Solar charger for camping?

[Achto 29,752]

56 minutes ago, nylyon said:

Interesting, I didn’t realize that it was all electric. Is this a 120v electric system, or is everything 12v?

 

53 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

I don't actually know yet. There's a battery on board so obviously there's some portions of 12.

 

Looked at the specs. Looks like the fridge, fire place / heater, single burner cook top, microwave, water heater & air conditioner all run on 110vac. Lighting, water pump, & awning are 12vdc

[Kenneth R Cluley 610]

I realize you still need 12 volt for fans, control for heat items but way less load than needed if all electric. Inverter or battery  runs 12volt items such as  pump, lights, awning and seperate 120 volt system for outlets, a/c. Best to determine anticipated "LOAD" and base solar and battery based on that plus fudge factor. 

[WHX?? 52,808]

All campers built in the last five ... maybe more ... years ago are required to have a CO & smoke detector. It's down to a science. Smoke detectors must be mounted high and CO low. They cannot be combined.  Fancier ones even have a combustible gas detector if EB passes wind. 

They do work. Annoying when running tractors in and out or she's makin bacon.  Even with the loading ramp dropped. Then there are all the warning stickers on the inside. Way too many to count with my shoes on. 

 

Pics of the inside when you get it home EB ... I like to see how the rich people live. 

 

As far as having 120 volts the only time I need it is for making coffee and the AC which I can live without. I charge the battery off a Champion 4500 watt genny but would go to solar if I didn't have that. Hey ... the genny was free just by using a Cabelas CC. 

Edited September 24 by WHX??

[nylyon-(Admin) 8,216]

I just watched a couple video’s on this unit, very cool!  My next coach will definitely be all electric.  With that said, I would absolutely without doubt get an inverter for this along with lithium batteries.  Main reason is to keep the fridge running while traveling. If you think that you will always just be at campgrounds with 120v hookups, you can go light or none on the solar, but may elect for a 12v DC to DC charge controller so the tow vehicle can charge the battery.  Most charge circuits on the 7-way plug won’t charge enough to keep the battery charged to run the fridge, but definitely get an inverter and some lithium batteries.

[Achto 29,752]

For the price and the weight I would just consider a WEN 3600w inverter gen. The dual fuel unit is less expensive that the single fuel unit. I would go for the dual fuel & run it on gasoline. power output is de-rated when run on LP. This would run everything in the camper. Start it when needed, run off a large frame deep cycle battery the rest of the time.  WEN is also a US company. 

 

https://www.homedepot.com/pep/WEN-Quiet-and-Lightweight-3600-Watt-Dual-Fuel-RV-Ready-Portable-Inverter-Generator-with-Fuel-Shut-Off-and-CO-Watchdog-DF360iX/330761409

 

[ebinmaine 74,343]

6 hours ago, WHX?? said:

125 for the battery ... hardware & wiring comes with it and EB is good with wiring & adept at installation. 

 

This camper is sold with a battery. 

What kind or quality remains to be seen...

 

 

6 hours ago, WHX?? said:

I would stay away from roof mounting. Just something about drilling holes in a roof but I suppose if it is done right at factory?? 

 

You'd like to think so......

 

[ebinmaine 74,343]

5 hours ago, nylyon said:

I would absolutely without doubt get an inverter for this along with lithium batteries.  Main reason is to keep the fridge running while traveling.

 

Can you elaborate on the batteries? 

Maybe a link?

 

I'm from the old world of lead acid deep cycle.  

 

5 hours ago, nylyon said:

If you think that you will always just be at campgrounds with 120v hookups, you can go light or none on the solar

 

I'd go so far as to say we'll be the opposite. 

To us a campground with connections is rare. 

[squonk 44,478]

RV Fridges (unless advancements have been made ) are horrible on 12V. You get the unit cold on 120v or LP then maintain the temp with 12V when traveling.

 

I made quite a few $$$ and ate well also about 30 years ago. My wife worked at a large State park and she would call me with "Camper issues" 90% of the calls were for the fridge. One guy had this 35ft. Airstream trailer done in Mahogany with tuffed leather. It was the 4th of July and hot. Place was full and everyone was running the AC units. Campgrounds are notorious for crappy electrical service. His fridge was stocked and it wasn't holding temp. I told him to switch to gas. He says "What??" He had this thing for years and didn't even know it would run on propane. I showed him how to do it and he drags this giant roast out of the fridge and he tosses it on the grill to heat it up. Had all the fixin's too. He says sit and eat! About an hour later we check the fridge and it's back to normal. He hands me a Franklin  and gives me a Grant  for the wife. Saved quite a few more food supplies and stopped a fire from starting on one unit by getting the electrical load down.

[ebinmaine 74,343]

1 minute ago, squonk said:

You get the unit cold on 120v

 

 then maintain the temp with 12V when traveling

 

The sales guy was fairly sure this fridge has both 12V and 120V but he couldn't see how to switch it. 

He's been in the Service Department so he should have been able to find the switch. 

 

It's possible it doesn't have a 12V mode. 

 

 

 

But also.....  remember....

We're WELL EQUIPPED for tenting. 

I guarantee you that Trina doesn't care a whisker that the fridge is cold. 

We have coolers for that.  

 

 

 

[lynnmor 8,051]

22 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

This camper is sold with a battery. 

What kind or quality remains to be seen...

 

Typically a new travel trailer is sold with the cheapest thing they can call a battery, usually the dealer chooses it.  The best setup is a pair of 6 volt golf cart batteries, another good option is a 12 volt true deep cycle, not the usual marine battery.  I wish you the best dealing with Camping World, many have been sorry.  Be sure to check absolutely everything, the RV industry is not known for quality.

[ebinmaine 74,343]

1 minute ago, lynnmor said:

 

Typically a new travel trailer is sold with the cheapest thing they can call a battery, usually the dealer chooses it.  The best setup is a pair of 6 volt golf cart batteries, another good option is a 12 volt true deep cycle, not the usual marine battery. 

 

1 minute ago, lynnmor said:

I wish you the best dealing with Camping World, many have been sorry. 

 

We know..... my parents have gone through them.  Mixed results.  

 

On the plus side here, this particular dealership is a formerly locally owned family based place. 

 

Several long term employees still on. 

 

And.... to be honest..... I expect to be disappointed with pretty much any sales transactions nowadays.  

 

1 minute ago, lynnmor said:

 

Be sure to check absolutely everything, the RV industry is not known for quality.

 

We'll be going through the rig and checking everything visible this weekend. 

Hopefully we'll never need a serious warranty claim. 

There is a Maine Law "Warranty of Implied Suitability"   I think??

That's a pain to use but VERY good for the end user here.  

 

 

[lynnmor 8,051]

Here is most of the things I did to my camper many of which doesn't pertain to you but it will give you some ideas.

 

Spree Upgrades.rtf

[lynnmor 8,051]

2 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

We know..... my parents have gone through them.  Mixed results.  

 

On the plus side here, this particular dealership is a formerly locally owned family based place. 

 

Several long term employees still on. 

 

And.... to be honest..... I expect to be disappointed with pretty much any sales transactions nowadays.  

 

 

We'll be going through the rig and checking everything visible this weekend. 

Hopefully we'll never need a serious warranty claim. 

There is a Maine Law "Warranty of Implied Suitability"   I think??

That's a pain to use but VERY good for the end user here.  

 

 

 

I have had mine back to the manufacturer after having problems with the useless dealer.  My advice is to forget the warranty, they won't do it right anyway and will tie up the rig for months.  It ain't worth the aggravation.

[squonk 44,478]

30 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

The sales guy was fairly sure this fridge has both 12V and 120V but he couldn't see how to switch it. 

He's been in the Service Department so he should have been able to find the switch. 

 

It's possible it doesn't have a 12V mode. 

 

 

 

But also.....  remember....

We're WELL EQUIPPED for tenting. 

I guarantee you that Trina doesn't care a whisker that the fridge is cold. 

We have coolers for that.  

 

 

 

That's kinda why I think you don't have to go "hog wild" on some kind of charging system. 

[ebinmaine 74,343]

6 minutes ago, lynnmor said:

 

.  It ain't worth the aggravation.

 

I've had the same train of thought....

[ebinmaine 74,343]

4 minutes ago, squonk said:

That's kinda why I think you don't have to go "hog wild" on some kind of charging system. 

 

I personally like the idea of having the fridge operating while on the road. 

 

[squonk 44,478]

My funny solar battery charger story:

 

Working at Napa and a guy comes in and wants to buy a solar charger. Our assistant manager orders him a "Solar " brand wheeled charger. The following Saturday comes and this guy comes in to pick up his new charger. So Rich proudly wheels the assembled wheel charger out. The guy says "No! I wanted a solar charger like with the sun. Not a" Solar "  brand charger! Good thing the guy wasn't in a hurry for it and had a sense of humor! 

[ebinmaine 74,343]

54 minutes ago, lynnmor said:

Here is most of the things I did to my camper many of which doesn't pertain to you but it will give you some ideas.

 

Spree Upgrades.rtf 41.65 kB · 4 downloads

 

That's a GREAT list!!!

[squonk 44,478]

41 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

I personally like the idea of having the fridge operating while on the road. 

 

Should be able to run it on 12V and keep the battery topped off with the tow vehicle charging system.

[lynnmor 8,051]

1 minute ago, ebinmaine said:

 

That's a GREAT list!!!

 

 

I spent some quality time in the board room of the manufacturer going over that list.  If I hadn't done many of those things the trailer would have never made it to Canada, the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico er' America, and all of the left side states seeing the pacific Ocean.

 

You would do well to check off that list as you go over the trailer, many of the things do pertain to you.  For example wheel bearings, eTrailer sold me bearings that were just as good as Timkins, they failed first long trip.

 

Make your list of questions or mark up questions on mine and I'll explain things that might not be clear.

[ebinmaine 74,343]

32 minutes ago, lynnmor said:

 

 

I spent some quality time in the board room of the manufacturer going over that list.  If I hadn't done many of those things the trailer would have never made it to Canada, the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico er' America, and all of the left side states seeing the pacific Ocean.

 

You would do well to check off that list as you go over the trailer, many of the things do pertain to you.  For example wheel bearings, eTrailer sold me bearings that were just as good as Timkins, they failed first long trip.

 

Make your list of questions or mark up questions on mine and I'll explain things that might not be clear.

 

 

I appreciate this. 

 

We're hoping to make this a permanent part of the fleet.  

 

 

[Achto 29,752]

2 hours ago, squonk said:

You get the unit cold on 120v or LP then maintain the temp with 12V when traveling.

 

2 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

The sales guy was fairly sure this fridge has both 12V and 120V but he couldn't see how to switch it.

 

Spec sheet says that the fridge is 120v only.

 

A lot of the new campers have gone to a 12v compressor run fridge, instead of the the 3 way. If you wish to have an absorption refrigeration 2 or 3 way fridge on a new camper, it is a special order.

12v compressor fridge cools faster than an absorption fridge and has more room in it. Down side is that it take a fair toll on your battery (1 to 1 1/2 days on a battery) so you need a big solar panel or a genny to keep it charged. 

With some newer absorption fridges you still need 12v to run on LP but the battery draw in minimal. Can run about 6 to 7 days on the battery. 

 

My camper has a 3 way fridge and does not need 12v to run on LP. If we are on a short trip 2-3 days we use it as dry storage and keep our cold stuff in a cooler. If we are on an extended trip then we will use the fridge. It works best on 120vac, if on LP you need to but something warm in it every day other wise it will freeze the stuff to the rear of it. On 12vdc it will only maintain temp., only use the 12v for travel. 

[Achto 29,752]

 

[squonk 44,478]

The biggest thing with 120v running the fridge is when at a packed Campground. The campground grid is marginal and the voltage loss will cause poor performance and even damage. It can even shorten AC life. One year we were camping and a motor home burned to a crisp when the power cable got hot and started the grass on fire.

[nylyon-(Admin) 8,216]

21 minutes ago, squonk said:

The biggest thing with 120v running the fridge is when at a packed Campground. The campground grid is marginal and the voltage loss will cause poor performance and even damage. It can even shorten AC life. One year we were camping and a motor home burned to a crisp when the power cable got hot and started the grass on fire.

 

Absolutely, that’s why something like this is critical https://www.powerwatchdog.com/surge-protectors it will shutoff power if it drops too low, or goes too high protecting the equipment.