That's a nice, clean professionally designed and built system for sure. Your very kind to help the Wil and Jen with the cost. You're an amazing dude, Matt - and Todd for helping you too! If you build your system yourself like we did and avoid premium brand components, opting for quality, lesser-known brands, you can have a system twice that size for around $10k. Our home-built system on our 35ft MH has 5,020 watts of solar, 23.5kwh of LiFePo-4 batteries and total of 6,000 watts of 120v inverted power for $11,500 including a $1,500 EG-4 12k btu, Mini-split heat pump that only uses about 1/3rd the power as my rooftop A/C, which means I can run it 24/7 either cooling or heating as needed. When the sun is shining, we can run both A/Cs, our fridge, microwave, etc. while charging our batteries all at the same time. Of course, in the real world there are cloudy and overcast days, but then, it's not that hot, so we only need to run one A/C. We haven't had to run our generator (other than to exercise it) in over 6 months. We're retired FTers on a limited budget. It took us 5 years to gather enough resources, so we built our system in stages - 12v first and 48v later. But it paid off in the long run, as we boondocked 10 months last year saving over $6k in RV parks monthly rates alone, giving us a realized ROI under 2 years for a system that will last longer than our 68yr old bodies will. We save about a dollar a day in propane too, as we were able to replace our old, failing propane fridge with a residential fridge that works better and has twice the space inside - powered entirely by the sun. We usually boondock out west, but now we're visiting family in NC, where boondocking spots are very rare. We found an RV park that's letting us stay in a no-hookup site (made possible by our solar) for only $100/mo. saving us $500/mo. off their FHU rates. Having a big solar system gives you lots of options. It took a lot of learning and a lot of hard work to accomplish it, but we couldn't live this lifestyle any other way. Necessity is truly the mother of invention.
I like this guy Todd and I watched you all on Rv Unplugged. This is all great to know about the solar panels and batteries. Thank you Matt and Wil for Todd explaining all this.
Great Training class and Great Batteries. I went to his Solar Class and I then Installed my dual inverter system with 2 of the 24 volt BBBatteries. The Beasts!
Nice setup, Ryan with Millers in Motion has a big setup that they showed the installation. Will is a great guy and he and Matt are best friends great to see them collaborate on these videos. Wonder if you were to buy a system and Todd would coach you through the install? When I finally get a rv I’m going to that school!
Can you tie a freestanding (Ecoflow) solar generator into an RV electrical system? Will their internal inverter (3200w unit) eliminate the need for the inverter delivered with the rig? How do you spec the solar panel capacity needed?
How much does all that weigh, everything panels, batteries, ect. that comes off the cargo capacity of the camper correct? excellent video as always. Thank you
Excellent Video. I have one question: should there be a fan in the front compartment to help circulate the air for all those electronic components? I'm in Phoenix and it was 110 degrees in the shade, I checked my Furrion solar controller and the fan was cycling off and on every 5 seconds. The Furrion manual say the max operating temperature is 103 degrees. I was so afraid that my solar controller was going to burn up I shut it off while sitting in storage. It was a covered storage facility so the panels would not be getting any direct sun light.
When you want to do a vacation in Canada, if you're not booked 6-12 months in advance with a campsite, you'll have an extremely hard time finding anything. Being able to boondock (dry camp) anywhere including a Wal-Mart or Costco parking lot is not only "priceless", but in this day and age a necessity. You need batteries and you need solar (and you need lots of fresh water). Matt - you should maybe do a video showing how someone can have a system where you stick a hose in a lake or river and it sucks in the water, filters it, passes it through a UV light and adds it to your potable/fresh water. Earthroamers have it, the system itself is only like $300-$500, the rest is labour. Can also have a marine-grade black water treatment system (also quite inexpensive) so you can turn black into gray water for more enviromentally-friendly dumping.
Even a small amount of solar can be game changer. We have 400W between roof and suitcase panels and two Lion Energy 650AH batteries . This won't do you much good with an AC or Microwave but you will be comfortable in most weather conditions (especially cool/cold due to propane furnace). Solar is quiet. Quiet is good!
If you don't use Victron components and go with some other brands like Renogy or sun gold power. you could probably cut the cost by 40 percent. And have the same amount of power.
1,800 watts and 3 lithium batteries will run their AC for about 7 hours😬So many people do not realize how many batteries, how much solar and how much $$$$$17,000 it takes to operate residential and 12V fridges, AC, microwaves and more when you are off grid😮
I am curious if anybody watching has done this. I want to buy an enclosed trailer to hook up to my class A and tow a Tesla inside it. I would like to know if there could be a solar system installed on the trailer that could keep the Tesla fully charged. I would like to drive the Tesla up to 100 miles each evening.
@realMaxEffort - I have a friend that installed a faily large power system in/on his class A, then used an encloded trailer to haul his Tesla in. He added an AC on the hauler roof, solar, inverters and batteries as well. That said, I'm not sure how he utilized the power in/on the hauler. I do know he added a 50A outlet near the front genset of the class A and used that outlet to charge his EVs when at camp.
A quarter way through the 21st century, the computer system should intelligently handle the power distribution. Why should I have to “watch it” while running the AC? There is solar input, battery input, and an available generator. Managing the math is why computers were invented.
That's a nice, clean professionally designed and built system for sure. Your very kind to help the Wil and Jen with the cost. You're an amazing dude, Matt - and Todd for helping you too!
If you build your system yourself like we did and avoid premium brand components, opting for quality, lesser-known brands, you can have a system twice that size for around $10k. Our home-built system on our 35ft MH has 5,020 watts of solar, 23.5kwh of LiFePo-4 batteries and total of 6,000 watts of 120v inverted power for $11,500 including a $1,500 EG-4 12k btu, Mini-split heat pump that only uses about 1/3rd the power as my rooftop A/C, which means I can run it 24/7 either cooling or heating as needed. When the sun is shining, we can run both A/Cs, our fridge, microwave, etc. while charging our batteries all at the same time. Of course, in the real world there are cloudy and overcast days, but then, it's not that hot, so we only need to run one A/C. We haven't had to run our generator (other than to exercise it) in over 6 months.
We're retired FTers on a limited budget. It took us 5 years to gather enough resources, so we built our system in stages - 12v first and 48v later. But it paid off in the long run, as we boondocked 10 months last year saving over $6k in RV parks monthly rates alone, giving us a realized ROI under 2 years for a system that will last longer than our 68yr old bodies will. We save about a dollar a day in propane too, as we were able to replace our old, failing propane fridge with a residential fridge that works better and has twice the space inside - powered entirely by the sun.
We usually boondock out west, but now we're visiting family in NC, where boondocking spots are very rare. We found an RV park that's letting us stay in a no-hookup site (made possible by our solar) for only $100/mo. saving us $500/mo. off their FHU rates. Having a big solar system gives you lots of options. It took a lot of learning and a lot of hard work to accomplish it, but we couldn't live this lifestyle any other way. Necessity is truly the mother of invention.
I like this guy Todd and I watched you all on Rv Unplugged. This is all great to know about the solar panels and batteries. Thank you Matt and Wil for Todd explaining all this.
No views of the solar panels on the roof? Thanks for this. I love solar systems!
I have been loving the new season of RV Unplugged!!
Great video Matt, Wil and Todd.
Great job all, you broke it down so we could understand. And THANK YOU for disclosing the cost! Very helpful.
When using solar, Super high efficiency appliances are a must. That means mini split for AC a must. Every watt adds up quickly.
Great Training class and Great Batteries. I went to his Solar Class and I then Installed my dual inverter system with 2 of the 24 volt BBBatteries. The Beasts!
My life is complete now!
Very nice! Thank you! Thank you! 👍🤘💛🧡💛
Todd is a good guy
Great to see you guys collaborate on this video . Thanks for the info
Nice setup, Ryan with Millers in Motion has a big setup that they showed the installation. Will is a great guy and he and Matt are best friends great to see them collaborate on these videos. Wonder if you were to buy a system and Todd would coach you through the install? When I finally get a rv I’m going to that school!
Great video Matt
Please make more like this
Great video. Love RV Unplugged and NRVTA videos. Oh and Matt's Rv Reviews too.
LOL YOU GUYS ARE GREAT.
Thank you so much created information Thomyt
Can you tie a freestanding (Ecoflow) solar generator into an RV electrical system? Will their internal inverter (3200w unit) eliminate the need for the inverter delivered with the rig? How do you spec the solar panel capacity needed?
It also means you don’t need as big a generator. You can get a smaller dual fuel generator and connect it to the propane on the trailer.
How much does all that weigh, everything panels, batteries, ect. that comes off the cargo capacity of the camper correct? excellent video as always. Thank you
Excellent Video. I have one question: should there be a fan in the front compartment to help circulate the air for all those electronic components? I'm in Phoenix and it was 110 degrees in the shade, I checked my Furrion solar controller and the fan was cycling off and on every 5 seconds. The Furrion manual say the max operating temperature is 103 degrees. I was so afraid that my solar controller was going to burn up I shut it off while sitting in storage. It was a covered storage facility so the panels would not be getting any direct sun light.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
When you want to do a vacation in Canada, if you're not booked 6-12 months in advance with a campsite, you'll have an extremely hard time finding anything. Being able to boondock (dry camp) anywhere including a Wal-Mart or Costco parking lot is not only "priceless", but in this day and age a necessity. You need batteries and you need solar (and you need lots of fresh water). Matt - you should maybe do a video showing how someone can have a system where you stick a hose in a lake or river and it sucks in the water, filters it, passes it through a UV light and adds it to your potable/fresh water. Earthroamers have it, the system itself is only like $300-$500, the rest is labour. Can also have a marine-grade black water treatment system (also quite inexpensive) so you can turn black into gray water for more enviromentally-friendly dumping.
How does all the added solar equipment effect weight carrying capacity? Where is Will on his rig?
Matt - Do you think Brinkley will come out with a motor home? Maybe on a Frieghtliner chassis? That would be a major "Yes, I'll buy it!" for me.
Even a small amount of solar can be game changer. We have 400W between roof and suitcase panels and two Lion Energy 650AH batteries . This won't do you much good with an AC or Microwave but you will be comfortable in most weather conditions (especially cool/cold due to propane furnace). Solar is quiet. Quiet is good!
If you don't use Victron components and go with some other brands like Renogy or sun gold power. you could probably cut the cost by 40 percent. And have the same amount of power.
Where is the link for solar installer in Florida?
Matt did you ever think about easy start on aircondioners it makes a big difference on wattage use . think about. Or ask somebody about it
Soft start only helps w starting wattage, not running wattage.
GOOD JOB
My husband wants to know the weight of the system? We run a small travel trailer. But I need that air in the summer.
Can the inverters be stacked
$14,000 is insane. That a great $7k system.
The man has a tremendous beard.
1,800 watts and 3 lithium batteries will run their AC for about 7 hours😬So many people do not realize how many batteries, how much solar and how much $$$$$17,000 it takes to operate residential and 12V fridges, AC, microwaves and more when you are off grid😮
I agree that is a lot of money but I would raise the average campground night to at least $75. a night plus tax.
Does Todd have bad knees? Looks like it when he went up the stairs. Cuz I have bad knees, and that's kind of how I go up👍🏻🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
Welcome, viewers, to Todd's Tech Tip Friday.
What kind of rv do they have 6000W of solar on???
How much does the system weigh.
👍
I am curious if anybody watching has done this. I want to buy an enclosed trailer to hook up to my class A and tow a Tesla inside it. I would like to know if there could be a solar system installed on the trailer that could keep the Tesla fully charged. I would like to drive the Tesla up to 100 miles each evening.
@realMaxEffort - I have a friend that installed a faily large power system in/on his class A, then used an encloded trailer to haul his Tesla in. He added an AC on the hauler roof, solar, inverters and batteries as well. That said, I'm not sure how he utilized the power in/on the hauler. I do know he added a 50A outlet near the front genset of the class A and used that outlet to charge his EVs when at camp.
A quarter way through the 21st century, the computer system should intelligently handle the power distribution.
Why should I have to “watch it” while running the AC? There is solar input, battery input, and an available generator. Managing the math is why computers were invented.
for extreme boondockers, dry camping, overlanding......
for everyone else
not needed
👍🏻🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
Matt how do I contact Todd for a solar setup in my rv
@@rickiemartin8647 go to his website
@@rickiemartin8647 big beard batteries
ANY THING THAT YOU ADD TO A RV OR TO A CAR YOU NEVER GET IT BACK EVER.