Solar generator over an installed solar system?

[JM0397]

Doing a little research and I found this unit: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/ac300-b300
Add to it 3x 350w panels: https://www.bluettipower.com/product...50-solar-panel

And you can get a flexible and portable system for $6000 and no hassle with an install and messing on the roof of the rig.
This would give me flexibility for using it at home for emergency backup, also.

I'm mechanically competent but haven't learned much of anything about solar systems and and all the work, so a self-contained unit is very interesting to me.

Has anyone else gone this route, a "solar generator" vs an installed system?

I've run the 50amp Solitude on 30 amp power fairly well, so I'm not looking to get the full 50amps, just a smaller, flexible system that provides enough (Fridge, 1 ac if we need it, water heater).

Thanks!

[alias100]

and no hassle with an install and messing on the roof of the rig.

Personally I would rather get on top of the rig a few times for the install and (very) occasional cleaning of the panels than set them up, make the connections, then take them down at every campsite. I would also be pretty nervous about leaving $800 worth of solar panels sitting on the ground when on a hike or running to the store. Unfortunately battery powered grinders have made most chains and cables less secure than they used to be.
You will have to make that decision, and of course being able to use it at home may make the campsite hassle worth the effort for you.
Either way, good luck with the solar project.

[JM0397]

I suppose the most important question, for apples-to-apples comparison, what's a good SWAG for an installed 30amp system in the rig, with Victron components, LifePO batteries, hardware, and paying someone to do the install?

[huntindog]

Doing a little research and I found this unit: https://www.bluettipower.com/products/ac300-b300
Add to it 3x 350w panels: https://www.bluettipower.com/product...50-solar-panel

And you can get a flexible and portable system for $6000 and no hassle with an install and messing on the roof of the rig.
This would give me flexibility for using it at home for emergency backup, also.

I'm mechanically competent but haven't learned much of anything about solar systems and and all the work, so a self-contained unit is very interesting to me.

Has anyone else gone this route, a "solar generator" vs an installed system?

I've run the 50amp Solitude on 30 amp power fairly well, so I'm not looking to get the full 50amps, just a smaller, flexible system that provides enough (Fridge, 1 ac if we need it, water heater).

Thanks!

How long are you looking to run an AC?

[JM0397]

How long are you looking to run an AC?

No idea, I haven't even considered that yet!
But I suppose something like 2-3 hours, after sunset on hot days.
But I'm more looking for off grid survival support than how long we can be comfortable, so running fridge & freezer (residential in my rig), etc.

[Soundsailor]

No idea, I haven't even considered that yet!
But I suppose something like 2-3 hours, after sunset on hot days.
But I'm more looking for off grid survival support than how long we can be comfortable, so running fridge & freezer (residential in my rig), etc.

The Bluetti system you quote seems very pricey for what you're getting. A 300 AH battery plus a 3,000-watt inverter could be had for half that price. You ask: Wouldn't you do better with "an installed 30amp system in the rig, with Victron components, LifePO batteries, hardware, and paying someone to do the install?" That system would definitely meet your needs and probably is going to cost less than the Bluetti system.

BTW, it is a good idea when planning a system to create an energy budget. How much does your frig/freezer use (3 to 5 Amps is typical)? At 4 Amps figure 96 Ah per day (24 * 4). 3 hours of AC @ 15 Amps = 45 Ah. Add in all the other things you're going to run on DC or AC. Then you'll have a good idea of what you need for storage. The Bluetti gives you 256 Ah, maybe enough for a day. If you have good solar, it could be all you'd need. The built-in system with Victron components would almost certainly meet your needs.

[bdelcurto]

The Bluetti system you quote seems very pricey for what you're getting. A 300 AH battery plus a 3,000-watt inverter could be had for half that price. You ask: Wouldn't you do better with "an installed 30amp system in the rig, with Victron components, LifePO batteries, hardware, and paying someone to do the install?" That system would definitely meet your needs and probably is going to cost less than the Bluetti system.

BTW, it is a good idea when planning a system to create an energy budget. How much does your frig/freezer use (3 to 5 Amps is typical)? At 4 Amps figure 96 Ah per day (24 * 4). 3 hours of AC @ 15 Amps = 45 Ah. Add in all the other things you're going to run on DC or AC. Then you'll have a good idea of what you need for storage. The Bluetti gives you 256 Ah, maybe enough for a day. If you have good solar, it could be all you'd need. The built-in system with Victron components would almost certainly meet your needs.

I could be wrong, but the "R" in the 310-GK-R means the OP is running a residential fridge, right? I think they typically pull 15-20 amps, but again I could be wrong. That said, this just reinforces your suggestion to determine how much energy is being used when sizing any solar system. It would be a bummer to lay down the cash for a system and then find out it won't do what you want it to do.

[huntindog]

The Bluetti system you quote seems very pricey for what you're getting. A 300 AH battery plus a 3,000-watt inverter could be had for half that price. You ask: Wouldn't you do better with "an installed 30amp system in the rig, with Victron components, LifePO batteries, hardware, and paying someone to do the install?" That system would definitely meet your needs and probably is going to cost less than the Bluetti system.

BTW, it is a good idea when planning a system to create an energy budget. How much does your frig/freezer use (3 to 5 Amps is typical)? At 4 Amps figure 96 Ah per day (24 * 4). 3 hours of AC @ 15 Amps = 45 Ah. Add in all the other things you're going to run on DC or AC. Then you'll have a good idea of what you need for storage. The Bluetti gives you 256 Ah, maybe enough for a day. If you have good solar, it could be all you'd need. The built-in system with Victron components would almost certainly meet your needs.

The 15 amps for AC is far too low. The AC will draw about 12/15 amps, but that is AC not DC. He will be inverting the DC that the batteries provide into AC current. that will put a hurt on the batteries That will be around 130-150 amps DC!!! depending on how efficient the inverter is and just what the AC actually needs

[Soundsailor]

The 15 amps for AC is far too low. The AC will draw about 12/15 amps, but that is AC not DC. He will be inverting the DC that the batteries provide into AC current. that will put a hurt on the batteries That will be around 130-150 amps DC!!! depending on how efficient the inverter is and just what the AC actually needs

Good point, I forgot to account for the inverter. So for 3 hours of air conditioner, budget 450 Ah of battery.

[SolarPoweredRV]

Good point, I forgot to account for the inverter. So for 3 hours of air conditioner, budget 450 Ah of battery.

Battle Born has stated that you can calculate 100ah DC battery storage for each hour of Air Conditioning you want to run.