Getting ready for solar

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MartyB

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Oct 3, 2015
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66
Location
Woodstock, Ontario
I am getting ready to jump into the solar pool.  I have a 2014 Lifestyle Luxury 40' 5er.  I picked it up used.  I have a transfer switch in the forward comp.  I believe it once had a genny but not now.  I'm just curious.  Do I need this switch?  I also have an Intellipower 9260 converter.  Does it run as well as the house converter or should I disconnect it?
Sorry if I don't have much info.  I really don't know where to start with my questions.
 
The place to start is with an energy audit. Find out how many amp/hours you use in 24 hours, add 70% and build the system to generate that. 50%  so you will not drain your batteries and 20% for overcast days.
 
MartyB:


Yes, as noted, decide how much you want to run on solar. 


If you are just wanting to keep the batteries up for lighting while boondocking, then you won't need much. 


If you want to run TV regularly in the evenings, a computer, electric toaster, microwave, and so on, then you will need a much larger system, and a LOT of batteries. 


If you want to run an air conditioner as well, now you are talking a REALLY BIG solar system, and a REALLY BIG battery bank.


With each level of consumption, the complexity and the price goes way up.  :-(



 
The transfer switch is there to automatically switch between A/C sources, usually shore-power and generator-power. Since you don't have a generator, you don't need a transfer switch, but it won't hurt anything to leave it there.

I don't know what kind of converter/charger you have in your 5th wheel now, but the 9260 is a decent converter. It has a 60 amp charger, and I believe it's also a three-stage charger, which is much better than the older two-stage "dumb" chargers. If you've got a converter with an old two-stage charger, I'd definitely recommend swapping it with the 9260.

There's nothing terribly difficult or confusing about installing a solar system, but it's easy to make some simple mistakes and be disappointed with the results. Several of us here rely heavily on solar power when boondocking, and collectively, we've probably made most of the common mistakes. When you think you're ready to move foward with solar, post your questions in the "child" discussion area entitled "Solar." That'll get you the most responses.

Kev
 
MartyB said:
I am getting ready to jump into the solar pool.  I have a 2014 Lifestyle Luxury 40' 5er.  I picked it up used.  I have a transfer switch in the forward comp.  I believe it once had a genny but not now.  I'm just curious.  Do I need this switch?  I also have an Intellipower 9260 converter.  Does it run as well as the house converter or should I disconnect it?
Sorry if I don't have much info.  I really don't know where to start with my questions.
These links will help provide some answers to questions you haven't thought about.  There is quite a bit to learn before tossing a couple of solar panels up in the roof. 
As Kevin said it is not terribly difficult, but there are a lot of details to get right to get a well working system. 

These two give excellent basic information:
http://www.marxrv.com/12volt/12volt.htm
http://www.marxrv.com/12volt/12volta.htm

This link starts out with the very basics about RV electric at the shore power connections and goes through inverters:
http://www.rv-dreams.com/rv-electrical.html

These two have a lot of pretty technical info, excellent for designing as solar system, batteries and inverter/charger.
http://www.jackdanmayer.com/rv_electrical_and_solar.htm
http://www.jackdanmayer.com/Batteries_and_charging.html

 

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