - 
He's booked until May of next year!
Don't bet on it.  My November schedule's bumped to December.  His wife is having a wrist fracture revised and he is doing the kids in addition to everything else.   Solar gets bumped - I don't see it as a problem.
 :)
Joel 
going from 100w to 540w and new batteries.  PM me if interested in details.

Joel & Terry Wiley
2013  31 IB   ORWAN   / 2011 CRV Tow'd LWEROVE
 
Re: Ideal solar set up for Boondocking
Reply #10 –
We solved the problem a different way. We don't have roof space for extreme solar. We have 200 watts. The following links explain a system that allows us to watch a lot of sat TV, use a heated mattress pad, computer, phone booster, and furnace while running the generator around 30 minutes a day with the sun out. Forty five minutes on a cloudy day.

Generator charging rates are 90 amps into the lithium and 40 amps initially into the lead acid which allows for short generator runs. It worked very well this past summer and fall and we are quite happy with it. The links explain how the lithium battery is used to feed the slow charging rates of the lead acid battery when the sun isn't out.

Lead Acid, Lithium Hybrid Comment thread - Class B Forums

Field Test: lead acid and lithium hybrid battery system - Class B Forums

Total cost was $3000. The main advantage is the 130 amp charging rate without sun making good use of  the 4kw generator. Equivalent to 600AH of AGM batteries.
Both battery banks are at 100% at 5PM each evening. Power is no longer a problem. Works for us.
Harry 2006RB