Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Batteries & Solar info. (Read 748 times) previous topic - next topic

Batteries & Solar info.

                 Was sitting here bored watching it snow and websurfing and I ran across this interesting web-site. This guy seems to be an experienced solar and battery guru with an electrical background and real world solar living off the grid and without a gen-set......

      The RV Battery Charging Puzzle « HandyBob's Blog

      I found it interesting and informative.

                                                                  Dean
Dean & Deirdre

2012 Arctic Fox 22GQ
Was 2003 U270

Re: Batteries & Solar info.

Reply #1 –
Handy Bob used to spend most winters in the Quartzsite area doing a lot of solar installations and upgrades for RVers. I met him when we first started full timing. He was not very a happy camper when someone ran a generator near (within hearing distance, and he has excellent hearing) his "camp site". I think this is the first winter that he is staying at his Montana home-site. He is now in the process of building his off grid dream sticks and bricks home in Montana.

Roland
1993 U280 4341
2010 Jeep Liberty
The Pied Pipers

Re: Batteries & Solar info.

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Roland Begin –
He was not very a happy camper when someone ran a generator near (within hearing distance, and he has excellent hearing) his "camp site".

Roland
                Yeah I gathered that he has a certain disdain for the sound of a  generator running. Also that he is a self admitted grump. But I did glean some good information from his blog.
                          Dean
Dean & Deirdre

2012 Arctic Fox 22GQ
Was 2003 U270

Re: Batteries & Solar info.

Reply #3 –
I had not seen this article before but after reading most of it I did at least learn that I have the same controller and Trimetic he is recommending to use and my wire sizes are 8 and 6 which is ok. I will read it again at home after holidays and maybe change them (were possible) to the next larger size as it does make sense to me in a dc setup. he is not a fan of AGM batteries and I also did consider Trojan's but hated the wet idea. As I use solar to charge 75% of the time and the controller is set up as Lifeline told us to I am sure my batteries are getting as good a full charge as possible-we will see. We also manage to live off the batteries most of the time as we have learnt how to manage usage. Our genset is also never on, just to exercise it once in a while. Maybe I should take it out and sell it, less weight to carry around!!!
John H
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Batteries & Solar info.

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Dean & Dee –
              Also that he is a self admitted grump. But I did glean some good information from his blog.
                          Dean
He is a bit arrogant, but I don't know anyone that knows more about RV solar systems than Handy Bob. When it comes to RV solar systems Bob is an expert. I have seen some of his installations, he did a great job charged less than the folks in town (Quartzsite) AND the systems he installed worked.

Roland
1993 U280 4341
2010 Jeep Liberty
The Pied Pipers
 

Re: Batteries & Solar info.

Reply #5 –
John H and I are on the same page. I live off solar for weeks and run the genset just to exercise it.
I plan to sell the 10 K PowerTech and replace with a 5 K quiet diesel.

I also learned quite a bit from Bob a few years ago, and found it refreshing to read info that was actually mostly correct.
While I agree with most of what Bob says (including preferring not to hear gensets), I do have some differences.


Wyatt
96 U320 40 WTFE, build 4943
84 Toyota Supra towd
2015 Jeep Wrangler towd
Victoria, BC, Canada