Solar, I have solar! - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Trix · RV-Dreams Family Member

Solar, I have solar!

Defiant · RV-Dreams Family Member

Good for you Trix! The DW and I have been trying to decide if we want to go the solar route when we get our fifth wheel, I have been trying to figure out the cost vs benefit aspect of it , any advice to offer?

Hdrider · RV-Dreams Family Member

HEY!!! Thats fun stuff Trix. I'm sure you will enjoy it. Now get out of that cloudy and rainy area into some sunshine!!!

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

And to think Trix............you will never feel powerless again!!!!!!!!

now you should get out of there in a hurry.....or refer to page 6 instructions...How to clear Ice & Snow from solar panels!!!!!!

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Defiant wrote:
Good for you Trix! The DW and I have been trying to decide if we want to go the solar route when we get our fifth wheel, I have been trying to figure out the cost vs benefit aspect of it , any advice to offer?

You should consider it a "lifestyle" decision, not a financial one. Most people cannot pay back the costs by "saving money" boondocking. If you look at it from the financial perspective then you probably should not be doing it.

If you rarely or never boondock then probably you should not go with solar. If you boondock little, and for short periods of time, then you likely do not need solar, but may benefit from upgrades to your RV electical system.

Take a look at my website - I cover a lot of the stuff there. Link in my signature.

Trix · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jack has a very good point, it wasn't cheap. However I do enjoy boondocking and hope to do alot more when I get to the sunny weather.

A major consideration for me, was the 30% tax credit on complete solar systems I believe is in effect until 2016?? Unless they monkey with the tax credit, which is why I wanted it done in 2012. Plus having the work done in Oregon means no sales tax! For a Washingtonian like me that is nearly 10% additional off the price.

Taking into consideration the tax credit, I figure it will pay for itself after appx 135 nights of boondocking (at $30/day).

4 100w panels, new 3 stage converter, solar controller, blue sky battery monitor, 2 AGM batteries, 300 watt pure sine invertor, chassis battery trickle charger.

I am very happy with the work AM Solar did, they do neat and tidy wiring.

Hdrider · RV-Dreams Family Member

Enjoy it Trix!!! Since we put solar on 4 days ago we have been camping in the desert and it has really put a new twist on our boondocking experience. It's sort of like a new love again.

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey trix I just visited an RV park/golf course where they are using a paver product I promote. They charge $2400 a month to park there. If you use that as your baseline for parking cost, you'll have those solar panels paid off a lot sooner. Oh, and look at how much greater you savings will be after they're paid for. Hey wait, with that kind of justification I have obviously missed my calling. I should have been an elected official!

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey, Mark......no politics on the forums, please. (Just kidding.)

Trix,

Would you mind sharing what AM Solar charged you for your installation? While it will be some time before we can get to travel, I've considered solar so that I can continue to pick places that don't have hook-ups. When I first started looking about 4 years ago, the cost was a daunting issue, but perhaps new technology has brought down the prices.

Shoot, I still remember back in the '70's when one of my bosses equipped all of his 18-wheeler drivers with the new-fangled hand held calculators......at about $100 each. Hopefully, the stuff may be getting into the "affordable" range.

Terry

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

I am guessing around $4,000 - $5,000 Terry.....it was only 4 panels.....

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

$4050 by using their numbers.
I have to do some upgrades and get the house sold first. Then we'll look at some solar!

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Wow! Thanks, Guys.

It is still a bit daunting, especially since we will soon be taking a "cut in pay" with the taxes going up. Between the two of us, we stand to lose roughly $170 to $190 a month because of that. Shoot, it may be even more, depending on what all new taxes take effect in January from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Terry

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Trix - so, now that you have solar, how quickly are you headed to the sunnier areas of the US? LOL!! We're also thinking one of our first major investments, after the house sells will be a stop in OR to take care of the solar install. Love the 0 sales tax in OR, fellow Washintonian followig this closely!!

Did you also have a generator installed or did you already have one in your Born Free? If you had a generator installed, did that happen at the same time as the rest of the solar install and were you able to keep living in your unit with your kitties?

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

That's great Trix. Are you someplace sunny yet?

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry, you could do it a lot cheaper than that if you do some or all of the work yourself. Especially if you already have an inverter - which means you do not have to modify the loadcenter to add a subpanel. If you tell me exactly what you presently have I could give you some advice on what to do....

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jack Mayer wrote:
Terry, you could do it a lot cheaper than that if you do some or all of the work yourself. Especially if you already have an inverter - which means you do not have to modify the loadcenter to add a subpanel. If you tell me exactly what you presently have I could give you some advice on what to do....

Thanks, Jack.

It would be nice to know kind of what it would cost me. There are some questions that I might have to ask of DRV because they generally put in pre-wiring for some sub-systems, including solar. My biggest question of them would be what gauge of wire did they use and then find out whether they were sufficient in size.

I'll send you a PM with regards to my inverter, plus I'll include my e-mail address should you decide to communicate that way instead of via private message.

Terry

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry, I guarantee you will have to re-wire the drop from the roof. I have never seen a DRV that had adequate wiring for solar, even for high voltage panels. And I've installed in a bunch of DRVs. That perhaps has changed since I gave someone at DRV corporate an earful about it at an RV show one time last year. They "seemed" interested, but I'm not holding my breath. Changes cost money and are hard to justify.

Trix · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo - I sent you a pm.

Ruth - I'm in Yuma, where it is sunny but chilly and breezy. I have been loving watching my battery monitor climb back up to 100% on it's own. Simple pleasures for simple minds :)

AM Solar was wonderful. They want you onsite the night before they start work, and the night after so they can make sure everything is working correctly before you leave. My install actually took a day and a half. I was able to stay overnight in the RV, no problems. I took my two cats in their carriers into the very comfy lounge while all the drilling and banging was in progress. And Deb loaned me the key to the showers for the duration of my stay.

Kyra aka Trix

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jack Mayer wrote:
Terry, I guarantee you will have to re-wire the drop from the roof. I have never seen a DRV that had adequate wiring for solar, even for high voltage panels. And I've installed in a bunch of DRVs. That perhaps has changed since I gave someone at DRV corporate an earful about it at an RV show one time last year. They "seemed" interested, but I'm not holding my breath. Changes cost money and are hard to justify.

Jack:

Based on what I have seen at the DRV factory over the last 3 years, and as recent as last year, nothing has changed with the “Solar Ready.” It is ready for at best a solar “float” charger; not a full blow solar charging system. Must start from scratch - FWIW.

And another FWIW concerning AM Solar – I did my own installation but they were a great pleasure to do business with from across the US. A good company to do business with, IMO. I recommend them to anyone looking for solar gear. My system worked great this last year and we had some boondocking fun. It does open up some wonderfull possibilities as long as you don't need air-conditioning.

Bill

Trix · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just wanted to give all of you an update. I LOVE my solar system. I have not had an electrical hookup since I left my friends in Yuma on Jan 7th! Even on the rainy, overcast days, my panels are recharging my batteries to 100%. Of course I am frugal and not a power hog but I could not be more delighted! Just an FYI from a newbie!

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

H a P p Y Dance!!!!!!!!!!!.................Trix..........H a P p Y Dance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hdrider · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thats great Trix!!! Where are you guys boondocking now??

LarryW21 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Glad you have joined our RV solar world!

LarryW21 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Glad you have joined our RV solar world!

RetiredVagabond · RV-Dreams Community Member

Wahoo! It's a good feeling to know you are FREE to dry camp anyway (as long as the Sun is out). Congratulations.