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TOTAL COST Of Our Off-Grid RV Power System | Complete Breakdown (RV Life)
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- Опубліковано 17 сер 2024
- Are you ready to take your RV off-grid? We take our RV for its maiden voyage with our new off-grid starter system. Today, we will show you how well our system holds up against a weekend of cold weather and RV dry camping. We cover total costs, and break down our entire starter system- all in one video! Don't miss out on this step-by-step guide to mastering the art of off-grid RVing!
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Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:20 Ultimate RV Off-Grid System (Overview)
04:25 Why We Opted for This System
05:47 How We Get AC Power to Our RV
07:27 This Helps Prevent Overheating & Fires!
08:11 Our RV Solar Package (Pros & Cons)
09:13 Our Off-Grid Checklist
10:32 Not Getting Power? This Might Be Why!
11:13 Our Biggest Mistake. Don’t Do This.
13:15 24 Hour Update on Battery Levels
14:48 We Ran Into a Problem (Low Battery)
17:54 Our Data Collection - Spreadsheet
18:13 Total Cost of Our Off-Grid System
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Thank you for pinning this!
You need to add a DC to DC charger to be able to charge the lithium batteries from the truck when you are towing. The voltage available from the standard 7 pin connector is to low to charge lithium batteries. You also need to run a 4-6ga wire from the battery on the truck to a separate plug to connect to the trailer to get sufficient current.
Exactly what I was going to say.
exactly@@danaharris5654
My lithiums charge from my 7pin. The voltage is fine it’s just low amps so a very slow charge.
Absolutely install at least one DC/DC charger. It will basically let you use your truck engine as a generator in case of an emergency.
Facts 💯 DC to DC charger + Generator to power the charger in the rig if needed. 👍🏼
This is the Hank's. ❤ Basic information down to earth and not all the mumbo jumbo stuff we don't understand. You guys will always be my favorite RVERS to watch Love you guys forever, till next week take care and be careful. ❤❤❤🐈🐈🐈
That was your best, most honest and valuable episode ever. Too many you tube presenters are getting items for free and then just endorsing the product. Your presentation was honest! Thank you!
Peter and Ava (RVing since 1984 now in a Tiffin 2016 open road)
With a little bit of work you can get a 2000W dual fuel generator and set it up to run off your trailer's propane and get about 1700W of power out of it. No dealing with gas (especially driving a diesel) and it will charge your batteries and provide some power to the rig when not charging. Honda, Champion, etc are all options. Lithium batteries charge pretty quickly so you won't have to run it too long.
Wow, you two! This video is awesome to me. I have seen a few UA-camrs explain their battery and solar set-up. They are way to technical for me. You really dumbed it down for someone like me who has lots of problems with lots of numbers thrown at them. THANK YOU!
NOW THAT'S WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT!!! 18 minute video we getting better. 25 minutes minimum you can do it. If not then 2 times a week. I need my fix and waiting for Thursday to come is a long wait. 😊😊😊😊
Good starter system. You need to triple your portable solar panels at a minimum.
On your next truck purchase consider a Ford Super Duty, you can now get an onboard generator factory installed and as long as you have fuel for the truck you will never have to worry about dead batteries in your RV
When you boondock with that setup, turn off the converter. It creates another charging loop and is not needed while off grid. Just flip the breaker. Turns off the converter transformer makes it just a bus box for the 12 and 120 circuts. Will save power. Thanks for the vid. Love the basic setup. I think that's what most of us have.
You can't turn off the converter in their case. They need to pop the fuse out if the converter so it doesn't run the campers converter charger. It's that charger that causes a loop not the converter
The solution we used is to power the converter from an isolated feed coming from the shore tie (or generator) and not from the inverter output.
So many great comments below! Some things we forgot to mention in the video:
---The old RV converter has been disconnected since we did this upgrade. Great thing to mention since the converter works similarly to a battery charger!
---We did turn our inverter off when not in use. The hard part with that is our Starlink internet requires that power. We did put our Starlink into sleep mode at night. We are debating doing a mod to turn our Starlink into a 12 volt connection
---Yes, you can surely keep the 7-way pin connected to charge or run the jacks and slides, the only issue is it's a very small draw (7 watts) - which doesn't help much
---This set-up is a work in progress but we didn't want to delay sharing any longer. We'd still like to install inline fuses (most say it's not necessary but we'll go for it). We'd also like to eventually power the full potential of the inverter into the RV breaker box. Our goal was to show you how you can get a basic set-up without breaking the bank! Now we can add to the collection from here!
--- A transfer switch would be nice too!
Thanks, friends!
~Ney Ney
True ED nurses repping the PBR...😂
I’m not sure if it’s been mentioned, but it seems that a Pure Sine Wave Inverter is strongly recommended for rv use. It is a cleaner signal, and safer for lots of sensitive electronics found in rv’s …love the channel!!!
You can add a DC to DC charger on your truck. Then you can charge up your batteries with the truck. I installed a 20 AMP DCto DC charger on my truck.
Yes these are great. I have a 40A unit.Make sure your vehicle's alternator can handle the extra draw. The DMax factory alternator in "D" can handle up to 40A easily, just size the wire accordingly. Use Anderson connectors too for positive connections that you can't mess up.
Congrats on the boondocking. And yes, that is EXACTLY why we bought an inverter generator for piece of mind. Y’all got this! Looking forward to your next boondocking video.
On the surge protector, it does that because it isn’t detecting a bond between ground and neutral. Those are usually bonded together at the main power panel at the park. This is common with some generators also when they have a floating ground. The way around this would be to use a ground bonding plug at the inverter.
Need to make sure there is only one NG bond. Hard wired systems with switches that disconnect both hot and neutral.
@@PeteFolksinger very true, I was thinking that but was trying to limit the length and technical-ness of my response. In all truth, they are probably fine bypassing the surge protection. That is more of a mandatory thing on and unpredictable grid. Inverters and Inverter Generators are much more predictable in their power output. The GN bonding plug is simply a way to outsmart the surge protector. Another option would be to wire in a switch between the ground and neutral and before the surge protector, but after the shore power plug. Then they can engage the bond when needed and lift it when it’s not necessary.
Honestly, it may not take them long before they opt to install a transfer switch. They are not that expensive. Most of the work would be in routing the AC power to the front compartment.
I have a whole new respect for you my friend. When you showed the PBR can I said “hell yea MERICA”
When operating the slides and jacks, always keep the truck running and the plug connected. The higher voltage will result in a lower amperage draw. It’s easier on the slide and jack motors to draw less amps because amps cause heat. Thanks for another great video.
Inverter loop reminds me of re-entry SVT...😂 Glad you got it figured out!
Seriously I was getting nervous that you wouldn't have enough power then I realized "they posted the video, of course they got everything hooked up." This was great information. Thanks hanks for sharing. Uncle Mac, Logan, Rockett, Cosmo, Shadow and now introducing "Bucky" my new kitten. I guess I'm a cat person now.
I think those fans for the back of your fridge are needed most when it's warm outside, otherwise it won't be able to stay cool. There are videos of other RVers needing to make sure the air flow goes past the fins in order for their fridge to work efficiently.
Yeah, that’s why we figured it was fine to turn off. It was a chilly weekend and if it’s too hot for the fridge then we probably wouldn’t be dry camping anyway #AC
My thougth also.
😊
Why not use tesla batteries? We see houses using tesla batteries on a solar system, instead of other battery manufacturers.
Our double-door Dometic refrigerator came with 4 fans directed upward towards a baffle to the top vent to direct the heat out. That wasn't enough as our fridge would never get below 44 degrees. I installed 4 Titan 12v fans on the lower vent to pull air in the 4 Dometic fans pull it towards the top vent and I have 4 other Titan fans exhausting that hot air out through the top vent. This has worked very well for us even in 100-degree weather.
@kckettridge I had the same problem with cooling. Saw a video on a you tube site that said to check the thermistor in the fridge. It plugs into the light bulb connection and clips to the fins. Unplug for 24 hours to see if there is a difference in temperature. If the temperature goes down then replace the thermistor. I got mine from Amazon $18.00. I have a norcold 1210. The site is RVWORKS and another is hillbillyrv
My sister and her husband got a hybrid truck because it had a generator function. While that limited the size of their trailer, they believe it's worth it. It will be their home for six months out of the year as they retire and become snowbirds.
My wife and I look forward to your video each week.
We're Full time with our pups Wyatt & Holly in our 2020 Entegra Qwest 24L.
Mostly we stay in RV parks with full hook ups. We also dry camp quite a bit utilizing our 4,000Kw gen set with Cummings wireless AGS. Love it! It takes care of the pups keeping them warm or cool when we're away.
We have two AGM batteries that are looked after by the programmable AGS.
On a cold night the propane heater runs off the batteries, when they discharge to 12.5v, the generator starts up, charges to 13.5, then shuts off. Same for a hot day or night, when the Micro Aire thermostat (blue tooth, or internetnet) reaches a set temperature the generator set starts and stops to your set comfort level. We only have a 1,000w inverter, not much but it does keep the batteries topped off when on shore power,
We have a three way frig, 110v, 12v or propane. When traveling the 220 alternator runs the fridgerator(auto switched to 12v) and inverter.and maintains the house batteries.
We've boondocks 5-6 days no problem, black and grey tanks are our limiting factor. The gen set is fairly quiet, I guess we're use too it and it's a reassuring sound.
I looked into Lithium batteries, but the expense, and changes to the Mercedes 220 alternator, heaver wiring, larger inverter, and solar panels plus equipment doesn't make financial sense not to mention cloudy days.
Safe travels!
Bob, Melodee & the pups...
Hey guys! Besides a generator, I recommend supplementing with a 1000W+ portable power station. You can run the Keurig and charge devices without affecting the main system. Happy travels!
I disagree...take that money you would spend on the portable, and use it for a generator or additional panels.
Genuinely bad advice unless you'll be actually needing the portability. Look into SOK or EG4 server rack batteries. They use Grade A LiFePo Cells, and if you pair them with a compatible All in one inverter, they will handle solar, charging, converting to AC. They make GOOD modern All in One inverters that handle the jobs of all the little boxes they have in that cabinet. I genuinely hope people don't take too much solar advice from this channel as they're making really poor and uninformed decisions. The batteries they chose are a pretty poor value. Most of the Server rack batteries come with battery heaters. You can get a 400AH 12v battery with heater for $1200 or less nowadays. An all in one inverter would be another $700 from a reputable vendor. They should really talk with people from Signature Solar, Will Prowse, San Tan Solar, or hell even Epoch would have been a better choice. Some of the companies that do solar setups are still using outdated equipment because they don't have the budget to redesign products or they have contracts with legacy vendors. There's been so many changes in the past couple of years, if you're installing anything from a company who hasn't launched a new inverter in 2 years, you're making a big mistake.
I normally hate All in One solutions, but with solar it makes a ton of sense. Especially for RVs where space and weight are at a premium.
@@seanbhaney EXACTLY. You know what's up. Portable power stations are for campers, not glampers.
Hi Hanks'! THIS MAY SAVE YOU BUYING A GENERATOR JUST TO REHITCH YOUR TRAILER IF YOUR BATTERIES ARE COMPLETELY DEAD. At the end of the video you mentioned your anxiety over whether you had enough power left in the lithium batteries to run the trailer jacks to hitch up. If you look in your Lippert manual that should have come with your trailer, under the Ground Control 3.0 section, you'll see a way to run each jack manually (or rather with a battery powered drill). I had to resort to using this method recently to get my trailer (2017 Montana High Country) both off the truck to camp, then get it back on, after the Lippert control system went wonky. There's a rubber plug in the top of the front jacks that you remove, then use a 3/8" socket extension on a power drill adaptor to run the jack up or down. The front ones are accessible thru the left and right propane tank doors on my trailer. Heck, I had to resort to using a hand ratchet to run the RF jack down enough to unhook the trailer and it worked! There's also a rubber plug on the bottom of the rear jack that allows you to insert a hex driver (I forget the size) attached to your drill to raise or lower the jack. One note: The back jack drill connection, in particular, is geared down a LOT. When spinning the drill the movement of the jack is barely perceptible, but it IS moving, therefore patience is a must. So, there's no need to buy a generator just to have an emergency way to rehitch if your batteries are dead, although you may have other reasons to do so.
ALSO, REGARDING THE ISSUES YOU MENTION OCCASSIONALLY WITH YOUR LIPPERT AUTO LEVEL SYSTEM: I have also had way too many of "jack faults" (that weren't jack faults at all), that can render the system very difficult to operate. These "faults" seemed to show up for no reason, since they all cleared with the reset procedure you and I are all too familiar with. EXCEPT, that during the episode I described above, I checked the four 35 amp fuses that live in the jack system control board, which in my trailer is mounted out in the open hanging from the ceiling in the front center of the luggage pass through. The fuses were all fine, however, the "jaws" on one of the female fuse receptacles wasn't gripping the fuse leg. In fact, I could wiggle it from side to side when plugged in. I removed the fuse, tightened up the receptacle jaws by bending them more shut with my pliers, plugged the fuse back in, and, Voila, haven't had a problem since with several unhitch, autolevel, and rehitch cycles. I've also noticed the red and black wires that come into the controller via a black plastic multi-wire plug have a habit of pulling loose or out of out of the plug, particularly if you're moving them around during troubleshooting them (Yes, I've done this while on the phone with a tech halfway across the country at my dealer). Also, occasionally one or two of them have just seemed to have pulled loose for no apparent reason. This could be because they got hit by moving things around in the cargo bay (like throwing the mop in, or moving something tall around and accidentally hitting them). All of this stuff could be reasons for the controller throwing fault codes (and the jacks not operating correctly just using the left, right, front, and back buttons). So be sure and check out the connections on these controllers, particularly if they are out in the open, like mine. You just might make it reliable!!
I always enjoy your content, and am especially enjoying your Alaska footage. I'm really interested in watching your slow, careful entry into being equipped for boondocking. I think this is exactly the right approach! Keep the info coming!!
Thanks Hanks, and hope this info from my experience helps!
I started studying solar for my RV about 7+ yrs ago. I was soon experienced "paralysis by analysis" so I just jumped in very small with 1-100W panel + a PWM charge controller. I bought some cable & MC4 adaptors and went to work. I "chase the sun" . At the time I could not cost justify LIPO batteries. I used 2-6v golf carts. My eye opening lesson was that if the panel aren't in good direct sun; you'd get little to no charging. I soon added a 2nd panel + a 600W inverter. As a backup I added a 2000W inverter generator. We rarely use the generator but it's a good mental pacifier. We boondock a lot even in the winter. If needed it's there. We're all in for under $1k. Camping friend has ~$10k & another ~$15k into their systems, We do not need the power they can generate. $5 of gas and were good for most of the year. Last year with the price of LIPO batteries dropping to ~$300 ea I bought 2. I think we're set for now. I'm not sure why you need to plug 110v in to your system vs just plugging into your factory provided 110 plug in as you did prior to adding your solar system? I do & still charge my batteries via the factory supplied converter. You may have an "open neutral ground fault" & this is why you are having an issue with your surge protector. I've solved 4 other campers with this issue & its a very easy fix. You may also want to ad a "transfer switch" . This will detect when you are on 110 and stop using your batteries & innverter. Be sure to turn off your TV antenna signal boost. Usually a little button located where you plug your tv in. It draws a lot of power even when not in use. Keep experimenting...
Good tips. Maybe shutdown Starlink at night when not being used too.
This is why jumper cables are a must, you can always run power from the truck to the rv for the final lift and sides in. 👍
Just make sure the truck is running first. 😂
You can wire up a dc to dc 40 amp charger from the truck to the trailer, a set of heavy duty jumper cables will charge your batteries faster than plugging into the truck.
A small 2200 watt generator would be enough to just charge the batteries.
Ray on love your RV UA-cam channel has a video on the dc to dc connection
Well I guess it’s better late than never. You finally figured it out. Boondocking rocks. Yes you have to invest in some associated equipment. The rewards are well worth it.
Glad you joined the club.
Thank you, Dave! Yes, we are ecstatic to be official boondockers now! We appreciate your support
As a permanent ‘Boondocker’ off gridder. I understand! And I have no appliances, other than a portable cooler as a fridge. Power runs out faster than it recharges with solar. I only use portable solar generators, my truck and a back up marine battery! It’s a challenge but worth it! 😁
We are considering the lithium batteries and some solar,, but I will tell you we bought a generator early on and we absolutely love it. So for under $1000 depending on what kind of generator you buy the investment is low and it is so dependable. We have loved it. Even if you buy a generator and you never have to worry with all the other goodies that you have if you need a little power, you spark up the generator and you’re on your way,, we wanted to let you know that you inspire us very much. I am so happy to see young adults, living life to the fullest so in the year 2025 because we have a little saving to do my husband and I are planning our first trip to Alaska based on all of your adventures. We wanna deeply thank you and be safe out there.❤
@GIVEAWAY-528 Love the Hanks
We have a similar 5th wheel. We have 600w on roof, 300ah lithium and 2000 w inverter. We truly camp, rarely inside but to sleep or bad weather. We went 10 days with in a site with a lot of trees, only got good sun 11-1ish. We never went below 60%.
Comparatively we just went for 3 nights in rainy, cloudy conditions and were below 40%.
We run fridge on propane and our biggest draw is the fridge fan.
We do have a generator for back up.
I agree you don’t do solar to save money necessarily. We do it to be able to camp the way we like to camp. I’ve done some breakeven analysis. At almost $6k for our set up if we save $35 a night by being in a non electric versus resort type spot, or $30 a night fully boondocked for free I figure we break even in about 180 nights.
It's definitely important to unplug TV's, sound systems, etc. They draw power even when they're turned "off" cuz they're not turned off inside, it's called standby mode so they don't lose memory & start instantly when you turn them on.
Yep you lose power with solar panels in cloudy weather & at night. Maybe add a few wind turbines too 😊 & underwater surf turbines, 😊 & when all else fails a gas generator will help out 😊😅
I color coded 110 breakers so I know what to "load shed" when on inverter (water heater, AC)
"Convenience costs money." The best advice is to do this test someplace where shore power is available. The most interesting product is the 200 watts of solar that is NOT attached to your Rig. I found this to be very interesting and helpful. It's also useful because having charged lithium batteries on hand may replace generators for those of us who live rural and occasionally have power outages. We have a Jackery portable power station (lithium battery) charging in the house for when we lose power and we need power for CPAP use and reading lights. The little Jackery can also be solar-charged.
Just a suggestion, if you're worried about power consumption battery or hand powered things like the coffee grinder can be had. They aren't expensive or hard to operate, well at least for Nee Nee. I'm not so sure about Karl. Keep the good stuff coming guys and give Dexter a treat and a pat on the head for me.
A french press for coffee works great using simple stainless camp kettle on the stove top to boil the water - no power required.
We have a very small solar system on our fifth wheel. One 175w panel on the roof charging 2 6v golf cart batteries. We are able to dry camp for 4-5 days if we have sun. We carry a 2000w generator as a backup for cloudy days or shady campsites. We don't have an inverter. We make coffee on the stove and run the fridge on propane.
Boondocking at our place comes with 50 amp and water. Sharon and me miss you guys! Safe travels!!
Hope you enjoy your stay in Coeur d Alene, Hayden area. It was nice to see you two at Walmart of all places. We just got back and wanted to pick up a few things before dark. Still had to put up our motorhome away. Say Hi to Dexter for us! Safe travels. Bill
So great to meet you two!
Infinite charging loop, I have a similar set up with a 190 AH Lithium battery and plug into the inverter directly. I wired my converter to a new circuit breaker in the control panel and turn it off when I boon dock.
HANKS!! Best generator I have ever owned is a HONDA EU-2201!! They come in different outputs, however they work wonders and are well made and easy to service. Also very quiet. Really enjoy your videos!! Greetings from Canada!! GIDDYUP!!
yeah, this is the best option, spending $15K on a solar/lithium system is just stupid IMO.
Your honda 2200 will not run the air conditioner. That is why I have a EU3000I. The problem with the 3000 is it weighs 134 lbs empty off the shelf. Did a little research and you are correct but you need to install a soft start to the AC. And the other plus the 2200 only weighs 48 lbs. You sold me time to get rid of my ship anchor and get the 2200 and add soft start.
@@vincentgonzales8917 if you put a soft start on it, it’ll run it
@@PrestonGladd I edited my post.
@PrestonGladd my Honda won't run my AC with a soft start. The max amp on the 2200 Honda is 13 and even with a soft start I usually jump that for a second. I have the inkine soft start so maybe the installed ones will do the trick.
Predator 5000 generator/inverter dual fuel with remote start. Works amazing
If you get a generator get a Honda. We have a 2200 IC. Works great and we love ours Thanks for sharing
4:17 PBR that is what we are talking about. You guys rock
I’m glad you installed a real world solar set up that most can probably afford and I can’t wait to see how it does in the future- I’m not going to mention another UA-cam couple that just posted a video that are sponsored by BATTLE BORN - and probably have the 15,000 dollar set up you mentioned - that is probably out of reach for the the majority of us - thanks for being real 🍻
For real 🤔
Yeah, when I did my solar I avoided BB for two reasons. 1- they dumped all their product on the influencer market to sway us and 2- it's way too expensive. I guess they have to recoup all that lost product somehow and it wasn't going to be from my wallet.
My wife is Sonographer and we have been traveling the country full time for 2yrs (not full-time rving yet) but have a weekend warrior we bring for fun. Been looking in to getting a few LI Batteries and thisnis great info! Been watching the channel for years now and we love yall! Thanks Hanks 😁
Thanks so much 🤗
if you are considering a generator, check out dual fuel ones that are inverter type. (no gasoline needed)
Great and informative video. Thanks! Hanks!!
I'm currently at a dispersed camping area outside of Capitol Reef National Park in Utah, living off batteries and solar. No need for A/C, since it's only about 69 degrees. My travel trailer came with a 1000 watt inverter (which I quickly learned was next to useless) and one 100 watt solar panel from the factory. I've upgraded to a 2000 watt inverter, added 3 more solar panels, and switched to lithium batteries (the same ones you guys have, which have been flawless for going on 3 years, BTW). I started with 2, and recently added a second pair. I do carry a Honda EU-2200 generator as a backup, but don't really use it much. Mostly when I need to use the A/C.
Thanks for sharing! Good to know
We just put solar on our home (rig)... it has been fun learning ... so far so good ... and yes we have a generator just in case... We are watching you guys, just say'n. Additionally you should set your battery discharge to cutoff when your batteries reach 10% so you don’t accidentally fully discharge your batteries. It is not good for them.
Used vehicle lead-acid battery and one 1000 watt inverter. (Pretty inexpensive). Glad you have a newer system. Times have changed. (Example: Lithium storage / more efficient power-charger-inverter system). 👍😊
Get a transfer switch then you never have to worry about your converter and get a couple of the Coleman French press thermos mugs, coffee makers draw a lot of power. I have the same setup and don't use power nearly as fast as you were.
Just a suggestion for Kyle - Starlink uses a lot of power. So when dry camping, put our Starlink on a time so it shuts down while you are sleeping. This actually can have a pretty big impact on your batteries overnight. We have 1200 watts of solar and 600Ah of Lithium, and its still not enough. Lol. It's never enough.
I really liked your set up and the practical experiences/advice. I’ve been thinking doing a similar setup but with capacity for up to 400 watts of panels and up to 4 batteries if I wanted to expand. The extra panels are there to quicken recharge and provide more recharge energy on those cloudy days. Yes to the generator. I’d get a dual fuel (gas or propane) 3500 watt. Not too big to move around but can easily run one AC unit. ( especially with an Easy Start kit on it)
We have a boat with a 110 volt system the run most things. Your system is very similar to what we had on our first boat. Separate inverter and separate charger and all switching was manual. The system we have now is automated. The inverter is also a charger. There is a automatic switch that charges the "House batteries" from the main engines by a one way diode. This way you never drain your start battery. The diode system also prevents the House batteries from trying to charge themselves as your did. Price of an automatic diode is $300 (ARC).
Only use inverter when you need Alternating Current. Inverters turned on and not inverting to do a job, still consumes power.
Generators are a nice piece of mind. I own a Overland RV trailer, and like i have a generator on hand.
Welcome to the 21st century. No shame in starting small. At least you started. We boonedock all winter in the southwest and have a small generator to pick up the slack when the sun goes away. We used it 3 times all winter but we had much more sun at our fingertips. Our camper fridge and furnace are 12 volt and very efficient. When you decide to get another camper it will be much more solar friendly. I'm 65 and can do it, you can too. Great video.
Love your videos. With a Class A I don’t see how I could ever justify a suitable solar system. We full time and spend less than $7,000 a year on camp grounds and enjoy our ac, heat, and coffee too much to give it up.
I own my home and pay that in JUST property taxes. Impressive. I agree.
Generator is a must when doing a lot of dry camping
After seeing this I put together a 200amp hour 2000kw inverter system. No solar yet but I have an onboard generator which I can use to charge. Used the system to run air compressor and chop saw for an rv renovation project worked like a champ. I put in a 30amp outlet to plug the rv into but are looking to put in a manual transfer switch to switch between shore and inverter power. Thanks for the inspiration.
We have 600W solar for an 18ft single axle. 200W just isn't going to cut it for a 5th wheel IMO. And as you say, we have a multifuel inverter generator for those long sunless trips. It runs on propane so we can hook it up to the trailer's quick-connect. Since we have that and we truly camp, we haven't bothered with an inverter yet. If we want to use a hair dryer, we just fire up the genny for a few minutes. It gets cool enough at night to not need AC. And we're outside during the day. We can get by with 200Ah lithium to power our 12v fridge indefinitely with this setup. Also have DC-DC charger to the tow vehicle via 4AWG cable. That part's probably superfluous as our battery's pretty much always 100%. But I had everything done from the get-go when we bought the trailer. Love following you guys. 1:20min mark killed me! 😹😹😹😹😹😹
Seriously, thanks Hanks! I’ve been looking for something just like this. We are not boondockers at this stage in our lives but wanted something like this for Crackerdocking and Walmart parking lots etc. we have switched to lithium batteries and already had a 200 watt solar panel. Now it looks like all we need is the inverter. Btw, always love your videos!
I absolutely agree with starting small with your first system. I have a small cargo trailer conversion with a 100ah 24v battery and 720 W on top. I opted for the all in one box (Charge controller, Inverter, Shore Power cutover and battery charger) which avoids all the cables. I can run a toaster, microwave, air conditioner, refrigerator etc. I chose 24v to cut down on wire size but I also have 12v circuits using a converter. I have used it for two years now and it has met my needs pretty well. When the sun doesn't shine, I can charge the system with a Honda EU2200i quiet generator.
Will Prowse has a great channel on off grid systems for beginners.
Thank you for being real. Easy to understand and very helpful.
We have been full time Rv living 3 years and have a 38 foot class A motor home with a 5000 watt generator. The battery will go 2 and half day before need for recharging
Great job guys...an expandable solar system UNDER $3K! In true Hanks fashion, no back-up plan (generator/pedestal) for the first time you tested it 🤣 Now you have a good idea of your battery limits. If you haven't already purchased one, I'd highly recommend a dual fuel generator (propane/gas) since you drive a diesel, you won't have to worry about carrying ANOTHER fuel source - just use the rigs propane with a super simple mod. Also, get a generator that is capable of running at least 1 A/C - above 3000 watt - need/use it ONCE for A/C and you'll never regret the slightly larger size and pretty negligable cost difference. #thankshanks
Thanks for all the info, most of it went right over my head! 😂😂😂 Happy Camping and Safe Travels! ❤️❤️
I love this video you made for a beginner setup it works but I know with my experience I started out with 500+ watts and a basic charge controller but up graded it to a higher amp rated one shortly after bringing the system on line to get the maximum output of my panels and like you guys I did way with the dealer installed batteries that did not do great I found that the lithium battery’s was out of my price range so I found a set of max power lead acid units that is so far doing great I also put in a battery monitoring system that also monitors my solar cell input as well witch might not be a bad Idea to get one and put in so you don’t have any more close calls. Thanks you guys and good luck.
Make sure you constantly check water levels of the batteries and that they are well vented.
I do and one thing I didn’t say is that they are deep cycle marine batteries that have a total out put of 4000 amps and with the automotive and electronics back ground I have I still am learning a lot and on a side note I learned a lot when I added solar to my home witch is always a learning experience as well..
Coach batteries need to be true deep cycle. We went to two 6v LA golf cart batteries in series for 12v at 235 ampere hours.
All the little AC load items add up. The cell phone charger, the microwave unused still is powering the display, the tv, radio, etc. Those are called parasite loads.
You guys are awesome! Love your approach and attitude. I know there are down days when a couple is alone that much but ya'll hide the tension well. Thanks again, and get that generator!!!
our truck has a 7.2Kw on board generator; we specifically chose this model so we could go off grid/ boondocking.
We have a small (2000W) generator that we take with us just in case........We bought it when it was on sale for $400. It's cheap insurance. Our system is REALLY basic, but it works for us. Next year we plan on replacing the 2 12V lead acid batteries with 4 6V golf cart batteries..... that should be all we need. Boondocking is AWESOME. If I could insert a photo of our solar panel setup, I would.....we have 2 tripods both hold 2 100W panels.....Like I said.....that works for us.
Hey guys. As always the commentary is amazing. I learned recently I can watch videos at higher speeds... makes you two even more fun! haha.(in a good way). Thanks for this info. I am trying to figure out how to go off grid & not spend a ton of $$ as I am not sure I will be good w/boondocking. I have had HH for over a year never used it once. Oy. Thank you. Safe Travels. (Oh, been a year since Hanksgiving!! It was so fun!)
Oh no way! I didn't know you could speed up the videos 🤣 That's awesome. Let us know what you end up deciding on for an off grid setup...they can get pricey quick, but it is always nice to be able to break away from the crowded RV parks
We’re on the same off-grid journey. We started with a generator about a year ago. We just added lithium a month ago and added solar last weekend. Great video, as always, especially your pros/cons. Thanks!
Even though we don't plan on getting a system like this, should we ever want to, I'll be coming back to this video of yours. One of the easiest to understand how-to RV off grid power set up videos ever! AND you shared a great list of costs. Can't wait for the next one.
To help lighten your cord set up from the inverter, Just buy a 50 to 15 amp twist lock adapter and a 12 gauge 15/20 amp extension cord the length you need. its much easier to handle a 25 foot regular extension cord than manipulating that giant 50 amp cord just to use the microwave at the wayside to heat up lunch. 12 ga wire is rated to be on a 20 amp breaker and your inverters 2000 watt output is 2000/120= 16.66 amps so you would be under the cables ampacity at max output.
You can still have a cheap set.
We spent about $2600 for our solar/ inverter set up. We have a 3000 watt Inverter charger, 200 AH lithium, and 600 watts of solar. That cost includes wiring and fuses.
We do want to make it bigger but we are slowly adding to our system. We’ll add a new battery eventually and maybe 200 watts more of Solar.
Thanks guy's. I have Lion Energy Lithium Batteries which have worked fine. I also purchased their 2000 W inverter and have been carrying it around for several months. I had decided to connect it up the way your doing and just plugging it in. thanks I will probably move on that project in the next few months. You guy's always bless me seeing you interact with each other.
Suggest a Honda 2200 generator. It’s small, light and very quiet. It runs my my 15000 Btu ac that has a soft start installed. It will also power a charger that puts 100 amps into the battery. Won’t do both at the same time though!!
You probably already figured this out, but if not here you go. When my batteries are dead and my slides won't work, I just hook my truck up to it with the truck running. All the slides & jacks work on 12 volt in RV's! No need to worry in the future ;)
You have my exact setup other than I use 4 golf cart batteries and one deep cycle battery. I put my convertor and ac on one breaker and just flip that off when I run on inverter. I have a $40 auto transfer switch. So when I unplug my rig, it auto switches to inverter if it's turned on. I just make sure to turn that one breaker off. I have 700 ah in lead acid. 350 usable. I have about $1200 in my system. My wife and I can go about 3 weeks because we run out of water way before power. I do have a generator. We use it really only when we must use the AC. 400 watt solar, 2000 watt inverter, mppt charge controller, (4) 250 ah 6 volt batteries, (1) 200 ah 12 volt deep cycle battery. 5.5kw generator. 40 gallons fresh water.
Great video from a gutsy couple! Bravo!
We got an Amazon system for about $3500 and added 4 more batteries -50Ah x 12v - (doubling our capacity) for another $600 but our fridge is residential. 1200 watts of panels on the roof and 3500w 24v inverter. We plug in with the dog bone (120v to 50A) and always turn off the converter.
You and others are my UA-cam University. Thank you for your humor and inspiration!
We're in the process of choosing either a fifth wheel or fw toy hauler. We 100% agree that having a generator is a must. Adding a generator after the fact here in Canada costs approx. 9 to 10K so we'll see what we end up with based on how it's equipped. We want a generator for peace of mind when the Sun doesn't shine.
This is a really good exercise to start getting off grid. We started to be much more choosey when replacing appliances that spend less watts, our magic chef refrigerator only uses 5 amps, found a travel blow dryer with low and high switch, also 12 volt fans we found at Flying J, and a small 700 watt Walmart microwave to ease with consumption. Also Hobotech, on youtube has great discounts and reviews. Great to see a step by step process like yours in real time! Thanks,
Invest in an AC DC clamp on amp multimeter if you don't have one. Best tool I ever used. It can help isolated where excessive power consumption are being drawn. Also check your furnace blower amp draw.
They got one more comment to you could buy a couple extra berries to have him hooked up to and do that too probably check in at 2 but I'll still buy a small small generator keep making your videos I like your videos
With the expectation of spending a significant percentage of my time off-grid, I went with a larger, professionally-installed system. 1200W on the roof, 600Ah Lithium batteries. Even without a generator I don’t worry about battery drain. Can’t run the AC, of course. But everything else runs as normal.
Thank You so much for this video. I have a similar sized system and have the Inverter connected the same. I have added labels instead of the checklist and will create a checklist just as soon as I finish this comment. A big thank you for not using the same brands as all the other You Tubers. The Battle Born and Victron solution is just so expensive I could never make sense of it. Your solution is putting solar and Lithium batteries into the hands of the average RVer. Thanks Hanks this video is just the BEST
Hello from Sarasota FL, i am sure someone has maybe brought it up in the past but just incase I just wanted to suggest for running your AC with the inverter is getting a soft-starter for it in which it will take the initial surge on start and will need a lot less power to start and it will make it possible to run your your AC with your inverter or sometimes even a small generator incase you might need it for emergencies. Safe travels and we love your channel!
This is really wonderful information! Thank you for taking the time to share. Yes, we have heard of those soft starts before and they sound really nice. We will be looking more into those. Thank you for your great support in watching our videos 🙂
Sorry I missed you guys on the boat ride at the Idaho Rally. We decided to hang back with the dogs and skip the boat ride, only to find out afterwards from our friend and co-wagon master for the Washington rally that you guys were on the boat. Sally said she invited you to the 2024 Washington State GD owners rally in Cashmere. You guys should try to make it. It is, hands down, the best owners rally on the west coast. ;-)
I like your approach to off grid solar survival. Well done. Baby steps as we learn. Good luck. Take care.
Loved the video. Very cool seeing you in the same RV park we are in currently.
Thank you for saying this, Valerie! We appreciate all your support in watching our videos 😃 How cool is that? What a small world that we live in!
You Give Great Information. Thanks You Guy's
If you get in a bind on power, put jumper cables on the truck and then hook to your trailer batteries and you should have plenty of power to lift your jacks and slides. You’ll need a long set.
Everyone has different needs when it comes to electricity. I live FT dry camping in a TT for 3 mths a year in winter in southern AZ. I have 300 watts on roof and have never ran out of power but came close due to lack of sun and low sun angle. I also have a small 2000 watt inverter generator that i use from time to time to top up the four 6v lead acid batteries. Believe it or not the propane furnace is my biggest power draw and i did not expect that. Also if u have low batteries sometimes you cannot operate slides and power awning, that is where the generator will save the day.
Howdy Hanks, it's great to see you today.
Ford Powerboost...7.2kw generator built into the truck...runs everything in the trailer, and is with you always...
Hi guys!
You totally raised my anxiety level. I'm glad you got hooked up and everything worked out! Safe travels ❤
I boondock often with my class A Airstream classic 350LE, it has a lead acid starter battery and 2 lead acid house batteries, and a ecoflow delta pro and two 220w foldable solar
Panels. And also have a 6.5kw generator but only used it once when there was too much wind and too little sunlight for the solar panels to be out to charge the lead acid batteries. I use my house batteries mostly for led lights and the water pump. I aim to not have the inverter on, as just having it on doing nothing is wasting about 50 watts an hour. Instead I charge my laptop and devices using usb-c. I even have my electric toothbrush charging on usb. Find ways around using the inverter. My 2 foldable solar panels are indeed a pain but they get more watts in most of the year than a roof mounted panel. I’d still like to add a roof panel as it will contribute and zero hassle. I use the delta pro to simulate shore power, when I want to run the AC or the oven, or to charge the lead acid batteries via the converter/charger.
Also, it took me a while to figure out that my fridge was on ‘climate control’ which uses 12v to heat the fridge to get rid of condensation. Turning that off helped a lot when boondocking.
Yeahhhh.. I'm the freak that likes to be totally off grid and not reliant on anything for a week or more at a time. So I have that crazy $10,000 system. Luckily it can be transferred to another rig should I change. As for fires with the batteries, just gotta keep a very close eye on em. Its a risk im willing to take. We also have a seperate portable solar kit with power bank, for when we dont need all that extra fanciness. But we tend to stay pretty far out, so I feel safer with all the backup power. Doesn't matter to peeps who dont boondock often, or only for a few days here and there. Enjoy you guys! Thanks for all the fun vids.
Such good content. I appreciate y’all doing these type videos and giving the honest deets. Thank you.
Okay kids, time to get a generator. You need one capable of running the things that you want in your trailer and charging the batteries. As well, get your solar panels up on the roof. The good ones will charge just fine. Your friends have them on the roof of their trailer, how do they work for them? Looks like you guys are enjoying Alaska; how long are you staying? Travel safe and have fun. Great video.
Thank you for explaining your set up and the bus bar set up.
We re in the process of deciding if RV life is a good fit or us. So grateful for all of your content... you guy are truly living a life of service!