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Thread: Solar vs Onboard Generator
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01-16-2022, 05:30 PM #11
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Fuel choice is one of the reasons I chose to purchase our Dual Fuel Champion 3500 Watt Inverter Generator. I like running it on Propane and I have never put gas in the tank. It runs like a Champion on Propane (whoops, there was a pun).
I absolutely agree that all this can be done in phases, however, I feel the first step to improving any RV electrical system should be switching to Lithium batteries. Switching to Lithium really is a game changer when it comes to improving the performance of your electrical system and, bonus: you can add one battery at a time because each battery has it's own internal BMS which controls charging and cell balancing.
Have you read the thread about Installing Solar in Phases?
Hear is the link: https://www.mygrandrv.com/forum/show...356#post406356David and Peggy
2019 Ford F350 Lariat, 6.7L Diesel, Dually, Long Bed
Running with 20k Reese Goosebox (Love It) and Ford Factory "Puck" system.
Stopping with 8,000 lb Disc Brakes and Titan Hydraulic over Electric Brakes system.
Powering all this fun with 1200 Watts of Solar, two Tesla, Model S, battery modules, 24 volt Victron Inverter.
2018 Solitude 310 GK
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01-16-2022, 05:32 PM #12
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David and Peggy
2019 Ford F350 Lariat, 6.7L Diesel, Dually, Long Bed
Running with 20k Reese Goosebox (Love It) and Ford Factory "Puck" system.
Stopping with 8,000 lb Disc Brakes and Titan Hydraulic over Electric Brakes system.
Powering all this fun with 1200 Watts of Solar, two Tesla, Model S, battery modules, 24 volt Victron Inverter.
2018 Solitude 310 GK
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01-16-2022, 05:49 PM #13
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No perfect one size fits all answer to this. I'm in the mountains of BC Canada, this time of year "if" you get sun it's four hours @ best. Camping season, such as last year we had heavy smoke from all the fires. Dramatically reduces solar energy, then unusually hot so AC was critical.
My current Jayco 34' with one AC unit would not bring the indoor temp below 90*F. With a soft start on the AC unit a 2000w Honda would not run the 15000 BTU AC, so the 3500w backup had to run.
One of the many reasons I have a 310 GK on order.
I've learned a lot about solar the past several seasons & am 100% fan & supporter. Normally AC is not a primary factor & Solar will provide us with most of our needs.
The 310 GK is coming with factory installed solar & gen prep. My thought process @ this time is to add 400ah of lithium batteries. The factory solar has a 300w panel, I will add a 200w portable panel so I can chase the sun.
Second phase of solar will be to add a larger inverter that will power the gen prep & add more lithium battery power.
The idea being the smaller inverter for normal usage & lower current draw.
I'm hoping to soft start both AC units & get away with a small 4500w Cummins portable gen when needed.
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01-16-2022, 06:11 PM #14
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Ex-Nihilo
2022 2970RL (Fabricated 1/4 Inch Bumper w/ RV Generator Boxes)
1200AH Lithium, 1000w Solar w/ Victron Multi-Plus II
5.5K Axles- EOH Disc Brakes- Hensley Arrow
Road Master Slipper Springs
2021 RAM Longhorn 2500 Cummins 6.7
Chattanooga TN
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01-16-2022, 06:27 PM #15
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If you do that, please let us know how it goes. I'm thinking my next RV will only come with genny prep and I'll go with a QD. A lot to like about that thing, non-explosive fuel, inverter, incredibly efficient, no ethanol problems. And if you're shopping a QG5500 vs a QD, it's not a huge uplift in price (a few K, IIRC). If you use the genny a lot, you'll make that back in fuel saving (maybe) and longevity (definitely).
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01-16-2022, 07:35 PM #16
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Larry and JoAnna
‘23 Chevy 3500HD CCLB DRW High Country 6.6L Diesel, ‘22 Solitude 310GK-R, Hensley BD5
MORRyde 8k IS, QD8000 Genny, Dual 5kVA Quattros
Dual SOK 48V 100ah Server Rack Batts (10kWHr)
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01-16-2022, 07:49 PM #17
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Be glad to! Truck won’t be here for a good long while yet. ☹️
My wife and I are new to RVing, but no strangers to camping from our earlier years. I retire next year, so this is our “acquisition year” (it’s a shame it takes that long!). From the sounds of it now, with reservations being commonly required way in advance, we thought it would be good to be self sufficient from the start so we can boondock. With the QD and aux tank, we can long outlast our water supply.Larry and JoAnna
‘23 Chevy 3500HD CCLB DRW High Country 6.6L Diesel, ‘22 Solitude 310GK-R, Hensley BD5
MORRyde 8k IS, QD8000 Genny, Dual 5kVA Quattros
Dual SOK 48V 100ah Server Rack Batts (10kWHr)
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01-16-2022, 09:34 PM #18
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01-17-2022, 01:56 PM #19
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This was my original plan also. I really wanted to go with the QD. But then I did math.
YMMV depending on what point your starting from start. I ordered the unit with the genny installed, we have a solitude so it comes with the propane unit. Using current numbers, It was right about $3,800 with the discount, factory installed (not inc. prep). The QD is over 9K + install, + some sort of tank, lines etc. The aux tank in the truck didn't appeal to me as we leave with the truck too often and if its hot, I need the AC's to keep running for the dog and I don't want to come back to a hot unit anyway.
Once I did the math including efficiency, fuel costs, run time etc. it came out being impossible to even come close to making any sense. And that doesnt account for the pita factor of installing it. 6k+ buys a lot of propane. It also turns out we run it even less time then I used in my calculations. We installed a Multiplus II to run the whole unit off batteries and 400AH of lithium. We really only need to run the genny a few hours every couple of days to charge the batteries unless we need AC.2021 Solitude 375 RES-R
2024 GMC Denali ultimate DRW
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01-18-2022, 11:14 AM #20
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Ahh a fellow BC'r ,who knows about every park in BC is shaded .I ran my new 30G with the optional 300w solar panel boondocking could not keep my fridge from killing the batteries in 2 days unless I ran the genset.The only place was in Manning park in a wide open spot full access to the sun ,then batteries were topped up no issue and lots of power.Going the same route new batteries (Lithium?)and a 200w solar portable this year,see if we can hold our own.
Retired Pilot 2021 Grand Design 30 g 2018 Ram 3500,2015 Harley Davidson CVO Road Glide
Need help with Imagine 2600 RL
Today, 10:46 AM in General Discussion