We have a 2012 Journey with the residential fridge, 6 AGM coach batteries, and a 2500watt inverter. To boondock for any period of time (2+ weeks) what size panel set up am I looking at, realizing that microwave, A/C, and any high watt usage will not be used.
bjoyce said
06:30 PM Sep 11, 2013
I am sure your motorhome has a generator. Since the Journey is a DP, I am 99% sure it is a diesel generator of at least 7.5KW, so it can run your A/C and everything else. If so, it will use about 1/2 gallon of diesel per hour or about $2 an hour. How much do you plan on using it? The generator should be run every once in a while, under load for 2 hours, to keep it working right. Monthly is best for exercising your generator, but with a diesel you can stretch it to 6 months. Why I ask is since you have a generator, you have flexibility and can start with less solar, which means less money.
Edit: We have friends with a similar motorhome and 1200 watts of solar. They have an RV fridge, so they have 60 to 100 amp-hours more battery margin than you. They can go without running their generator indefinitely. But when it gets hot, they run the generator and air conditioning.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Wednesday 11th of September 2013 06:35:15 PM
Jack Mayer said
01:10 AM Sep 12, 2013
Only you can answer that. You HAVE to do an energy audit. You do not have to actually measure what you use boondocking, but you do have to estimate it. Then you can seek advice about how many panels would be appropriate. You might refer to my website....link in my signature.
folivier said
09:25 PM Sep 12, 2013
What size batteries? AGM is just a type and come in all different sizes from group 27 through 8D.
We have a 2012 Journey with the residential fridge, 6 AGM coach batteries, and a 2500watt inverter. To boondock for any period of time (2+ weeks) what size panel set up am I looking at, realizing that microwave, A/C, and any high watt usage will not be used.
I am sure your motorhome has a generator. Since the Journey is a DP, I am 99% sure it is a diesel generator of at least 7.5KW, so it can run your A/C and everything else. If so, it will use about 1/2 gallon of diesel per hour or about $2 an hour. How much do you plan on using it? The generator should be run every once in a while, under load for 2 hours, to keep it working right. Monthly is best for exercising your generator, but with a diesel you can stretch it to 6 months. Why I ask is since you have a generator, you have flexibility and can start with less solar, which means less money.
Edit: We have friends with a similar motorhome and 1200 watts of solar. They have an RV fridge, so they have 60 to 100 amp-hours more battery margin than you. They can go without running their generator indefinitely. But when it gets hot, they run the generator and air conditioning.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Wednesday 11th of September 2013 06:35:15 PM