Want to know how all this stuff is connected? Jared's video breaks it down with a diagram and explains it step by step. th-cam.com/video/_1-oV4BFv7o/w-d-xo.html
I practically eat, sleep and breath solar and inverters. I worked for a major inverter manufacturer that used to be in Kent, WA, which later became Xantrex. Excellent video. This is my second time watching it. I'm in the planning stages of installing an inverter in my second RV. I already have one in my other RV. (Yep, I have two RVs)
Love it. Very helpful info. Just an FYI to anyone planning out their setup, Polar Wire is just “welding wire” with a shielding that can withstand harsh elements (cold/wind/moisture). Regular welding wire is cheaper and more than adequate for what we need it for and is maybe even more flexible. You can get several sizes at most big box hardware stores, I picked it up at the battery supplier I got my T-105s from.
I just found your channel and subscribed. Cool install and good, entertaining video - great job! Five years ago, we went FT, discovered we love boondocking and quickly learned the advantages of solar. We decided to build our solar/battery system in 2 phases, a 12v system for our basic 12v DC needs and a 48v system for our 110v A/C needs. We started by building a 620-watt liftable solar array on the side of our motorhome. We lift it to the optimal angle to boost their output by 20-30% vs flat mounted panels - even more in the winter, when the sun is lower in the sky. It serves as a nice bedroom window awning too, practically lifting itself to the desired angle with a couple gas struts, and it's easy to clean with a windshield squeegee, standing safely on the ground. We finished the 12v part of our build last January, with the addition of a 560ah LiFePo-4 battery that we built with 8, 280ah "A" grade prismatic cells. We use a Heltec 330amp BMS, and a 5a active balancer to keep the cells synched up. It cost us less than $1,500 to build this 560ah 12v, 7.1Kwh battery (about the same as 2 BB Gamechangers), including the high amp BMS and balancer. We chose these cells rather than a pre-built battery because they fit perfectly under the steps of our MH where our old pair of GC-2 golf cart batteries used to reside, saving 35lbs too. We insulated the battery compartment, cut a 1" hole in our step risers and installed a tiny computer CPU fan to keep this space at close to room temperature, so we don't have to worry about the BMS shutting down charging if they get too cold - or their life reduced from getting too hot. We use an 80A Progressive Dynamics LFP converter/charger, a 1,000w Renogy PSW inverter, an Epever 50a MPPT charge controller and a Lnex battery monitor. This entire 12v system cost us under $3,500 to build and takes care of all of our basic off-grid needs except for air conditioning and microwave use. By mounting our solar array on the side of our coach, we left the roof free to rack 8, 550W Sungold Power solar panels (4,400 watts) down the length of our 35ft Class A, 15" off our roof, above our AC, fan shrouds, etc. They will cover the entire roof, providing some nice shade with plenty of cooling air underneath, further increasing solar output and reducing the heat load on the air conditioners too. We bought them for only 51 cents/watt shipped to our door! We're in the middle of this build now. We bought our aluminum racking material in Yuma, where we're wintering over this year, for under $400. Our solar panels, wiring, breakers, etc. arrived a couple week ago, but we're taking our time to get everything in and installed over the winter. At 67 yrs old, we're moving much slower these days. Our Sungold Power all-in-one 48V, 5,000W Inverter/100A charge controller/battery charger just arrived last week. Our 48v battery bank will use 16, 320ah grade A prismatic cells which only cost us $1,726 from EEL batteries. We bought a 200a 16s 48v Heltec BMS for only $140. So together with our 560ah 12v bank, we will have a total of 23.5 Kwh of batteries onboard (equal to about 18, 100ah Battleborns) - kept charged by over 5,000 watts of solar. We removed our rear 13.5k btu rooftop Dometic AC and filled the hole it left with a second powered roof vent. We are installing an EG4 28.5 seer-2, 12k btu mini-split heat pump. This second phase will provide 24/7 off-grid air conditioning, supplemental heat from the heat pump and allow occasional usage of our rooftop mounted Easystart equipped Furrion AC in the front of our MH during peak afternoon hours, as well as give us whole house 120v ac power. We'll soon have total off-grid electrical independence for a total budget of around $11,500, (that's far less than just the batteries would have cost us had we gone with Battleborns). This allows us to keep our onboard 5,500w generator in reserve for emergency use only. Take care, we hope to see you down the road!
Regardless of being paid or not... As a fellow family TH-camr, I've watched enough of your videos to know that you are quality people with a great family and great chemistry. The information you provide is both educational and inspiring... keep them coming please!
I am thinking about getting an RV and when I do, I know I'll be boondocking a lot. One thing that surprises me about contemporary RV electrical systems is how, ordinarily, the 12V and 120V systems are so separate from each other, outside of the 12V to 120V "converter." With that in mind, I wasn't surprised to hear Marc's (name correct?) comment about having to go get the generator started just to run some small AC device. I would have thought that by now, here in 2018, with all kinds of inverter/charger/transfer switches being the norm in solar houses, large and small, at least the larger travel trailers would all have inverter/chargers themselves, even if they don't have solar panels so that one could have AC power available for smaller AC devices like a quick microwave oven use or a laptop charger off of the batteries. This would also be a perfect setup for then plugging the generator to the trailer "shore power" inlet when necessary to allow the inverter/charger to top off the batteries just as the inverter/charger would do when plugged into a campground outlet. That would allow many more small AC uses while only running the generator for a short time to top off the batteries. Generators are a pain to use when they have to run all the time for just a single, small appliance use. Better a generator run for a short period of time at a decent load level to top off the batteries once every day or two. Haven't RV makers and users figured out already that these inverter/charger/transfer switches make a certain amount of sense even without panels on the roof and associated solar charge controllers?
BandM the Victron unit he has used does exactly that. And it allows multiple inputs eg from solar, shore power, generator, battery in that order of heirachy. Very smart, not cheap. If you have enough LFP, the Victron can run lots of different 110V items at once. I have only once exceeded mine - it switched itself off at 4kW when the water heater kicked in with the aircond/wash machine, TVs etc were already on. Reduced load and flicked it back on. Simples
Long time viewer of your channel. Your videos helped my wife and I make the move to fulltime life. Thank for all the great info you continue to put out.
Interesting and informative video. However I have a major problem. You say you aren't paid by the equipment suppliers, but they give you the equipment to install, test and review. You really need to say up front the value. Example the retail on your 4 Battle Born lithium batteries is just short of $4000 according to their site. The solar equipment is probably in excess of $2000. Personally, I used to do an on-air (public radio) show on computers and was given product to test and review. In order to be fair to my listeners, I told them I was given the software, hardware, etc AND the retail value. Because of the products, I was able to give away a fairly large portion after testing, including laptops, desktops, monitors and other items. You really need to say up front the retail value. I've looked into solar and, while it would be the way to go (no fuel or other mechanical issues of a generator) I and your viewers don't necessarily have the resources to buy into it. The same goes for upgrades to your truck and 5th wheeler. Being given them to "install, test and review" is just another way to be paid for using the product. Your reviews are helpful, but honest reviewing should at least include company XYZ gave us the thing-a-nabob with a retail value of $XXX to test and review. Just saying company XYZ gave us this equipment to try out is short changing your viewers.
I am an early subscriber and it seems you always state when something is given versus a review. Maybe it is in the language.And, I have watched long enough to know that you would never give a positive review to anything that didn't live up to expectations.
Actually I'm not. Magazines, newspapers and a lot of bloggers will tell you the retail value of products loaned or "gifted" to them. Motor Trend, Car and Driver, as examples state up from that company XYZ gave them a vehicle to test for xxx days. In the review, they state the "as tested" price of the product, even if its a loaner. Consumer Reports doesn't accept any products, but buys them outright themselves, tests, and, in the case of vehicles, sell them to recover some costs. By not giving a value of the product, KYD, if unintentionally, is failing to give all of the information on the items. I agree the value of the videos is great, but the lack of clarity by not giving the value of the items they receive is something that needs to be taken care of. Thank you for you comments.
Thank you for responding. Please consider giving the retail values when you talk about something "given" to you to test. It would increase the information you provide. As I noted in my response to Gray Fox, publications such at Motor Trend and Car and Driver who list the MSRP and as equipped in all of their reviews. And, as an aside, Consumer Reports purchases everything they test. I realize you aren't CR, nor are you a consumer magazine, but including the value would increase credibility. And would you installation "crew" be willing to travel to southern Georgia to do a free install? It would also be helpful to be able to give a rough estimate of installation on major projects.
As we primarily dry camp or boondock as some say, I can definitely see how this would indeed be liberating! In BC Parks there are virtually no hookups are strict hours when a generator can be used. So far we only have a “suitcase” solar setup which helps but your solar setup is amazing! Happy travels!
I know you guys have probably received a lot of criticism by now, but all I can say is that if I was in your shoes, I would do exactly what you are doing. Receiving free equipment from companies that you would do business with regardless and that you already are familiar with, and then giving an honest opinion of the quality and performance. We are looking to install solar soon and we are deciding which one will be the best set up for us. This video was great and I have seen Jared’s video 3 times already to help me wrap my head around this whole enchilada. Don’t be jealous though, I have watched your video 2 times as well and added it to my personal “solar playlist”! Haha
I understand that you are getting a lot of this gear for free for the vendor’s promotional interest. I am really OK with that because I want to see how it works. You have the Cadillac system and can really demonstrate what is possible. As I watch your experience, we can decide if we could benefit by a system which might not be as sophisticated as yours but might still be worthwhile. Presenters like you are so very valuable to the rest of us who do not operate as much as you, because in effect you are compressing years of our experience into a few months. We can learn a great deal. Besides you guys are a lot of fun to watch. Keep it up!
Rv newbie here lol I love your set up.. I will definitely be checking out your other video on the solar... and our 1st camper was a pop up, then we upgraded to an old 24ft TT. And now new to us this year is a newer 29ft TT and we are actually just learning how things work.. I love watching your videos you have no idea how much help they are and joyful to watch.
Just watched your video Sunday night.we were thinking of downsizing from our 34' keystone outback.but mother nature said nope.and put a 4" branch thru our roof.insurance is taking care of it.so all is good,we will soon own a '11 TT with a '18 roof. You are now our test vehicle for solar.can't wait to see more info to come from you guys about your setup.likes/dislikes and all. Have a great day.safe travels
OK, when it comes to solar I hear ( the duhicky connect to the thingamabob to make the thingamajig run the whatchamacallit ) thank God for people like Jarred.
Keep Your Daydream I have a friend that is a electrical engineer and he said he can replace the diesel engine on my generator with an electric motor and never use diesel fuel for the generator. He is building a sample before I give the go on my coach. He claims the reason they don't do this on RV's is money. We will see? Great information on your video, I'm just not confident on solar.
Wow, I think you need to explain this a little better. The diesel engine runs the generator to create electrical energy. Putting an electric motor on your generator would be creating electric with electric???
Larry Richelli Generator is turned by the diesel engine. I'm using an electric motor in place of the diesel engine. There is a battery bank that starts the electric motor, then once the generator gets going it generates enough electric to power the coach equipment and run the electric motor that turns the generator. A controller keeps things working and when the battery bank is fully charged the generator shuts down and the coach runs on battery power.
We felt that way going form a travel trailer to a motor home with a built in generator, If you wanted to make coffee, just turn around and hit the start button and you have power. Air conditioners no problem hit the button. But I am going to add a portable solar so when we are dry camping we don't have to listen to 4 hours of the generator running to charge the batteries just so we have TV and lights for the night. If it is hot and no one is around, I don't mind running the gen to power the AC's for hours, as you can't hear the generator running inside with the AC on. The fuel consumption on the generator is almost the same charging batteries alone verses running 2 AC's. I figure it is 3-4 dollars a day in fuel to run the generator just to get enough charge to get through the night. Good video.
I have a 33' 5th wheel with a built-in propane generator. I think it is a better option. I also have solar for keeping the 2 batteries topped off. great video. Thanks so much.
Okay, another GREAT video by you guys. So professional and fun to watch. The installer, (Jared I think) was a real craftsman for sure and Mark does a nice job of supporting him and keeping the audience in tune. I love the solar setup you installed. When I go full time RVing (in 2.5 years) I am going to install this system. I've had my eyes on most of these products for a while and now that I saw this I'm going all in. Thank you so much, love your family.
Great video...we have a toy hauler with a 5500 watt generator but we have been exploring solar as another option to extend our dry camping time as well as cut down on noise in certain areas...Thanks for all the info!!!
Welcome to LFP side of life. Having deeply dischargeable batteries along with faster charging times is a game changer. Plus with LFP you need no regular full charging, equalization charging, battery maintenance etc... I upgraded our truck camper to 1080 watts solar on the roof and 600AH lithium DIY battery bank with a 2800 watt whole house inverter. We have run on solar now for about a year including electric cooking and air conditioning. We do not plug in or carry a generator. A couple questions. The Victron inverter charger and battery monitor are premium pieces. Great job on that. The solar charge controller though is only a PWM which isn't nearly as efficient as a MPPT solar charge controller. At least 15% less efficient. Victron makes fantastic unit fully customizable to LFP charging to optimize thel unique charging peramiters of lithium batteries. I am wondering why you choose to go with such a relatively cheap solar charge controller rather than complimenting your system with a Victron charge controller. The other question is why not go with more roof panels while you are at it? I think you should be able to get at least 1000 watts on a trailer that size. Adding panels will greatly increase your ability to run high load appliances like a/c while the sun is out, but the other huge benefit is when the sun isn't out. Typically the panels will only deliver 15-20% or so in poor conditions (or less) so having extra panels can mean still running essentials on cloudy days. Enjoy all that free power! :)
Very good advice harleyd500. We did just what you say/did. Same Victron 3kVA smart inverter charger to manage the various in/out power all at once, Victron MPPT 150/100 with 4x300watt panels feeding 720AH CALB battery bank. Next upgrade will be another 2x300watt panels. More panels mean we can charge back to 90% next day quicker, and allow better utilization of the aircond during the hot days. 1000watts of incoming solar still reduces your battery bank, esp as you are running fridge/freezers 24/7.
Grand Design must have seen thus video. I'm installing some stuff in my 2020 315rlts and the wall in the pass-through is squared off behind the water panel like you guys made yours. So thanks for your influence! :-)
Thank you! I have to use CPAP at night and am looking to do dry camping. I just bought a small camper but now am limited to full hook up KOA's and a few state parks. I think solar will be the way to go next camping season.
J.R. Giesecke yes CPAPs use a lot, I think I saw 180AH in a video yesterday? Was thinking about getting better sleep and less snoring for wife and I, but the energy use seemed high. Best to get lots of solar and LFP if want to use 180AH/day for one device
This looks like an awesome solar set up! We really want to be able to run our AC off of solar but weren't sure we could accomplish it. Now we know how!
I wanted to say I love your camper. I have been visually impaired all my life and being I can’t drive, I decided to get a camper I can enjoy. My wife will be the driver and I will get to be the guy that does everything else. We are waiting for the bank to approve us for a windjammer It is not as big as what we really want but we are going to take what we can get and go with your advice. Hopefully the bank approves us so we can start our journey on the road
Guess Zamp didn't offer a MPPT controller and that is why you're using the PWM and not MPPT? Jumping to MPPT (perhaps from Victron?) would do you a world of good in harnessing all the power from those panels and getting the batteries charged.
that's true, I contacted Zamp some months ago when researching solar for my TT. They don't offer an MPPT controller. I emailed them to ask why. Never got a reply.
Oh wow!! Mind blown! I just looked at all the comments and your replies: at the very beginning you mentioned that an ideal place would of been under the dinette bench. I think that would work for my set up and I never thought about it! We never use that space since it’s hard to reach on a regular basis so thank you thank you!
Yeah, we would have dropped the wires below the slide and wrapped in conduit with a spring. It would not have been too hard. We just didn't want to run wire to the inverter.
Micro-Air is at it again. They've invented the EasyTouch RV, a new thermostat control for A/C with WiFi and Bluetooth capacity to be released this Spring. See their Facebook for more information and a new product announcement --and also RV Electricity on FB. It's for the aftermarket.
Solar is so cool, it’s been in the back of our mind for a while now, but it’s so confusing for this rookie. Thanks for sharing, can’t wait to see the system in action later
Ahhh I FINALLY caught up to you! I watched your how to setup an RV video about 4 months ago and loved it. 3 weeks ago I discovered you had a whole channel and website. WHAT?!? So in 3 weeks time I have watched 4 seasons of your videos! It kind of felt like I was binge watching a new TV show lol. Anyways I’m enjoying following along with you and will be looking forward to the next video! I hope to be joining you on the road in about 6 months time!!
Hey Marc, I have watched all 4 seasons and getting ready to catch up on season 5. Great job. You and Trish are naturals. I was wondering why you never opted for a small portable inverter generator 1.6-2.0 Kilowatts? They have plenty of uses outside the RV, but for dry camping in your original, and now the bigger TT, one would be great to charge the batteries when you aren't getting much sun and don't want to sit in the dark.
Thanks for the video. Wow, that is going to be nice not having to worry about living comfortably while dry camping. Maybe in the future we will go for a system like that. Right now we are just part time and a generator is what we are shooting for if we do dry camp. All these upgrades will make your trip to Alaska wonderful. Yeah, I agree with Trish..... when my hubby says he is going to make a hole in anything I have that same reaction. Especially the roof of your RV. Yikes!!! Happy and Safe Travels!!
you're up in Alaska having a great time .how's the solar working out,can we get a real world update as to what you like/don't like about it. maybe i missed it somewhere/ in the blog
Thanks for all the info, this is awesome! My wife and I are planning to sell the house next summer and hit the road full time. I think I may just put a solar system in before we hit the road, and leave room for expansion if needed
Instead of the zamp pwm solar controller you should have gone with an mppt controller you get way more out of the solar panels especially since you went with lithium ion they are way more particular on tbe voltage then agm or lead acid.
Agreed Victron MPPT would be much better - plus the smartsolar gives you Bluetooth screen for what you are generating both realtime and 30days historically. I save my history each month by email. (There is a sexy $500 color control monitor that will also allow remote internet monitoring/troubleshooting that I now wish I had got)
Excellent, as always. My wife brought up an interesting question: What happens to your solar panels if you get caught in a hail storm? We're deciding between roof mounted or portable suitcase version. Thanks.
PTL, I finally caught up on all of your videos! Now I can watch the next seasons as you put them on. So looking forward to that. Keep up the fantastic work.
That set up looks amazing. Thank you for sharing your journey during the install. This is definitely on the “eventually” list. I am excited to see future videos to see how you guys really like it and how it has helped improve your camping experience.
Great Video Marc, great to know as a newbie and gives me something to look forward to when I go bigger. Btw, I saw Trish use the "hand model" in a previous video, absolutely hilarious, more demos please, its comedic gold.
I wish manufacturer's would provide these types of upgrades. That got me thinking, by doing these modifications does it void your warranty? I can't wait to see how this works for you guys because we definitely want solar. Thank you again for another great video.
A lot of RV mfg are offering solar packages. I ordered my 5th wheel toyhauler with a solar system and 2000 watt inverter. I added an additional 200 watt panel.
As usual, enjoyed your video and learned a lot from it. We are a year behind you in our Alaska trip, we plan to go in 2019, so I am keeping up with you on your trip, plus looking for mods and upgrades to our rig, before we go. I like your solar setup very much, but I plan to downsize it a bit and see how it works out. Keep those locations and GPS coordinates coming.
Nice setup guys. You’ll love the freedom this setup will give you. I did chuckle when you said about it being the ultimate solar system. I’m in the middle of installing a really ultimate solar system. I used 200W (also American made) panels which have the same footprint as those 160W, but I used 12 of them for 2400W total, two Victron 24/3000 inverters wired in split phase so I can power both 50A sides of the coach AC distribution panel and obviously Victron charge controllers, BMV and CCGX. I also installed six Battleborn’s but may add six more later if they and the generator with auto start aren’t enough. We already had an onboard Onan generator which I’ll program the CCGX to automatically start if need be and the 2400W of solar isn’t enough lol. I also got two Micro Air Easy Starts as I can run both AC units simultaneously. I’m half way through my install but it won’t make it onto my channel for a few weeks. Anyway love following you guys and are looking forward to your Alaskan trip. We were meant to go this year but due to a needed surgery it is put off till next year. Happy camping ⛺️
Thanks for the info! I am just stating to look at and decide which way to go with our 5th wheel trailer. Solar or wind turbine? You info has helped me lean toward solar. Thank you. You have a great show.
Hey Guys Thanks For The Very Informative Solar System Video .......Two Questions ....#1 What Was Your Total Weight Of All The Equipment Involved (Batteries , Inverter , Etc ) & Is It A Consideration On Your Total Trailer Weight Capacity ???......I Know That This One Has Allot Of Variables .....#2.....Pricing .....High End Vs Low End Or "Starter System" To Which You Can Build Up As Your Bugget Allows ???........Keep Up The Good Work & Happy Camping
Yes, total weight is a consideration, but we're still under our GVWR on the rig... even with full water. Lithium weighs roughly half the weight of lead acid. The blog has all the pricing.
Y'all boys sound good to go now! A/C on solar and batteries, that's the ticket! Hey Jared. I think I get Zamp when I do get solar. I like Hecho en USA.
Fantastic video!! Thank you for explaining all things solar in layman terms. I do have a question. My soon to be built RV will be solar prepped but the connection for panels is up on the roof. I am not too excited about putting panels on my roof and my only reason to have panels would be to keep my batteries charged during dry camping. Is there a way to feed off of the roof connector, making another connection close to my inverter? Much love!!
You could get a portable unit. I'm sure your rig will also be "Solar ready" with a plug on the side. But I will say, by the time we're done drinking coffee, the sun has been recharging our batteries for an hour or two... before I would have remembered to put my portable unit up. I still have the portable panel in case we camp under trees, but the rooftop is nice. If it's properly mounted, there shouldn't be a problem. The right sealant is key!
Great video as always. I have a couple of questions for you. 1). Do you know how much weight this set up added to your tongue weight of your trailer? 2) Do you have an estimate of what this system would cost someone to add to their trailer?
I have been gathering parts for over a year now. Just got my sixth battleborn battery and and ready to install it all. Just a few more parts. I have a grand design like the one in this video but not a bunkhouse model.
Great video, as usual, but for $6-$10 grand, I think I'll continue using my noisy #400 open-frame generator. Would LOVE to have this solar set up, but we have to budget just to go to the boondocks, as it is, so unless someone hands us a solar package, it's going to require our noisy generator (plus a 2500 watt inverter that I installed for "quiet times") for our camping. Look forward to watching the Alaska trip.
I installed 575 watt of panels for around 1800.00 including 4 6 volt batteries. A little heavier than the Lithium but not a problem for my rig and much quieter than a generator. Just my way of camping.
Agreed, there are a lot of less costly but effective solar options out there. Since you have an inverter and a battery bank already, most of the expensive stuff is taken care of already. If you plan on using 12v panels, you can't go wrong witha Bogart Engineering setup (a SC2030 and a TM2030RV). It is a very effective low cost system that will keep your batteries full and in good health.
Nine month follow up to your solar upgrade. How is the system working out? Good balance of solar watts to battery amps? Enough for A/C? Love the channel and loving your New Zealand footage!
First off I love you channel! So informative and I feel like I’m right there with y’all! Questions: all the stuff you have added to the truck and the trailer, what are you guys scaling now. I remember in your weight explanation video you guys were over like 200 pounds. With a steal tank and added capacity, extra batteries, solar panels and all that you must be over by 1-2000 lbs. have you scaled lately?
I have weighed recently, but not without full water so it's not accurate. I wanted to check the axle weight and tire weight for correct PSI when we were at max (beyond where we normally travel). Most of these upgrades were offset by other things we removed.
I have lived aboard my catamaran sailboat for 5 years now and thinking of crossing over to the dark side for 6 months a year......You guys have a great channel...I just completely binged on your channel the whole day...lol......One of the best I have seen both in the sailing world and RV world.....Why did you not have the dealer install the solar prior to taking delivery? How many watts did you install and what size inverter? I might have missed it in the video....The "easy starter" is a great product.......
We'll take care of your catamaran while you RV. Everything will be fine! Dealers are a PIA. You'll want as little contact as possible. You're far better off finding a good service center or mobile RV mech to do the install and purchase the products you want. A 3000 watt is essential if you want to run everything, but 2000 will do the job.
Years ago there was a show on TV called Wish You Were Here, The host was Kenny Price and his wife showing new RV's and camping across the country. You two are good at this, Have you thought about a tv show? A few years ago I had a idea about a show traveling around the country riding horses and camping. My wife and I called a network with the idea and they didn't seem to care. But not far in the future the show America on horseback was on TV. Look like someone else had a vision in their sleep. Just a thought! Good luck!
I was kind of surprised that the back of the Grand Design panels were so messy. Wire and hoses in a rats nest. I looked at my Ultra Light and same thing. Ok I spent 30 years restoring pipe organs, and restoring cars. I like wires ties down, square corners etc. Especially in a moving vehicle
Maybe this is a questions for Jared, but do you need a monitor for the Multiplus? I see the Victron multiplus monitor for sale ($550). Maybe you did the multiplus set up once and then leave it alone?? It looks like the monitor for the multiplus may be a "nice to have" but not really a must.
Arbitrary Exploration solar powered rv's & boondocking fb page is a great resource! You'll be able to narrow down exactly what you need and what works for your style of camping
Great video as always you two! Love the fatigue analogy Trish, like the layers of an onion. Looking forward to Alaska!! GG will never be the same! Jim.
Mark & Trish, great TH-cam channel. My question is this. While you are driving why don't you have a connection from your truck alternator to the battery bank in your trailer? My point is this if you have depleted your batteries while boondocking and you do not have a generator then when you get on the road for a long drive you would be able to recharge your batteries if there was that connection to the truck alternator while driving?? There maybe a good reason not to do this but I cannot think of one.
I truly enjoy your channel and watch it every week. My family and I enjoy camping very much. Can you give me the information about the solar panel you used before the roof mounted system? We have a couple places we dry camp and would like to add some solar to keep from using a generator. Thanks
What did you do with the 12 volt system. As you know you can’t run an inverter with your existing 12v converter without burning up your inverter. I didn’t see anything on this but is so very important. The things I would’ve done differently after learning the hard way is installed a 24v system and doubled my roof space and efficiency. I would’ve also saved 1500.00 by installing 2 Tesla s battery packs. Each pack is 24v at 233a.
Great video. You should check out the Goal Zero Yeti chargers. Would be really cool to charge those up while you’re driving and then when you stop, you have other stored power that is also portable. Good for charging the cameras and other gear while the truck is off. Just an idea. Are you going to do a video on the hitch?
Great video. Sorry I am so late watching. Thanks for the insight and breakdown. Definitely have to check out some off the products. We are going to go for the gusto when we go solar. We want to be totally self sufficient for the entire rig. Big investment? Yes. Cost of freedom not to have to worry about plugging in? Priceless. Thank you for the videos. Have fun on your way to Alaska. Be safe. Safe travels. Later
Hi KYD, Thank you for the video's very informative and entertaining. I'm about to pull the trigger on an electrical upgrade project. I was wondering why you decided to only power half of your electrical panel? I figure I would power my entire panel and just ensure to manage what we turn on. thanks
I don't think there is enough juice to do both sides for 50 amp, but I don't know exactly. I will say, it's very nice to have select appliances off of your inverter such as the fridge so you don't have to worry about turning them off when on battery
The other point to folks new to solar is solar needs direct sun. So those in the Pacific North West with lots of cloud and thick forests, solar may not be great for you. Those in the North east where most campgrounds are in forests it also may not meet your expectations. Solar needs several hours of direct sunlight to recharge your batteries.
Great video - as always. One thing that I don’t see in any of the solar application videos is their resistance or maybe tolerance to hail. Being in Texas this is an ongoing issue for us. Maybe you could address this is a future video extravaganza. Keep up all this good work.
David Tordoff most solar panels are tested for hail. There’s a ton of videos on it with solar manufacturers demonstrating shooting frozen ice balls at the panels. The panels will actually in most cases protect your RV 😜
I just started following you guys and just love the videos. I watched your video about payload concerns with your F250 - how does this new solar equipment (and batteries) play into your payload calculations?
Want to know how all this stuff is connected? Jared's video breaks it down with a diagram and explains it step by step. th-cam.com/video/_1-oV4BFv7o/w-d-xo.html
Keep Your Daydream yes & want to make sure ours stays connected!! Lol!!
I practically eat, sleep and breath solar and inverters. I worked for a major inverter manufacturer that used to be in Kent, WA, which later became Xantrex. Excellent video. This is my second time watching it. I'm in the planning stages of installing an inverter in my second RV. I already have one in my other RV. (Yep, I have two RVs)
Thank you to Jared and the cameraman for all your time. DN
Love it. Very helpful info. Just an FYI to anyone planning out their setup, Polar Wire is just “welding wire” with a shielding that can withstand harsh elements (cold/wind/moisture). Regular welding wire is cheaper and more than adequate for what we need it for and is maybe even more flexible. You can get several sizes at most big box hardware stores, I picked it up at the battery supplier I got my T-105s from.
I just found your channel and subscribed. Cool install and good, entertaining video - great job! Five years ago, we went FT, discovered we love boondocking and quickly learned the advantages of solar. We decided to build our solar/battery system in 2 phases, a 12v system for our basic 12v DC needs and a 48v system for our 110v A/C needs. We started by building a 620-watt liftable solar array on the side of our motorhome. We lift it to the optimal angle to boost their output by 20-30% vs flat mounted panels - even more in the winter, when the sun is lower in the sky. It serves as a nice bedroom window awning too, practically lifting itself to the desired angle with a couple gas struts, and it's easy to clean with a windshield squeegee, standing safely on the ground.
We finished the 12v part of our build last January, with the addition of a 560ah LiFePo-4 battery that we built with 8, 280ah "A" grade prismatic cells. We use a Heltec 330amp BMS, and a 5a active balancer to keep the cells synched up. It cost us less than $1,500 to build this 560ah 12v, 7.1Kwh battery (about the same as 2 BB Gamechangers), including the high amp BMS and balancer. We chose these cells rather than a pre-built battery because they fit perfectly under the steps of our MH where our old pair of GC-2 golf cart batteries used to reside, saving 35lbs too. We insulated the battery compartment, cut a 1" hole in our step risers and installed a tiny computer CPU fan to keep this space at close to room temperature, so we don't have to worry about the BMS shutting down charging if they get too cold - or their life reduced from getting too hot. We use an 80A Progressive Dynamics LFP converter/charger, a 1,000w Renogy PSW inverter, an Epever 50a MPPT charge controller and a Lnex battery monitor. This entire 12v system cost us under $3,500 to build and takes care of all of our basic off-grid needs except for air conditioning and microwave use.
By mounting our solar array on the side of our coach, we left the roof free to rack 8, 550W Sungold Power solar panels (4,400 watts) down the length of our 35ft Class A, 15" off our roof, above our AC, fan shrouds, etc. They will cover the entire roof, providing some nice shade with plenty of cooling air underneath, further increasing solar output and reducing the heat load on the air conditioners too. We bought them for only 51 cents/watt shipped to our door! We're in the middle of this build now. We bought our aluminum racking material in Yuma, where we're wintering over this year, for under $400. Our solar panels, wiring, breakers, etc. arrived a couple week ago, but we're taking our time to get everything in and installed over the winter. At 67 yrs old, we're moving much slower these days. Our Sungold Power all-in-one 48V, 5,000W Inverter/100A charge controller/battery charger just arrived last week. Our 48v battery bank will use 16, 320ah grade A prismatic cells which only cost us $1,726 from EEL batteries. We bought a 200a 16s 48v Heltec BMS for only $140. So together with our 560ah 12v bank, we will have a total of 23.5 Kwh of batteries onboard (equal to about 18, 100ah Battleborns) - kept charged by over 5,000 watts of solar. We removed our rear 13.5k btu rooftop Dometic AC and filled the hole it left with a second powered roof vent. We are installing an EG4 28.5 seer-2, 12k btu mini-split heat pump. This second phase will provide 24/7 off-grid air conditioning, supplemental heat from the heat pump and allow occasional usage of our rooftop mounted Easystart equipped Furrion AC in the front of our MH during peak afternoon hours, as well as give us whole house 120v ac power. We'll soon have total off-grid electrical independence for a total budget of around $11,500, (that's far less than just the batteries would have cost us had we gone with Battleborns). This allows us to keep our onboard 5,500w generator in reserve for emergency use only.
Take care, we hope to see you down the road!
welcome!
Regardless of being paid or not... As a fellow family TH-camr, I've watched enough of your videos to know that you are quality people with a great family and great chemistry. The information you provide is both educational and inspiring... keep them coming please!
Love Tricia's explanation of camping fatigue. Spot on! YaY for Solar! 🤗
I am thinking about getting an RV and when I do, I know I'll be boondocking a lot. One thing that surprises me about contemporary RV electrical systems is how, ordinarily, the 12V and 120V systems are so separate from each other, outside of the 12V to 120V "converter." With that in mind, I wasn't surprised to hear Marc's (name correct?) comment about having to go get the generator started just to run some small AC device. I would have thought that by now, here in 2018, with all kinds of inverter/charger/transfer switches being the norm in solar houses, large and small, at least the larger travel trailers would all have inverter/chargers themselves, even if they don't have solar panels so that one could have AC power available for smaller AC devices like a quick microwave oven use or a laptop charger off of the batteries. This would also be a perfect setup for then plugging the generator to the trailer "shore power" inlet when necessary to allow the inverter/charger to top off the batteries just as the inverter/charger would do when plugged into a campground outlet. That would allow many more small AC uses while only running the generator for a short time to top off the batteries. Generators are a pain to use when they have to run all the time for just a single, small appliance use. Better a generator run for a short period of time at a decent load level to top off the batteries once every day or two. Haven't RV makers and users figured out already that these inverter/charger/transfer switches make a certain amount of sense even without panels on the roof and associated solar charge controllers?
BandM the Victron unit he has used does exactly that. And it allows multiple inputs eg from solar, shore power, generator, battery in that order of heirachy. Very smart, not cheap. If you have enough LFP, the Victron can run lots of different 110V items at once. I have only once exceeded mine - it switched itself off at 4kW when the water heater kicked in with the aircond/wash machine, TVs etc were already on. Reduced load and flicked it back on. Simples
Long time viewer of your channel. Your videos helped my wife and I make the move to fulltime life. Thank for all the great info you continue to put out.
Interesting and informative video. However I have a major problem. You say you aren't paid by the equipment suppliers, but they give you the equipment to install, test and review. You really need to say up front the value. Example the retail on your 4 Battle Born lithium batteries is just short of $4000 according to their site. The solar equipment is probably in excess of $2000. Personally, I used to do an on-air (public radio) show on computers and was given product to test and review. In order to be fair to my listeners, I told them I was given the software, hardware, etc AND the retail value. Because of the products, I was able to give away a fairly large portion after testing, including laptops, desktops, monitors and other items.
You really need to say up front the retail value. I've looked into solar and, while it would be the way to go (no fuel or other mechanical issues of a generator) I and your viewers don't necessarily have the resources to buy into it.
The same goes for upgrades to your truck and 5th wheeler. Being given them to "install, test and review" is just another way to be paid for using the product. Your reviews are helpful, but honest reviewing should at least include company XYZ gave us the thing-a-nabob with a retail value of $XXX to test and review. Just saying company XYZ gave us this equipment to try out is short changing your viewers.
Good points. We're definitely about transparency and will continue to learn ways to share information.
I am an early subscriber and it seems you always state when something is given versus a review. Maybe it is in the language.And, I have watched long enough to know that you would never give a positive review to anything that didn't live up to expectations.
Actually I'm not. Magazines, newspapers and a lot of bloggers will tell you the retail value of products loaned or "gifted" to them. Motor Trend, Car and Driver, as examples state up from that company XYZ gave them a vehicle to test for xxx days. In the review, they state the "as tested" price of the product, even if its a loaner. Consumer Reports doesn't accept any products, but buys them outright themselves, tests, and, in the case of vehicles, sell them to recover some costs.
By not giving a value of the product, KYD, if unintentionally, is failing to give all of the information on the items.
I agree the value of the videos is great, but the lack of clarity by not giving the value of the items they receive is something that needs to be taken care of.
Thank you for you comments.
Thank you for responding. Please consider giving the retail values when you talk about something "given" to you to test. It would increase the information you provide. As I noted in my response to Gray Fox, publications such at Motor Trend and Car and Driver who list the MSRP and as equipped in all of their reviews. And, as an aside, Consumer Reports purchases everything they test. I realize you aren't CR, nor are you a consumer magazine, but including the value would increase credibility. And would you installation "crew" be willing to travel to southern Georgia to do a free install? It would also be helpful to be able to give a rough estimate of installation on major projects.
So isn't that what the link in the description is for??? Answered that question in one click.
Excellent video! We all need a Jared in our life! 😃
As we primarily dry camp or boondock as some say, I can definitely see how this would indeed be liberating! In BC Parks there are virtually no hookups are strict hours when a generator can be used. So far we only have a “suitcase” solar setup which helps but your solar setup is amazing! Happy travels!
I know you guys have probably received a lot of criticism by now, but all I can say is that if I was in your shoes, I would do exactly what you are doing. Receiving free equipment from companies that you would do business with regardless and that you already are familiar with, and then giving an honest opinion of the quality and performance. We are looking to install solar soon and we are deciding which one will be the best set up for us. This video was great and I have seen Jared’s video 3 times already to help me wrap my head around this whole enchilada. Don’t be jealous though, I have watched your video 2 times as well and added it to my personal “solar playlist”! Haha
I understand that you are getting a lot of this gear for free for the vendor’s promotional interest. I am really OK with that because I want to see how it works. You have the Cadillac system and can really demonstrate what is possible. As I watch your experience, we can decide if we could benefit by a system which might not be as sophisticated as yours but might still be worthwhile. Presenters like you are so very valuable to the rest of us who do not operate as much as you, because in effect you are compressing years of our experience into a few months. We can learn a great deal. Besides you guys are a lot of fun to watch. Keep it up!
Solar is the way to go if you do any boondocking. Beats the heck out of starting up that noisy generator!
Thanks for all of the solar segments. My husband and I feel a lot more confident.
Rv newbie here lol I love your set up.. I will definitely be checking out your other video on the solar... and our 1st camper was a pop up, then we upgraded to an old 24ft TT. And now new to us this year is a newer 29ft TT and we are actually just learning how things work.. I love watching your videos you have no idea how much help they are and joyful to watch.
Just watched your video Sunday night.we were thinking of downsizing from our 34' keystone outback.but mother nature said nope.and put a 4" branch thru our roof.insurance is taking care of it.so all is good,we will soon own a '11 TT with a '18 roof. You are now our test vehicle for solar.can't wait to see more info to come from you guys about your setup.likes/dislikes and all.
Have a great day.safe travels
OK, when it comes to solar I hear ( the duhicky connect to the thingamabob to make the thingamajig run the whatchamacallit ) thank God for people like Jarred.
Lol. I wish I read this before my solar explanation video. That's exactly what I hear. "Does my coffee maker work now?" That's what I want to know.
Keep Your Daydream
I have a friend that is a electrical engineer and he said he can replace the diesel engine on my generator with an electric motor and never use diesel fuel for the generator.
He is building a sample before I give the go on my coach. He claims the reason they don't do this on RV's is money. We will see?
Great information on your video, I'm just not confident on solar.
Wow, I think you need to explain this a little better. The diesel engine runs the generator to create electrical energy. Putting an electric motor on your generator would be creating electric with electric???
Larry Richelli
Generator is turned by the diesel engine. I'm using an electric motor in place of the diesel engine. There is a battery bank that starts the electric motor, then once the generator gets going it generates enough electric to power the coach equipment and run the electric motor that turns the generator. A controller keeps things working and when the battery bank is fully charged the generator shuts down and the coach runs on battery power.
Interesting, let us know how you make out...
I used to consider inverter generators, however I've been thinking more solar lately. Thank you. Very informative as always.
We felt that way going form a travel trailer to a motor home with a built in generator, If you wanted to make coffee, just turn around and hit the start button and you have power. Air conditioners no problem hit the button. But I am going to add a portable solar so when we are dry camping we don't have to listen to 4 hours of the generator running to charge the batteries just so we have TV and lights for the night. If it is hot and no one is around, I don't mind running the gen to power the AC's for hours, as you can't hear the generator running inside with the AC on. The fuel consumption on the generator is almost the same charging batteries alone verses running 2 AC's. I figure it is 3-4 dollars a day in fuel to run the generator just to get enough charge to get through the night. Good video.
Alan Hester Get a big LFP/solar setup and you can do that with no gen or stress. Don’t even need to push a start/stop button
Love it. Clean, ventilated, simplified, and improved some other hindrances and annoyances along the way. Pro Gingah!
I have a 33' 5th wheel with a built-in propane generator. I think it is a better option. I also have solar for keeping the 2 batteries topped off. great video. Thanks so much.
Okay, another GREAT video by you guys. So professional and fun to watch. The installer, (Jared I think) was a real craftsman for sure and Mark does a nice job of supporting him and keeping the audience in tune. I love the solar setup you installed. When I go full time RVing (in 2.5 years) I am going to install this system. I've had my eyes on most of these products for a while and now that I saw this I'm going all in. Thank you so much, love your family.
You're too nice. Like all your comments.
Great video...we have a toy hauler with a 5500 watt generator but we have been exploring solar as another option to extend our dry camping time as well as cut down on noise in certain areas...Thanks for all the info!!!
Enough solar and you only ever run your gen for 10mins/month. I spend more on fuel preserver than fuel haha
Welcome to LFP side of life. Having deeply dischargeable batteries along with faster charging times is a game changer. Plus with LFP you need no regular full charging, equalization charging, battery maintenance etc...
I upgraded our truck camper to 1080 watts solar on the roof and 600AH lithium DIY battery bank with a 2800 watt whole house inverter. We have run on solar now for about a year including electric cooking and air conditioning. We do not plug in or carry a generator.
A couple questions.
The Victron inverter charger and battery monitor are premium pieces. Great job on that. The solar charge controller though is only a PWM which isn't nearly as efficient as a MPPT solar charge controller. At least 15% less efficient. Victron makes fantastic unit fully customizable to LFP charging to optimize thel unique charging peramiters of lithium batteries. I am wondering why you choose to go with such a relatively cheap solar charge controller rather than complimenting your system with a Victron charge controller.
The other question is why not go with more roof panels while you are at it? I think you should be able to get at least 1000 watts on a trailer that size. Adding panels will greatly increase your ability to run high load appliances like a/c while the sun is out, but the other huge benefit is when the sun isn't out. Typically the panels will only deliver 15-20% or so in poor conditions (or less) so having extra panels can mean still running essentials on cloudy days.
Enjoy all that free power! :)
Very good advice harleyd500. We did just what you say/did. Same Victron 3kVA smart inverter charger to manage the various in/out power all at once, Victron MPPT 150/100 with 4x300watt panels feeding 720AH CALB battery bank. Next upgrade will be another 2x300watt panels. More panels mean we can charge back to 90% next day quicker, and allow better utilization of the aircond during the hot days. 1000watts of incoming solar still reduces your battery bank, esp as you are running fridge/freezers 24/7.
Grand Design must have seen thus video. I'm installing some stuff in my 2020 315rlts and the wall in the pass-through is squared off behind the water panel like you guys made yours. So thanks for your influence! :-)
Such and awesome set up! Best upgrade ever! Jared did an awesome job installing all of the components! Very clean install!
We will be doing our solar setup soon we can not wait.
Thank you! I have to use CPAP at night and am looking to do dry camping. I just bought a small camper but now am limited to full hook up KOA's and a few state parks. I think solar will be the way to go next camping season.
J.R. Giesecke yes CPAPs use a lot, I think I saw 180AH in a video yesterday? Was thinking about getting better sleep and less snoring for wife and I, but the energy use seemed high. Best to get lots of solar and LFP if want to use 180AH/day for one device
Hi Marc and Trish. Both of your videos were very informative. Thanks. Liked Jarods video also.
I trust any advice I hear while Broke For Free is playing 🎵 🎸
This looks like an awesome solar set up! We really want to be able to run our AC off of solar but weren't sure we could accomplish it. Now we know how!
Just watched this again, the best content! Thanks!
I wanted to say I love your camper. I have been visually impaired all my life and being I can’t drive, I decided to get a camper I can enjoy. My wife will be the driver and I will get to be the guy that does everything else. We are waiting for the bank to approve us for a windjammer It is not as big as what we really want but we are going to take what we can get and go with your advice. Hopefully the bank approves us so we can start our journey on the road
Love these upgrade videos. Grand Ginger is living up to her name.
Great video. That's a really nice setup, and a quality install like that will make maintenance or additions so much easier. Great work.
Guess Zamp didn't offer a MPPT controller and that is why you're using the PWM and not MPPT? Jumping to MPPT (perhaps from Victron?) would do you a world of good in harnessing all the power from those panels and getting the batteries charged.
that's true, I contacted Zamp some months ago when researching solar for my TT. They don't offer an MPPT controller. I emailed them to ask why. Never got a reply.
Oh wow!! Mind blown! I just looked at all the comments and your replies: at the very beginning you mentioned that an ideal place would of been under the dinette bench. I think that would work for my set up and I never thought about it! We never use that space since it’s hard to reach on a regular basis so thank you thank you!
Yeah, we would have dropped the wires below the slide and wrapped in conduit with a spring. It would not have been too hard. We just didn't want to run wire to the inverter.
oh even better, thanks for the conduit and spring idea!
You guys are awesome, we just bought our first camper and are learning so much from you. Thanks for the vids. 👍👌
Another awesome video!
There's a drawback to placing solar panels on the roof and that's having to park out in the sun on a HOT day.
I just told my husband were gonna do it! Great info!
Micro-Air is at it again. They've invented the EasyTouch RV, a new thermostat control for A/C with WiFi and Bluetooth capacity to be released this Spring. See their Facebook for more information and a new product announcement --and also RV Electricity on FB. It's for the aftermarket.
Solar is so cool, it’s been in the back of our mind for a while now, but it’s so confusing for this rookie. Thanks for sharing, can’t wait to see the system in action later
Ahhh I FINALLY caught up to you! I watched your how to setup an RV video about 4 months ago and loved it. 3 weeks ago I discovered you had a whole channel and website. WHAT?!? So in 3 weeks time I have watched 4 seasons of your videos! It kind of felt like I was binge watching a new TV show lol. Anyways I’m enjoying following along with you and will be looking forward to the next video! I hope to be joining you on the road in about 6 months time!!
Hey Marc, I have watched all 4 seasons and getting ready to catch up on season 5. Great job. You and Trish are naturals. I was wondering why you never opted for a small portable inverter generator 1.6-2.0 Kilowatts? They have plenty of uses outside the RV, but for dry camping in your original, and now the bigger TT, one would be great to charge the batteries when you aren't getting much sun and don't want to sit in the dark.
I guess I should have waited for the last 5 minutes of the video.
Thanks for the video. Wow, that is going to be nice not having to worry about living comfortably while dry camping. Maybe in the future we will go for a system like that. Right now we are just part time and a generator is what we are shooting for if we do dry camp. All these upgrades will make your trip to Alaska wonderful. Yeah, I agree with Trish..... when my hubby says he is going to make a hole in anything I have that same reaction. Especially the roof of your RV. Yikes!!! Happy and Safe Travels!!
you're up in Alaska having a great time .how's the solar working out,can we get a real world update as to what you like/don't like about it. maybe i missed it somewhere/ in the blog
What an awesome set-up!
Just saw this and I have a similar install with Battleborns, Victron monitor, Zamp solar and panels, and the microair. No inverter tho.
Great system
Thanks for all the info, this is awesome! My wife and I are planning to sell the house next summer and hit the road full time. I think I may just put a solar system in before we hit the road, and leave room for expansion if needed
Very nice system with a very clean install. Great job and thanks for sharing!
Born and raised in Alaska. Looking forward to your view of the state as you travel to and from.
Really enjoyed this video. Really laid everything out the way it should be. Love the upgrade. Can’t wait to add solar to our Camper.
I’m so excited for you guys! It looks awesome!
Instead of the zamp pwm solar controller you should have gone with an mppt controller you get way more out of the solar panels especially since you went with lithium ion they are way more particular on tbe voltage then agm or lead acid.
Agreed Victron MPPT would be much better - plus the smartsolar gives you Bluetooth screen for what you are generating both realtime and 30days historically. I save my history each month by email. (There is a sexy $500 color control monitor that will also allow remote internet monitoring/troubleshooting that I now wish I had got)
Marc, Another awesome video. Love the how to stuff as I prep our new Fuzion Toyhauler for our summer "Daydream". Keep up the great work.
Excellent, as always. My wife brought up an interesting question: What happens to your solar panels if you get caught in a hail storm? We're deciding between roof mounted or portable suitcase version. Thanks.
PTL, I finally caught up on all of your videos! Now I can watch the next seasons as you put them on. So looking forward to that. Keep up the fantastic work.
That set up looks amazing. Thank you for sharing your journey during the install. This is definitely on the “eventually” list. I am excited to see future videos to see how you guys really like it and how it has helped improve your camping experience.
Great Video Marc, great to know as a newbie and gives me something to look forward to when I go bigger. Btw, I saw Trish use the "hand model" in a previous video, absolutely hilarious, more demos please, its comedic gold.
Love your channels name! We will definitely be referencing this video when we go solar! Thanks for sharing!
Awesome video as usual! Looking forward to seeing the results you get from this setup as you travel to Alaska.
I wish manufacturer's would provide these types of upgrades. That got me thinking, by doing these modifications does it void your warranty? I can't wait to see how this works for you guys because we definitely want solar. Thank you again for another great video.
No, unless these upgrades were determined to cause the issue.
Audrey GFl The dealership should offer some Solar upgrade packages. Its a no brainer. It could financed in the loan so no big out of pocket expense.
A lot of RV mfg are offering solar packages. I ordered my 5th wheel toyhauler with a solar system and 2000 watt inverter. I added an additional 200 watt panel.
As usual, enjoyed your video and learned a lot from it. We are a year behind you in our Alaska trip, we plan to go in 2019, so I am keeping up with you on your trip, plus looking for mods and upgrades to our rig, before we go. I like your solar setup very much, but I plan to downsize it a bit and see how it works out.
Keep those locations and GPS coordinates coming.
Nice setup guys. You’ll love the freedom this setup will give you. I did chuckle when you said about it being the ultimate solar system. I’m in the middle of installing a really ultimate solar system. I used 200W (also American made) panels which have the same footprint as those 160W, but I used 12 of them for 2400W total, two Victron 24/3000 inverters wired in split phase so I can power both 50A sides of the coach AC distribution panel and obviously Victron charge controllers, BMV and CCGX. I also installed six Battleborn’s but may add six more later if they and the generator with auto start aren’t enough. We already had an onboard Onan generator which I’ll program the CCGX to automatically start if need be and the 2400W of solar isn’t enough lol. I also got two Micro Air Easy Starts as I can run both AC units simultaneously.
I’m half way through my install but it won’t make it onto my channel for a few weeks.
Anyway love following you guys and are looking forward to your Alaskan trip. We were meant to go this year but due to a needed surgery it is put off till next year.
Happy camping ⛺️
Yeah, that is ultimate. I should have titled it "Trish drinks coffee with dry hair!"
Keep Your Daydream Lol. Enjoy it just the same. Looking forward to seeing you guys head north ❤️
And that is really what is most important.
Thanks for the info! I am just stating to look at and decide which way to go with our 5th wheel trailer. Solar or wind turbine? You info has helped me lean toward solar. Thank you. You have a great show.
Hey Guys Thanks For The Very Informative Solar System Video .......Two Questions ....#1 What Was Your Total Weight Of All The Equipment Involved (Batteries , Inverter , Etc ) & Is It A Consideration On Your Total Trailer Weight Capacity ???......I Know That This One Has Allot Of Variables .....#2.....Pricing .....High End Vs Low End Or "Starter System" To Which You Can Build Up As Your Bugget Allows ???........Keep Up The Good Work & Happy Camping
Yes, total weight is a consideration, but we're still under our GVWR on the rig... even with full water. Lithium weighs roughly half the weight of lead acid. The blog has all the pricing.
Y'all boys sound good to go now! A/C on solar and batteries, that's the ticket! Hey Jared. I think I get Zamp when I do get solar. I like Hecho en USA.
Fantastic video!! Thank you for explaining all things solar in layman terms. I do have a question. My soon to be built RV will be solar prepped but the connection for panels is up on the roof. I am not too excited about putting panels on my roof and my only reason to have panels would be to keep my batteries charged during dry camping. Is there a way to feed off of the roof connector, making another connection close to my inverter? Much love!!
You could get a portable unit. I'm sure your rig will also be "Solar ready" with a plug on the side. But I will say, by the time we're done drinking coffee, the sun has been recharging our batteries for an hour or two... before I would have remembered to put my portable unit up. I still have the portable panel in case we camp under trees, but the rooftop is nice. If it's properly mounted, there shouldn't be a problem. The right sealant is key!
Great video guys, we always love seeing install vids! You picked a great inverter and battery setup, that's for sure!
Great video as always. I have a couple of questions for you. 1). Do you know how much weight this set up added to your tongue weight of your trailer? 2) Do you have an estimate of what this system would cost someone to add to their trailer?
You can get pricing on the blog. I've replied to the weight in comments below.
WOW! That is truly the Ultimate Solar Setup! I better start saving my pennies. I might be able to afford a system like that by the time I retire.
I have been gathering parts for over a year now. Just got my sixth battleborn battery and and ready to install it all. Just a few more parts.
I have a grand design like the one in this video but not a bunkhouse model.
When the drill bit came out the roof my hair stood up, lol
Great video, as usual, but for $6-$10 grand, I think I'll continue using my noisy #400 open-frame generator. Would LOVE to have this solar set up, but we have to budget just to go to the boondocks, as it is, so unless someone hands us a solar package, it's going to require our noisy generator (plus a 2500 watt inverter that I installed for "quiet times") for our camping.
Look forward to watching the Alaska trip.
Kimber Marshall It's a good chunk of change but 30% back from the IRS softens the blow a little.
I installed 575 watt of panels for around 1800.00 including 4 6 volt batteries. A little heavier than the Lithium but not a problem for my rig and much quieter than a generator. Just my way of camping.
Agreed, there are a lot of less costly but effective solar options out there. Since you have an inverter and a battery bank already, most of the expensive stuff is taken care of already. If you plan on using 12v panels, you can't go wrong witha Bogart Engineering setup (a SC2030 and a TM2030RV). It is a very effective low cost system that will keep your batteries full and in good health.
We are heading out early July to Alaska (33ft Class A and a tow car) (5 unit caravan) ...hope we see you along the way :-)
We should already be there by then, but look for the rig and honk!
Nine month follow up to your solar upgrade. How is the system working out? Good balance of solar watts to battery amps? Enough for A/C?
Love the channel and loving your New Zealand footage!
First off I love you channel! So informative and I feel like I’m right there with y’all! Questions: all the stuff you have added to the truck and the trailer, what are you guys scaling now. I remember in your weight explanation video you guys were over like 200 pounds. With a steal tank and added capacity, extra batteries, solar panels and all that you must be over by 1-2000 lbs. have you scaled lately?
I have weighed recently, but not without full water so it's not accurate. I wanted to check the axle weight and tire weight for correct PSI when we were at max (beyond where we normally travel). Most of these upgrades were offset by other things we removed.
I have lived aboard my catamaran sailboat for 5 years now and thinking of crossing over to the dark side for 6 months a year......You guys have a great channel...I just completely binged on your channel the whole day...lol......One of the best I have seen both in the sailing world and RV world.....Why did you not have the dealer install the solar prior to taking delivery? How many watts did you install and what size inverter? I might have missed it in the video....The "easy starter" is a great product.......
We'll take care of your catamaran while you RV. Everything will be fine! Dealers are a PIA. You'll want as little contact as possible. You're far better off finding a good service center or mobile RV mech to do the install and purchase the products you want. A 3000 watt is essential if you want to run everything, but 2000 will do the job.
Excellent video! Now for some sort of timer on the ac circuit to extend the 2 hours max run time. Break up the runtime into lil chunks. Peace
How did you decide what to do with all your "stuff" before full-timing?
If you already have a video(s) please let us know. Thanks.
Years ago there was a show on TV called Wish You Were Here, The host was Kenny Price and his wife showing new RV's and camping across the country. You two are good at this, Have you thought about a tv show? A few years ago I had a idea about a show traveling around the country riding horses and camping. My wife and I called a network with the idea and they didn't seem to care. But not far in the future the show America on horseback was on TV. Look like someone else had a vision in their sleep. Just a thought! Good luck!
I was kind of surprised that the back of the Grand Design panels were so messy. Wire and hoses in a rats nest. I looked at my Ultra Light and same thing. Ok I spent 30 years restoring pipe organs, and restoring cars. I like wires ties down, square corners etc. Especially in a moving vehicle
Great setup!!! This will make it so much nicer when boon docking.
Maybe this is a questions for Jared, but do you need a monitor for the Multiplus? I see the Victron multiplus monitor for sale ($550). Maybe you did the multiplus set up once and then leave it alone?? It looks like the monitor for the multiplus may be a "nice to have" but not really a must.
Great setup. We're actually sampling trailer life this summer renting a friends in Montana. -Henry
Thank you for putting this together. We have been trying to sort out our Solar options for our trailer.
Arbitrary Exploration solar powered rv's & boondocking fb page is a great resource! You'll be able to narrow down exactly what you need and what works for your style of camping
O.M.G. Super excited about getting into Solar. Full-time on 1 Sept
Great video as always you two! Love the fatigue analogy Trish, like the layers of an onion. Looking forward to Alaska!! GG will never be the same! Jim.
Mark & Trish, great TH-cam channel. My question is this. While you are driving why don't you have a connection from your truck alternator to the battery bank in your trailer? My point is this if you have depleted your batteries while boondocking and you do not have a generator then when you get on the road for a long drive you would be able to recharge your batteries if there was that connection to the truck alternator while driving?? There maybe a good reason not to do this but I cannot think of one.
That's how it should be working. I'm still trying to figure out why my truck is not charging the batteries. It's 20amp while driving.
I truly enjoy your channel and watch it every week. My family and I enjoy camping very much. Can you give me the information about the solar panel you used before the roof mounted system? We have a couple places we dry camp and would like to add some solar to keep from using a generator. Thanks
What did you do with the 12 volt system. As you know you can’t run an inverter with your existing 12v converter without burning up your inverter. I didn’t see anything on this but is so very important. The things I would’ve done differently after learning the hard way is installed a 24v system and doubled my roof space and efficiency. I would’ve also saved 1500.00 by installing 2 Tesla s battery packs. Each pack is 24v at 233a.
Great video. You should check out the Goal Zero Yeti chargers. Would be really cool to charge those up while you’re driving and then when you stop, you have other stored power that is also portable. Good for charging the cameras and other gear while the truck is off. Just an idea.
Are you going to do a video on the hitch?
We got a solar inverter for Ep 2 of SN5. You'll see why soon. The truck as 110 outlets so we're good there.
Great video. Sorry I am so late watching. Thanks for the insight and breakdown. Definitely have to check out some off the products. We are going to go for the gusto when we go solar. We want to be totally self sufficient for the entire rig. Big investment? Yes. Cost of freedom not to have to worry about plugging in? Priceless. Thank you for the videos. Have fun on your way to Alaska. Be safe. Safe travels. Later
Hi KYD, Thank you for the video's very informative and entertaining. I'm about to pull the trigger on an electrical upgrade project. I was wondering why you decided to only power half of your electrical panel? I figure I would power my entire panel and just ensure to manage what we turn on. thanks
I don't think there is enough juice to do both sides for 50 amp, but I don't know exactly. I will say, it's very nice to have select appliances off of your inverter such as the fridge so you don't have to worry about turning them off when on battery
The other point to folks new to solar is solar needs direct sun. So those in the Pacific North West with lots of cloud and thick forests, solar may not be great for you. Those in the North east where most campgrounds are in forests it also may not meet your expectations. Solar needs several hours of direct sunlight to recharge your batteries.
Nice solar set up
Great video - as always. One thing that I don’t see in any of the solar application videos is their resistance or maybe tolerance to hail. Being in Texas this is an ongoing issue for us. Maybe you could address this is a future video extravaganza. Keep up all this good work.
David Tordoff most solar panels are tested for hail. There’s a ton of videos on it with solar manufacturers demonstrating shooting frozen ice balls at the panels. The panels will actually in most cases protect your RV 😜
I just started following you guys and just love the videos. I watched your video about payload concerns with your F250 - how does this new solar equipment (and batteries) play into your payload calculations?
Awesome video we were just talking about doing something like this. Shared.