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I looked at solar and battery set up for an off-grid RV system about 3 years ago and revisited again just a few weeks ago. There's been some impressive strides

I looked at solar and battery set up for an off-grid RV system about 3 years ago and revisited again just a few weeks ago. There's been some impressive strides in terms of wattage produced and battery AH. It's still a long, long way from where it needs to be to live fully off solar, though. Want solar powered AC and a fridge? One or the other. You can't have both. It still needs help from the consumption end and energy production end. For example, mini-split AC systems these past few years have at least made solar-powered ACs in RVs possible.

madaxe_again 1y ago
Sure you can. You can get a 5kva inverter/charger from victron for about €800, and pylontech lifepo4 batteries will set you back about €200/kWh with 5kwh units. Panels are now so cheap as to be negligible in price. 15kWh of storage, which is plenty to run AC, a fridge, and plenty else overnight, would be €3000. Call it €1200 for 7kw of panels and mounting gear, which you could just about cram on your roof assuming a full sized RV, and you’re looking at €5000 all in. I live totally off grid, and admittedly have 30kW of panels and 75kWh of storage, but we also charge the car, cook, heat, cool, and all the rest off of it. Battery prices have dropped precipitously over the last five years - our original OPzS lead bank is a joke compared to the lithiums I can now just chuck in on pretty much a whim.
- snapetom 1y ago
  > full sized RV, 7kw of panels? Nothing under a full-sized RV (45') can touch that. Those are the tour-bus style RVs. The problem is that at that length, they're impractical for boondocking because that often involves some pretty rough terrain. You'll be limited to RV parts and those have power hookup anyways. Boondocking is far easier/less dangerous with your Class B/Cs which are well under 30' in length. You have far less room for panels at that length.
  - madaxe_again 1y ago
    With a shorter rig you could use slide-out armatures - double or triple your area when you’re parked up, plus get a nice awning to chill out under. Victron stuff if you’re talking about the electronics is all marine rated and commonly used in vehicles. This sort of thing: https://censohardware.com/slide-rails-for-solar-panels/ https://censohardware.com/slide-rails-for-solar-panels/

madaxe_again 1y ago

Sure you can. You can get a 5kva inverter/charger from victron for about €800, and pylontech lifepo4 batteries will set you back about €200/kWh with 5kwh units. Panels are now so cheap as to be negligible in price. 15kWh of storage, which is plenty to run AC, a fridge, and plenty else overnight, would be €3000. Call it €1200 for 7kw of panels and mounting gear, which you could just about cram on your roof assuming a full sized RV, and you’re looking at €5000 all in. I live totally off grid, and admittedly have 30kW of panels and 75kWh of storage, but we also charge the car, cook, heat, cool, and all the rest off of it. Battery prices have dropped precipitously over the last five years - our original OPzS lead bank is a joke compared to the lithiums I can now just chuck in on pretty much a whim.

snapetom 1y ago
> full sized RV, 7kw of panels? Nothing under a full-sized RV (45') can touch that. Those are the tour-bus style RVs. The problem is that at that length, they're impractical for boondocking because that often involves some pretty rough terrain. You'll be limited to RV parts and those have power hookup anyways. Boondocking is far easier/less dangerous with your Class B/Cs which are well under 30' in length. You have far less room for panels at that length.
- madaxe_again 1y ago
  With a shorter rig you could use slide-out armatures - double or triple your area when you’re parked up, plus get a nice awning to chill out under. Victron stuff if you’re talking about the electronics is all marine rated and commonly used in vehicles. This sort of thing: https://censohardware.com/slide-rails-for-solar-panels/ https://censohardware.com/slide-rails-for-solar-panels/