Your videos have made a difference for me as a new RV'er. This weekend I am going to take my kids out to BLM 45 minutes from our house to run some tests like you have done. I'm staying close to home in case we run out of power or water. We have a 2021 Geo Pro 20BHS. Keep up the good work Turtle3963 and thank you.
My biggest concern is running out of charge overnight. I'm planning on charging devices and showering (water pump) during the peak solar hours so we can recharge, and then running the boost button towards the end of the day if I need to refill on charge before the sun goes down. We're in Southern AZ and the temps can swing wildly. I'm concerned that the fridge will stop working if we use the heater too much over night. We're running on a single RV/Marine battery and one solar panel, factory/dealer installed equipment. Right now, in mid March, we should be okay but I am concerned with the outside temperatures pushing our 12 volt fridge to drain the battery when the weather warms up. Knowledge is power, so I thank you for getting me started with collecting data based on the ideas from your video.
@@Turtle3863 I'm on it! :) called the Interstate dealer and learning a little more about batteries before I decide if I should upgrade or match what I have. RV Power Hoooooo!
@@phaedrarogers2793 Thirty-one gallons of fresh water and you are concerned about running out on a one night campout? Oh boy. However, provided you have the cargo carrying capacity, a couple of 5 gallon Gerry cans of fresh water will tide you over.
I realize I am seeing this 2 yrs later than when it was posted. You say you have 2 deep cycle batteries. How many amp hrs are/were those batteries? Were they 2 12v or 2 6v ?
You mentioned several times “we ran a few things”. Exactly what? besides the weeboost, toilet and heated blanket? Was your frig/cooler running the whole time? Did you use the stove? Anything else?
We used lights as needed, the max fan on medium all night. water pump at least 4 or 5 times when water was needed and a USB to charge our phones. Also a 12 volt electric blanket for about 30 minutes and the WeBoost all night. We did not use the heater or anything else. Our fridge was on but running on LP
I liked how you showed how to operate that control panel; my salesperson didn't show me that and I've been wondering about what the numbers and buttons mean.
@@Turtle3863 excellent good to hear. I’ve got two of them as well. I was told I could get a lot more Performace out of some other battery so eventually I may upgrade, but for now if these do the job for a couple nights, that’s really all we need. Please keep the content coming. You’re one of the few good channels that I have found that has the Geo pro and makes informative videos. I’ll share your link in the GeoPro group.
Thanks for posting these videos. We are first time travel trailer owners as of Oct. Bought the "sister" unit of yours - 2021 E-Pro 19FD. What size solar panel do you have? Ours came with a 190W hard panel. Not the 100w flex panel. You mentioned using a generator if wanting to run the A/C. Does that aply to the microwave too? Did you have the power inverter on at all (regardless if you had anything plugged in) ? Thanks again - Keep up the good work!
I did not run the inverter, it consumes a large amount of battery power and I only use if I have too. And yes you would need to run a Generator for the Microwave and any other thing that is more than the 1000 watt inverter.
Not only will the inverter not power the microwave or A/C, they aren't wired to draw off of it anyway. They're both connected to the shore power circuit.
Will be interesting for boondocking this winter with the heater on, as many claim 'you can't boondock with the heater running' because it supposedly uses too much 12 volt power. We intend to order a 19FD with the new 12 volt fridge and larger solar panel. We'll upgrade the batteries to the best the dealer can supply to start with and perhaps a portable add on solar panel set to see how that works for winter boondocking. I'm going to devise some sort of 'security' for the portable panel so it doesn't get swiped while we're sitting in the RV. If we leave for a while, the panel will go into my TV.
We almost exclusively boondock and run the heat at night during the fall/spring out on our land in Wyoming. Never ran our batteries down. We have 2 interstate deep cycle batteries, and stock 100W panel.
Thanks for the nice video. The problem is that solar controller is calculating the battery percentage based on voltage. As you experienced, the voltage (and the battery percentage) dropped when you extended the awning, but quickly recovered. Battery voltage is a poor indicator of battery levels when you are using (or have recently used) 12 volt power or when you are charging. You really need to install a shunt based device such as the Victron BMV-712 or smartshunt to accurately assess your battery. But I do agree that the one solar panel is enough for your needs.
I in no way are endorsing the controller that comes from the factory, only showing how it works. In fact I have noticed problems with it. It work but not as well as I would like.
great video and information. just to add on to this...I've boondocked three weekends in Missouri 2020 (October, November (COLD, Rainy and of course cloudy) and in January 2021) with the 2021.5 19 BH Geo Pro. running minimum lights but had furnace on set to 60 degrees at night and the 12v fridge on. I have 2, 6V batts. the lowest I had the batts get is 70% in the morning. now the sun is very low at this time of year here so I don't get much sun angle and the time of good sun is 8-4. but I get back to 100% by 11 am (190w solar panel). I would think I can boondock unlimited in this way but if needed during summer if I had to use the MaxxAir fan to cool off, then I may need a suitcase solar panel to bolster the roof panel.
Wow, that sounds great. I was wondering how much better the 190 watt panel would do and also with the 12 v fridge. I think you will find that the max air fan does not use that much battery in the low and mid settings.
@@Turtle3863 thank you for letting me know about the fan and elec use Mr. Turtle! i'm new to the Geo Pro, but i'm certainly loving this. retiring in June and going out for extended trips summer and fall.
Yes you sure can. You have to pop the cover off of the motor end of the awning and use a ratchet and socket. I have a 2021 geo pro 20bhs and thats how it's done on mine.
Soft start for the air conditioner is a myth. I have a 2020 geo pro rd. End of June last year we were in the Badlands with over 90 degree temps and I could run the AC on high with my Honda. Now, it wouldn't run anything else. I also tested this at home before we left. If you have a Honda try it out first before you go ripping into your AC to modify it.
@@davidoakes7337 You paid toooo much. Jackerys are not generators. They are batteries in a fancy plastic case. A good 200 amp RV Lithium battery would have been a better idea.
You are missing the advantages of solar power by skimping on lights, electric blankets etc., why? And running a battery down to 39% harms it unless a Lithium battery. Expand your solar to 300 watts minimum and get a 200 amp Lithium battery minimum and turn on the lights! And anything else!
Thank you so much for posting this! I’ve been scared to boondock, but now I’m willing to try it! ❤️
I’m more concerned in an RV park packed like sardines!
Your videos have made a difference for me as a new RV'er. This weekend I am going to take my kids out to BLM 45 minutes from our house to run some tests like you have done. I'm staying close to home in case we run out of power or water. We have a 2021 Geo Pro 20BHS. Keep up the good work Turtle3963 and thank you.
My biggest concern is running out of charge overnight. I'm planning on charging devices and showering (water pump) during the peak solar hours so we can recharge, and then running the boost button towards the end of the day if I need to refill on charge before the sun goes down. We're in Southern AZ and the temps can swing wildly. I'm concerned that the fridge will stop working if we use the heater too much over night. We're running on a single RV/Marine battery and one solar panel, factory/dealer installed equipment. Right now, in mid March, we should be okay but I am concerned with the outside temperatures pushing our 12 volt fridge to drain the battery when the weather warms up. Knowledge is power, so I thank you for getting me started with collecting data based on the ideas from your video.
@@phaedrarogers2793 At the very least, I would buy another 12 volt battery and try to match it up with the other one you have.
@@Turtle3863 I'm on it! :) called the Interstate dealer and learning a little more about batteries before I decide if I should upgrade or match what I have. RV Power Hoooooo!
@@phaedrarogers2793 Thirty-one gallons of fresh water and you are concerned about running out on a one night campout? Oh boy. However, provided you have the cargo carrying capacity, a couple of 5 gallon Gerry cans of fresh water will tide you over.
I realize I am seeing this 2 yrs later than when it was posted. You say you have 2 deep cycle batteries. How many amp hrs are/were those batteries? Were they 2 12v or 2 6v ?
2 12 volt flooded, 80 amp hours a piece. I have now replaced with a 100ah Battleborn
You mentioned several times “we ran a few things”. Exactly what? besides the weeboost, toilet and heated blanket? Was your frig/cooler running the whole time? Did you use the stove? Anything else?
We used lights as needed, the max fan on medium all night. water pump at least 4 or 5 times when water was needed and a USB to charge our phones. Also a 12 volt electric blanket for about 30 minutes and the WeBoost all night. We did not use the heater or anything else. Our fridge was on but running on LP
I liked how you showed how to operate that control panel; my salesperson didn't show me that and I've been wondering about what the numbers and buttons mean.
Stay tuned to my channel this coming Saturday. I will be releasing a basic how to as to what all the numbers on the solar controller mean.
Hey Turtle, thanks for posting. I have a few questions. How many batteries are you using and what kind?
I have two Interstate (flooded) batteries that came with camper
@@Turtle3863 excellent good to hear. I’ve got two of them as well. I was told I could get a lot more Performace out of some other battery so eventually I may upgrade, but for now if these do the job for a couple nights, that’s really all we need. Please keep the content coming. You’re one of the few good channels that I have found that has the Geo pro and makes informative videos. I’ll share your link in the GeoPro group.
Thanks for posting these videos. We are first time travel trailer owners as of Oct. Bought the "sister" unit of yours - 2021 E-Pro 19FD.
What size solar panel do you have? Ours came with a 190W hard panel. Not the 100w flex panel.
You mentioned using a generator if wanting to run the A/C. Does that aply to the microwave too?
Did you have the power inverter on at all (regardless if you had anything plugged in) ?
Thanks again - Keep up the good work!
He said 100W
Mine has the 100 watt, but also has the lp fridge, yours most likely has the 12 volt fridge
I did not run the inverter, it consumes a large amount of battery power and I only use if I have too. And yes you would need to run a Generator for the Microwave and any other thing that is more than the 1000 watt inverter.
Not only will the inverter not power the microwave or A/C, they aren't wired to draw off of it anyway. They're both connected to the shore power circuit.
Will be interesting for boondocking this winter with the heater on, as many claim 'you can't boondock with the heater running' because it supposedly uses too much 12 volt power. We intend to order a 19FD with the new 12 volt fridge and larger solar panel. We'll upgrade the batteries to the best the dealer can supply to start with and perhaps a portable add on solar panel set to see how that works for winter boondocking. I'm going to devise some sort of 'security' for the portable panel so it doesn't get swiped while we're sitting in the RV. If we leave for a while, the panel will go into my TV.
We almost exclusively boondock and run the heat at night during the fall/spring out on our land in Wyoming. Never ran our batteries down. We have 2 interstate deep cycle batteries, and stock 100W panel.
@@SuburbanSelfReliance thanks for the info. Our dealer only supplied one battery. Looks like I will have to buy a second.
Thanks for the nice video. The problem is that solar controller is calculating the battery percentage based on voltage. As you experienced, the voltage (and the battery percentage) dropped when you extended the awning, but quickly recovered. Battery voltage is a poor indicator of battery levels when you are using (or have recently used) 12 volt power or when you are charging. You really need to install a shunt based device such as the Victron BMV-712 or smartshunt to accurately assess your battery. But I do agree that the one solar panel is enough for your needs.
I in no way are endorsing the controller that comes from the factory, only showing how it works. In fact I have noticed problems with it. It work but not as well as I would like.
great video and information. just to add on to this...I've boondocked three weekends in Missouri 2020 (October, November (COLD, Rainy and of course cloudy) and in January 2021) with the 2021.5 19 BH Geo Pro. running minimum lights but had furnace on set to 60 degrees at night and the 12v fridge on. I have 2, 6V batts. the lowest I had the batts get is 70% in the morning. now the sun is very low at this time of year here so I don't get much sun angle and the time of good sun is 8-4. but I get back to 100% by 11 am (190w solar panel). I would think I can boondock unlimited in this way but if needed during summer if I had to use the MaxxAir fan to cool off, then I may need a suitcase solar panel to bolster the roof panel.
Wow, that sounds great. I was wondering how much better the 190 watt panel would do and also with the 12 v fridge. I think you will find that the max air fan does not use that much battery in the low and mid settings.
@@Turtle3863 thank you for letting me know about the fan and elec use Mr. Turtle! i'm new to the Geo Pro, but i'm certainly loving this. retiring in June and going out for extended trips summer and fall.
Where did you get that chart on the wall by the solar panel?
If you type in battery usage chart on google you will find one under, “images”
On my 19fd 2020 100watt on roof can I plug in on side a100watt panel and be ok
You will need a controller to hook up panel on the side
Can you manually roll the awning in to avoid using power? Thanks for another great video!
Not that I know of, you can hook it to your tv and draw power from it.
Yes you sure can. You have to pop the cover off of the motor end of the awning and use a ratchet and socket. I have a 2021 geo pro 20bhs and thats how it's done on mine.
Was that just one battery drawn down to 60% or both?
Both
Where can I get a copy of your solar cheat sheet?
If you’re talking about the percentage chart for your battery, you can Google it under percentage of charge chart for batteries
@@Turtle3863 Got it. Thanks. Now I just need you to come and show me how everything works.😁
Soft start for the air conditioner is a myth. I have a 2020 geo pro rd. End of June last year we were in the Badlands with over 90 degree temps and I could run the AC on high with my Honda. Now, it wouldn't run anything else. I also tested this at home before we left. If you have a Honda try it out first before you go ripping into your AC to modify it.
I have an e pro 15 and my Westinghouse 2200 generator will run my ac. Won't run on eco mode but otherwise seems to be fine. No soft start 13,500 btu
I picked up a 880 solar Jackery solar generator ...with 2 100 solar panels
@@davidoakes7337 You paid toooo much. Jackerys are not generators. They are batteries in a fancy plastic case. A good 200 amp RV Lithium battery would have been a better idea.
You are missing the advantages of solar power by skimping on lights, electric blankets etc., why? And running a battery down to 39% harms it unless a Lithium battery. Expand your solar to 300 watts minimum and get a 200 amp Lithium battery minimum and turn on the lights! And anything else!
@@lawrencewiddis2447 yes, already upgraded to 100ah lithium. My system does well now.
Can you run your camper ac while your hooked up to your vehicle on solar
No