I'm home now after seven nights in a state park with no hookups.
Outside temps ranged from 70s to 50's
I kept detailed notes, but in a nutshell:
Started out when first set up on 1st day volt meter read 12.6x volts with a light load. .8 amps
Over seven days, ran the generator about 6 or 7 hours total, not really on a set schedule, just when I felt like it was not disturbing anyone..More or less every other day for a few hours.
Would not have been a problem to run more, just would rather not unless necessary..
When we woke up on the last day meter read 10.9xvolts with the same light load
Ran CPAP as necessary every night. Ran furnace as needed,shutting off when not in trailer,and setting at 60 at night.Propane fridge and residual chargers,always on
Most evenings spent outdoors with lights mostly off, but one stormy evening had the gang inside,furnace on, lights on, and music playing.
So now thinking about solar. I've read a bit about solar, and have some ideas, but wondering which direction to go.
I'm thinking starting with a 100w portable panel. Many places we stay here in the NW,there may be trees,or something, blocking the roof, so portable would better be able to find the sun. Unless I go big and cover the roof with panels!
I think with what I'm doing now,it will be sufficient, but if things work right ,I will want to expand.
Wife already is talking about watching TV and occasional microwave use.
But I don't want to go all in and find myself not using it.
Some questions:
If I were to buy a 100w portable panel,could that be converted to a permanant panel later?
I know I need a controller,should I spend the money up front for a better controller? Or go with the 20a most seem to come with and upgrade later if needs be?
I think buy the 100w panel now with the best controller,and add down the road if/when I think it's necessary?
The specs on the microwave that I could find say "1350 watts max output". My generator is a 2000w max inverter generator. I tried to shut down anything else that runs 110 except the onboard converter in the trailer charging tha batteries.
I tried the microwave several times and it kicked the circuit breaker on the generator. Shouldn't that generator run the microwave?
Another question,for those of you that have big solar arrays on your roof, what does that do for roof maintenance down the road??