I had just asked you some questions in another post about your electrical and solar system. That post was called generator size with solar system.
You and Jack Mayer gave me some great information. You two must have a lot of patience dealing with unknowledgeable peoples questions such as myself. I still need to study up more on the workings of rv electrical systems (I promise Jack) but for now I have come up with what I was working towards and that is to get a good estimate of the cost to set up an electrical system so we can consider the overall cost of the fifth wheel when we buy it next year.
So after much research here is what I came up with, for anyone else that needs this information. If I left out something please let me know.
Phase One:
Generator - Onan Marquis Gold 5500kw (gas if possible) 4650.
50Amp Surge Guard Hardwired 350.
6 Lifeline AGM 6 volt 660AH rating batteries *GPL-4C 1800.
Xantrex RS3000 12 volt pure sine wave inverter/charger 2180.
Trimetric Monitor Model 2020 and shunt 160.
Total for Phase One 9090.
I ran out of room to finish my post so I will repost for Phase 2
Dixie said
08:08 AM Dec 12, 2008
Here is Phase Two cost estimate:
AM Solar SunRunner AM 100-30DR System with 4 panels, 4 Rocker Foot Mounts, one HPV-30DR Charge Controller, one HPV-30DR Solar Monitor, Combiner Box, 100-30 Wire Harness and 4 Tilt Bars
3030.00
Phase One 9090.00
Phase Two 3030.00
Total 12,120.00
These prices may not be exact but they are very close. I took this
"system design" partially from Jack Mayer's wonderful website and
also from Howards electrical solar system set up.
I hope this helps someone besides just us. Please let me know if I missed anything.
Have a super terrific day,
Dixie
Jack Mayer said
12:24 PM Dec 12, 2008
It depends on how you wire things whether you need to go with the 3000 watt inverter. You might consider wiring in a subpanel and using a magnum 2812 or 2012 with battery monitor. It would eliminate the trimetric for monitoring the battery. The downside is it would cut your charge section down a little. With the AGMs you can use all the charge you can drive (depending on battery state of charge). Other than that, you have the generalities covered.
When I speced Howard's system we used a spreadsheet which we sent back and forth to each other, as the design changed (you know Howard and spreadsheets - well I am as bad, if not worse :)). In the end, after implementing the entire system I think we were within $40 of the estimate....Howard can correct me if I am off. So the planning process is very important. You should figure on at least $400 in wiring costs in this system.
wmalefyt said
01:17 PM Dec 12, 2008
Yikes that's expensive! I think we'll go with a couple of Honda EU2000 generators!
thebearII said
02:59 PM Dec 12, 2008
Bill and Linda,
The Honda 2000 eu are quiet enough to stand right by them and carry on a normal conversation even under full load.
At one of our favorite places to boondock I have to position the generators on the curbside of the 5th wheel. Even when I'm sitting in the lounge chair, under the awning reading a book and sipping a cool one about 10 feet from the running generators, they are not distracting.
We were set up selling, at the California RV show across from the honda booth one year, and for the two weeks of the show, I watched the honda salesman, he would deliberately squat down next to a running generator to do his sales pitch, it was a very convincing way to show how quiet they are.
Still no where near as quiet as solar.....
We get about 8 hours per gallon of gas when using the computer, satellite receiver, TV all day along with the microwave or other small appliance off and on throughout the day.
I have four batteries with a 2000 watt inverter to use from 10PM until my wife gives up the TV or computer around 2AM during quiet hour restrictions.
This setup meets our needs quite nicely.
I still would like solar someday.... maybe I'll hit the lotto....
RVDude said
06:08 PM Dec 12, 2008
I think it has been said before, the decision to go solar is one of lifestyle, not necessarily economics - at least for now. And as Howard has described, the silent power producing solar boondocking lifestyle is something to be proudly smug about!
A side note. If the solar firms are able to hold on in the current economic climate, we will see exponentially dramatic changes in our RV mountable solar options in the next 2-5 years. We will also see the same for battery technology. Imagine solar panels that produce 2x-10x the output they do now at half the cost all feeding a bank of NiMh (or other advanced technology) batteries. Well, you can almost picture running your AC units off of solar - for real. Solar and battery technologies are at the brink of radical innovation unlike any time in the past. Partly driven by battery technology by the global car makers and partly driven by solar innovations across the globe. These technology advances already exist, they are in the commercialization stages right now.
bjoyce said
06:41 PM Dec 12, 2008
I agree with RVDude, the technology will get better because there is so much money to be made. I will also add that Electric double-layer capacitors (Supercapacitors) are also on the drawing board, which could replace batteries. But it will not come fast and we don't want to give you an excuse to not go with the current technology. You don't see homes and businesses waiting for the new technology to come online, they are jumping in today with the tried and true. Having dealt with more than one technology that was going to come online in one to five years that never came out commercially, I am always a skeptic.
I would also measure the space where the AGM batteries are going and see if you can use the taller GPL-6CT 6volt batteries or even some 4D or 8D sized 12volt ones. You might get more amp-hours in the space. Just a thought. Remember the AGMs do not need to be vented and can be mounted on their side or even upside down if needed.
Dixie said
07:27 PM Dec 12, 2008
Thanks Bill and everyone
Im sure space is at a premium so using the taller AGM batteries may be something we will consider once we get our fifth wheel. As far as what RVDude said about the future of solar, I agree, but life is short and I don't want to wait that long. I am going stir crazy waiting now, getting this house ready to put on the market. The only thing that is keeping me sane is the planning and research to go full timing. Hopefully all will fall together by July 4th, our going fulltime date. Stay tuned.
There is much to learn and I enjoy learning and knowing how everything works. I think it is important for women to know everything just in case they need to do it on their own someday.
A side note. If the solar firms are able to hold on in the current economic climate, we will see exponentially dramatic changes in our RV mountable solar options in the next 2-5 years. We will also see the same for battery technology. Imagine solar panels that produce 2x-10x the output they do now at half the cost all feeding a bank of NiMh (or other advanced technology) batteries. Well, you can almost picture running your AC units off of solar - for real. Solar and battery technologies are at the brink of radical innovation unlike any time in the past. Partly driven by battery technology by the global car makers and partly driven by solar innovations across the globe. These technology advances already exist, they are in the commercialization stages right now.
But it will not come fast and we don't want to give you an excuse to not go with the current technology. You don't see homes and businesses waiting for the new technology to come online, they are jumping in today with the tried and true. Having dealt with more than one technology that was going to come online in one to five years that never came out commercially, I am always a skeptic. I would also measure the space where the AGM batteries are going and see if you can use the taller GPL-6CT 6volt batteries or even some 4D or 8D sized 12volt ones. You might get more amp-hours in the space. Just a thought. Remember the AGMs do not need to be vented and can be mounted on their side or even upside down if needed.