Fizz
Ottawa, Canada
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Joined: 07/28/2003
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There ya go, answers it all doesn't it.
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sushidog
Abita Springs, LA
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Joined: 08/02/2007
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Everything has it's pros and cons. Though solar has it's advantages, it won't work at night, on cloudy days or under trees. Nor will a solar/small battery bank system provide enough power to run a conventional air conditioner. (There are high-tech solar a/c systems that will, but they cost as much as a central air house system and weigh a ton - literally.) A generator will run your a/c and microwave though, without the expense of an inverter. There are also battery bank, inverter and wiring costs that need to be added to the equation to get a true picture of the actual solar expense, whereas you could get by with only one or two decent batteries if they were recharged daily by a small generator.
If all you want to do is charge your batteries, 400 watt wind turbines and masts are available like this, for about the cost of a Honda EU2000i:
wind generator
Another option for wind, fuel, and sun-free, zero pollution power is pedal power. If you camp with a bicycle, this compact model can be had for about the same cost as the above. Pedal Power
Though they say it has a 300 watt capacity most people can only pedal about 100 watts worth, unless you are an athlete. Great exercise for the whole family - yeah, right.
Chip
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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Hi oldgreybull,
I can run my air conditioner for 4.5 hours on my batteries without going below 50% state of charge, and can run it constantly while driving down the road, while recharging the batteries from solar and the alternator on the RV.
Regards, Don
Kustom Koach Class C 28'5" 256 watts solar, 875 amp hours in two battery banks 12 volt batteries 2500 watt inverter.
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oldgreybull
Glade Valley, NC
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Joined: 09/24/2006
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pianotuna wrote:Hi oldgreybull,
I can run my air conditioner for 4.5 hours on my batteries without going below 50% state of charge, and can run it constantly while driving down the road, while recharging the batteries from solar and the alternator on the RV.
Great, so all I have to do is trade my TC with a single battery for a Class C with axles, engine, taxes, solar panels and multiple batteries! I don't think I can trade my Honda EU2000i and come out ahead.
But, I'm pleased it works for you! Been there, done that, and I like my set up better.
06 Dodge Ram SLT 2500 QC SB 4x4 SRW 5.9L CTD Big Horn,Firestone airbags,Rancho 9000XL shocks,Hellwig sway bar,Rickson 19.5 wheels,Hankook DH01 tires,Line-X,front&rear cargo racks.
07 S&S 9' Bitteroot TC,Polar Cub A/C,FFan,Torklift/Fastguns,2Honda 2000i.
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sh410
Northwest
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Joined: 08/29/2007
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50,000ahr available yearly?
50,000ahr/365=136ahr available daily
136ahr/13.6 charging amps=10.1 hrs daily --Long days 
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T_Bone
Arizona
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Joined: 09/20/2001
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sh410 wrote:
50,000ahr available yearly?
50,000ahr/365=136ahr available daily
136ahr/13.6 charging amps=10.1 hrs daily --Long days
Yep, it's called sun tracking, move the PV's once at 11am to face west, move once at dusk to face east.
100% Cloudy days are 70ahr or more than enough too keep up with pumps, furnace, lites, laptop, flashlites and trolling battery's, etc; each day.
Going on my 10th year being 100% solar. 
T_Bone
02 F350, 4x6, CC, DRW, PSD, 6spd, 3:73
32ft Serria 10yr 100% Solar
Please do not trust everything you read on the internet. Use only valid engineering information from well established Companys.
Buy UNION Work UNION
It pays off in the long run !
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sh410
Northwest
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Joined: 08/29/2007
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I just noticed Arizona--We in the Pacific NW just don't get it (Sun)
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sushidog
Abita Springs, LA
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Tbone, where did you find 360w of solar panels for $570?
The cheapest I've seen is about $530 for one 130w panel, and the prices have dropped a lot over the last couple years.
Chip
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LEN Retired
SW Michigan ( Two Paws )
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Joined: 02/24/2009
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T_Bone wrote:sh410 wrote:
50,000ahr available yearly?
50,000ahr/365=136ahr available daily
136ahr/13.6 charging amps=10.1 hrs daily --Long days
Yep, it's called sun tracking, move the PV's once at 11am to face west, move once at dusk to face east.
100% Cloudy days are 70ahr or more than enough too keep up with pumps, furnace, lites, laptop, flashlites and trolling battery's, etc; each day.
Going on my 10th year being 100% solar.
Are they portable or mounted to the roof? Did you start out with smaller ones or go large from the go? Bill
06 GMC 2500HD Duramax, 2007 Holiday Rambler Alumascape Suite 32SKT,3 slide 5th wheel " SEMPER FIDELIS "
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Hi sh410,
I only have 256 watts--and on a sunny day in Saskatchewan I get 100 amp-hours of energy. I also do *not* move my panels to get that amount of energy. On a day when it is raining I gather about 40 amp-hours.
So with 370 watts I'd not be at all surprised to see 136 amp-hours, in fact that's a bit on the low side--I would have expected 144 amp-hours.
sh410 wrote:
50,000ahr available yearly?
50,000ahr/365=136ahr available daily
136ahr/13.6 charging amps=10.1 hrs daily --Long days
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