I want to add solar power to my RV and have been contemplating this. If I want to use the existing outlets in my RV do I need an inverter? There is a controller on board, a generator and 3 deep cycle batteries that get charged with shore power and my generator.
So I just want my solar panels to charge my batteries in the same manner that my generator does.
legrandnormand said
07:39 PM May 2, 2016
To charge your batteries, just buy a smart battery charger and plug it in while you have 115VAC from shore or GEN !
-- Edited by legrandnormand on Monday 2nd of May 2016 07:40:59 PM
Lucky Mike said
08:52 PM May 2, 2016
You only need an inverter if you want 110 volt ac power.........if you just want to charge your batteries solar is fine with a controller for just 12 volts dc......no inverter needed .......power from panels to controller...from controller to batteries , pretty simple...
but if it was me I would buy a small inverter just incase I needed to charge my laptop or phone......under a 100 bucks and worth every dime in my book just to have it there
John U said
07:48 AM May 3, 2016
Big Mike,
If you just want to charge your batteries then what Lucky Mike told you is good sound advice. IMHO.
Diffidently would buy a small inverter to charge cell phones or laptops. (under 20 bucks for a cheap one on sale at Frye's or Wal Mart which we also carry in each car's glove box, 40-100 for a really good one) You can get one at Dollar Tree for a buck that also will work for your cell or part time laptop use.
A potential major problem with buying a smart battery charger and using it when on shore power is what happens when you are dry camping?? No power grid. We dry camp 30-35 day stretches many times a year so that will not work for us. Also generators are not allowed in many places to be run during the "quiet time" (usu 10 PM till 8 AM). Main places we dry camp gens are NOT ALLOWED at all due to their noise levels. And our Onan 12.5 is in an enclosed shroud. Solar or wind works fine and you can hear Mother Nature and the Wind.
Make sure you only buy a pure sine inverter not a cheaper square or modified sine wave as not good for electronics.
I want to add solar power to my RV and have been contemplating this. If I want to use the existing outlets in my RV do I need an inverter? There is a controller on board, a generator and 3 deep cycle batteries that get charged with shore power and my generator.
So I just want my solar panels to charge my batteries in the same manner that my generator does.
To charge your batteries, just buy a smart battery charger and plug it in while you have 115VAC from shore or GEN !
-- Edited by legrandnormand on Monday 2nd of May 2016 07:40:59 PM
but if it was me I would buy a small inverter just incase I needed to charge my laptop or phone......under a 100 bucks and worth every dime in my book just to have it there
If you just want to charge your batteries then what Lucky Mike told you is good sound advice. IMHO.
Diffidently would buy a small inverter to charge cell phones or laptops. (under 20 bucks for a cheap one on sale at Frye's or Wal Mart which we also carry in each car's glove box, 40-100 for a really good one) You can get one at Dollar Tree for a buck that also will work for your cell or part time laptop use.
A potential major problem with buying a smart battery charger and using it when on shore power is what happens when you are dry camping?? No power grid. We dry camp 30-35 day stretches many times a year so that will not work for us. Also generators are not allowed in many places to be run during the "quiet time" (usu 10 PM till 8 AM). Main places we dry camp gens are NOT ALLOWED at all due to their noise levels. And our Onan 12.5 is in an enclosed shroud. Solar or wind works fine and you can hear Mother Nature and the Wind.
Make sure you only buy a pure sine inverter not a cheaper square or modified sine wave as not good for electronics.
John