Grand pa always said Don't fix what ain't broke Keep it simple stupid Know alot about a little and a little about alot . 3 codes for Children ; to grow into being a productive adult American Values : # 1 is Vital #DoNoHarmToAnother #2 #LearnTeach2ProsperityUSA #3 #JurisPrudence Newest addition #4 😆 #RenewablesAreSustainable
Another great video Ray! Many thanks ... really appreciate all the instruction and insight you provide on RV solar systems. Eddie sure does good work and and has an awesome rig. I was pleased to see he is using the Bogart Engineering System. I picked up on that from one of your prior videos and had that installed in our new rig. Safe travels!
Wow... what an awesome set up he has there. I have a small simple set up. Four Renogy 100 watt Monocrystalline panels, 40 amp mppt charge controller, RENOGY 500 watt pure sinewave inverter. and two Trojan T-105 RE batteries. it's a simple set up and has been up and running for the past 4 years. I'm happy with it. I don't use a lot of power and most everything that I have is 12volt. when I need more power I fire up my Honda is3000 inverter generator....
One big plus of having the panels in parallel is that having e.g. one out of ten panels shaded reduces your output by 10% (to 90% of the fully-lit power). When panels are in series shading one out of ten produces much more that 10% reduction in power. This is due to the non-linear voltage/current response of the panels and how this changes with the amount of light hitting them.
So nice to see a guy use the KISS method. For 98% of RVers a 12V system is fine. A great quality PWM charge controller with Temp Compensation like Morningstar or Bogart, 2-4 much cheaper good quality Flooded 6V batteries from Crown or Trojan, a good battery monitor like this guy's and Ray's Trimetric, and 2-4 Renogy 150W panels is a phenomenal system that is quite affordable. It helps to have a simple system because when something breaks down as it invariably will it is much easier to diagnose and fix that problem when you're out in the middle of nowhere with limited tools on hand. Nice video! What a system!
Very interesting set-up with a lot of good ideas for the solar setup. Video like this certainly helps promote solar power. But I sure hope the idea of pulling campers with road tractors doesn't catch on!! What is saved with the solar rig goes right out the window when that tractor cranks up!
Sorry I don't know, you would have to ask him - Mobile Homestead Solar Services Website - mobilehomesteading.com/ or maybe there is a video on his channel - ua-cam.com/channels/cwsCAkv49OJcxW66c1iBng.html Cheers, Ray
I don't see me ever installing this much solar, but I am happy to see that I am not the first person to want to have a weather station. I was curious as to how that would work.
Here is the weather station I've been using www.loveyourrv.com/christmas-rv-goodie-deluxe-weather-station-for-the-rig/ It has its own built in solar panel on the outside sensor array and I've wired it into my RV battery for powering the inside display.
@@kcgunesq No, I have it mounted on a flag pole-type mount attached to the ladder. Easy to pull off quickly when I move the RV to the next campsite and reattach.
A Campbell Riverite chasing the '70's! What kind of RVer are you? I only chase '80's for the heat and not in the USA. You missed the snow again here in Campbell River so I might have to send you some.
He doesn't have the slide outs built yet but his plans are to have one on each side of the rig. You can see where the the seams are in place. He just has to find the time and money to complete the job.
We were waiting to find out about the chickens we could hear in the background. Or were we dreaming? Do they actually have chickens with on the road? We are thinking of buying layer chickens each fall when we arrive in Arizona and sell them in the spring when we head back north.
wow Ray you know what they say here in Canada ,Bigger is better in the usa but that is really one hell of a rig. I like your system Ray its simple compare to his plus problably cheaper.Cheers Ray
I hear ya, it would be really hard to full time in Canada in that size of a rig, but quite doable in the US, so many more places to go that can handle the size and much warmer in the winter. :)
Great system ! Although 10X bigger than mine, I like the simplicity of it. I use the KISS method as well. I'm still using lead acid & PWM. It works for me & if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Howdy Robert! Our Volvo is tilted as a motorhome RV, so in my state I do not need a CDL. Also our rig is exempt as it is not a CV and we do not have to cross commercial vehicle scales. I do hold a CDL and this keeps me from to much red tape if stopped. Happy Trails!!!
I am still running lead acid and they should last another 6-8 years. Maybe then I will move to Lithium. Waiting for those costs to come down and saving for the extra system pieces that will allow for lithium.
You can buy your own 100ah cells and a BMS for around 500 dollars. Half the price of your name brand Battleborn or other brands. You can build out a 24v 200ah bank for 2k and a all in one MPP solar inverter PIP-LV2424MSD and charger controls along with gen backup or grid back up for about 700 bucks. 2kw of solar will run you 75 cents a watt for the cheapest 100w panel on amazon or buy used panels for 25 cents to 50 cents from your local market. Low end price will set you back about 3500 or less. On an RV you can frame the whole roof up an inch over your open vents and or ac unit and gain more space. ( make sure the height is under your max height for bridges ) Tilt vs flat with a much larger solar system is not worth it to tilt it. You may lose 20% give or take depending on time of year. 2000w at about 1800 watts and 20% loss will give you 1500 watts of solar for the better part of the day. With the 150v charge controller In the MPP solar all in one you will still get huge amounts of power in low light conditions. With 1500 watts of solar incoming you can charge your empty dead bank up in 3 and a half hours and have the rest of the day to use what ever energy you want to use. A 200 ah bank at 24v will give you about 4kw of power to use at night time, Which is when you will use the least amount of battery. This is a huge amount of power. While the cycle rate will last you far longer than your lead batteries.
It's time to buy now. The Chinese are flooding the market and you can get 200 amp hours of lipo battery for just $800. That 200 amp hours is 100% usable, unlike with lead acid batteries. They also have far more cycles in their lifetime so lithium batteries are about 25% the lifetime cost of lead acid batteries now.
Ray, are you still in the Quartzsite area?? We are in the area with a disabled truck. Thought we’d like to have a 10 minute meet up if you were convenient.
I wander if he’s learned solar from Handy Bob blog it all exact same products he recommends. I’ve got the same system but in miniature. Going strong 6 years now! But Trojans are getting tired so don’t forget keep that water up to them!!!
Fewer but larger batteries is always better, less imbalance between the cell chemistry, less maintenance, and fewer interconnects to corrode. Unless you needed the lower height of the 105's, L-16's would have been a bit better choice. L-16's can also be cheaper, per AH.My two cents worth, after 28 years off grid, and 13 years grid ties (NO batteries)! Everything else looks great, nice job!
I live in Wisconsin im going to be running a business out of my rv and need to be very mobile with off grid dry camping dependency. Who can i speak with to find out my set up needs?
State of the art 6 or 7 years ago when you should have interviewed him. Seems antiquated only having 450 usable amp hours (50% of charge) and longer PWM controler charge times, weekly battery watering. Thanks for the look back in time.
Guess it depends on how much $$$ you have to sink into a system. It is pretty impressive given the economical cost and quality installation. For the vast majority of RVers, 1800 watts of solar power during the day and 450 amp hours capacity for overnight a is a huge amount even these days. Most RVs can't support near that much wattage on the roof area. btw, If you install a system properly set up and sized with quality lead-acid batteries like his Trojans there is no need to water them weekly, maybe every month or two. Cheers, Ray
@Stanford Smith For sure. Tried and tested is better in my opinion also.As far as the PWM longer charge times, what does it matter if the batteries get charged to 100% daily? If they charge faster, say by 10AM, the power is just wasted after that, isn't it?
What section are you interested in? The battery cables or solar wiring or inverter cables or are you looking for a complete breakdown of the whole installation? There is a lot of wires in this install! :) Cheers, Ray
@@LoveYourRV Thanks! I was going to change to 4/0 gauge later. I been building 12 vdc in my home all around now. I still need to add solar panels next, I have all the gear ready. Thanks again! Enjoy better weather then here in Washington.
I was next to someone at Scaddam's wash that has 4,000 wats of solar and still ran a generator all day long. I'll never understand the need for that much solar, much less that generator.
@@LoveYourRV My solar panel worked just fine, parked next to the guy running his generator. I don't use. nor have a generator, I have the same sun, and never have a problem. Yes, Im opinionated, I hate generators.
Different strokes for different folks I guess. It seems strange, 4000 watts is a ton of solar, not sure why they needed the genny. Maybe they were having an issue with the system. If you hate generators, my tip is to avoid the Quartzsite scene, especially in January. Lots of other quieter and prettier places in the southwest to boondock. ;)
Finally a decent quality install. I have seen so many poorly run cables where people do not seem to notice any problem. This one is up to my standard. About the moningstar solar charge controller, I wonder why he is so happy about them. They have some bad rating on Amazon "The charger is actually really nice, but the software is terrible." with comments like these, I will refrain purchasing them.
Maybe they just don't want to learn how to program it. Anyway once you program the thing its not like you need to touch them much, sort of like my Bogart/Trimetric setup, program it once and leave it to do its job. :)
Howdy Michel! Thanks for the kind words about our solar set-up. MorningStar Tristar solarcharge controllers (PWM &MPPT) are one of the best, longest lasting brands. They can be fully adjustable with dip switches, and the firmware is free and can be downloaded from the MorningStar website to set-up for custom Lithium battery banks. Happy Trails!!!
I am new to solar systems and am looking for a tutor who’d: look at my set up, tell me about it, and help me understand how it’s working and how much can I do with the amount of solar I have. I’ll be in Arizona the first of April and could meet you and see if you’re available to work with me for, at leased, an hour. Of course, I”d pay you for your time.
Very interesting. The man knows his stuff. Wonder what he gets for fuel mileage? Just a reminder to all your viewers. The tax incentive on solar systems is dropping for this year. If you purchased anything in 2019 for your RV system, you can claim it on your taxes. 30% for 2019, going down to 26% for 2020 and 22% by 2021.
@@alaska-bornfloridaman Trump: no effort whatsoever to extend smart energy policy and the positive impact it will have on our future; no vision of the future beyond the further enrichment of giant corporations.
I think you meant to say series. It uses a smaller gauge wire since the voltage can be higher. His system is run in parallel. Lower voltage, higher amperage needs thicker wiring down to the controller.
@@LoveYourRV no you read me correctly, I was quoting the statement he made in the video he said he had no need to run in a series he ran parallel and I was saying yeah other than smaller wire
I AM IMPRESSED ONE HUNDRED PERCENT. YOU SHOULD SEE MY PORTABLE 8KW WINCO PTO GENERATOR I BUILT YEARS AGO THAT RUNS ON 5HP. INEXPENSIVE TO OPERATE. YES I SAID 5 HP GAS ENGINE. IT WILL PUT OUT 110V 0R 220V VERY SMALL..
just an fyi its best to say kilowatt hour of battery bank no AH because 900ah could be any of the following 10.8kw [@12v] 21.6kw [@24v] 43 kw [@48v] So as you can see the 900ah is completley useless in determing how much storage capacity he has
Thanks, since the vast majority of RVers are running 12V systems I felt they would understand amp-hours better since for years that has been the standard way to express capacity in RV batteries. Figure anyone running the newer generation of more elaborate 24V or 48V systems is smart enough to do the calculation.
@@LoveYourRV in the end i figured it out after watching the whole vid he was using 12v but i was wondering. a lot of guys now are switching to 24 and 48v systems just because of the fact they can so much power wattage per unit , just going from 12 to 24v on a charge controller doubles your power capcity . .
Maybe for you, but they are a family of three living full time with a lot of different higher wattage daily power loads, a 1500 watt solar generator wouldn't cut it. Also, its good to have reserve capacity for short winter days, hazy days, cloudy days, etc. Cheers, Ray
Lifepo4 cells would be a good option for storage too, with half the weight of SLA or GEL batteries, the new LTO cells have a much more extreme temperature operating range, a 40 amp hour battery is about the size of a tall boy beer can. Those types have a much higher cycle life, some lifepo4 used for off grid set up say 25,000 cycles... depending on DOD, the new LTO cells are even higher than that so they would pretty much last you a lifetime. They bolt together easily enough, so as long as you can wire in series as well as parallel, you can build any size capacity and voltage you want. There are new panels out, they heat water as well as do solar. Have you ever thought of adding in some small wind turbines like they use on sail boats to augment your system ? you could probably find some old telescopic light masts to mount them on.
That would be cold, wood as a insulating factor in our construction is a better material . All Aluminum would be a conductor to the transfer of the outside temperature. Happy Trails!!!
This is not an RV, it is a power house on wheels, can power generate for a small rv community and it is all green energy baby, ha ha. And have some left over for that jet power hot tub for 12, ha ha. TH
Meh. I'm using a 2400watt solar system with another 500 watt wind turbine for my fifth wheel. My big thing is that I need more batteries. I have 8 6V batteries now, wired in s-p for 24volt. I Want 16 batteries though, as soon as I'm able. What this fellow might want to do though, is look into Silicon dioxide batteries. They basically have the best of both worlds from lead acid and lithium iron phosphate. They have the longevity of lithium, but will operate in temperatures to -40 degrees. They require no maintenance and are about a third the cost of lithium. The best part is you can run them to 100% depth of discharge multiple times without harming the longevity of the battery!
Nice, I have heard that carbon foam batteries are an alternative as well. Does the wind turbine cause much noise and vibration in the rig? People always ask why more boondockers don't use wind. Cheers, Ray
Love Your RV Yeah, no, not at all. I think a lot of people assume that wind energy will be very expensive as well. That's mostly because of the North American Marketing. I just buy super cheap ones from Alibaba. Companies like Green Energy (G&E) really do care about their product and you can be up and running for about $400. I have a 5 blade turbine (looking back I think I would recommend a three-blade. 5 blades will start turning at lower wind speed, but 3 blades will spin faster once the wind starts to pick up a bit) so when it's really windy there is a bit of whooshing you can hear. But you don't hear any vibration from the PMG( permanent magnet generator) inside, or anything like that. I actually have started to really enjoy the sound of the whooshing through the turbine blades. It's music to my ears because I know it's making power! You can check out John Daniels UA-cam channel. He really knows his wind power. And he likes to do things on the cheap. while also maintaining reliability in his equipment. I wouldn't buy any Chinese turbines that he didn't specifically recommend. I have a brand new fifth wheel. that I live in. I have to say, the Chinese solar array (which included a 3500 watt inverter, pwm solar charger, and wiring) and Chinese wind turbine are the only two things in this whole unit that I have not had any problem with whatsoever! The brand new Jayco trailer has had one thing go wrong after another since I bought it in October. But my power sources have not given me a lick of trouble. Oh, btw, thanks for the video! =)
Looks overweight to me. But then I've only weighed a couple thousand RVs. They didn't show the factory spec plate, so it could have enough GVWR and GAWR. The tractor is fine. The GCWR is probably fine, this isn't 50k pounds.
I ask Eddie about that said he is still way under the trailer GVWR. It's built on a Big Tex gooseneck trailer - www.bigtextrailers.com/flatbed-gooseneck-trailers Has tandem dual axles so 4 tires on each side.
1800 watts is nothing compared to some of the builds I have seen. Trojan batteries are old tech, Where most people are building out 48v systems with 100ah of lithium, Which is far more than that 900ah at 12v. I have seen 2kwh to 4kwh of solar and a lot better equipment. People are running their ac units for weeks at a time with much larger and better systems.
@@LoveYourRV Not really, I did a build out in another comment on here, 2kw system with lithium battery 24v 200ah and an MPP Solar all in one unit cost under 4k. 500 for used solar panels, 700 for all in one inverter, 2000 for 4 12v 100ah lithium batteries, Then the rest in mounting hardware and other related items.
It is 900AH total capacity based on a 20 hour discharge rate. He has 8 Trojan 6V T-105 wired in a series/parallel arrangement for 12V banks. Each battery is rated at 225AH total capacity at 20 hour discharge rate. www.trojanbattery.com/product/t-105/ Usable capacity is a different story depending on how much lifespan you hope to achieve. Most people aim for around a 50% depth of discharge as the max recommended to preserve a long lifespan. Yeah, LIFePO4 are nice, but this video was almost two years ago, prices weren't nearly as cheap. Things have changed fast in the lithium world. His batteries were already paid for and serving his needs well for years, so no reason to change. They also spend a lot of time camping in winter conditions in northern AZ and Wyoming. Cheers, Ray
Nice setup. Lithium is definitely worth every penny.
wow - Amazing setup...
LOVE that setup and the LOGIC behind WHY he did everything.
Thank you for interviewing this gentleman and his impressive solar set up!
"no need to replace something if its working"... man I wish I could live by that motto! Thanks to both of you for sharing this amazing setup!
Grand pa always said
Don't fix what ain't broke
Keep it simple stupid
Know alot about a little and a little about alot .
3 codes for Children ; to grow into being a productive adult
American Values :
# 1 is Vital #DoNoHarmToAnother
#2 #LearnTeach2ProsperityUSA
#3 #JurisPrudence
Newest addition #4 😆
#RenewablesAreSustainable
Very nice laid out system. Lot of thought went into it. Learned a lot. Thank you.
That is a nice system he sounds very knowledgeable awesome video
Great video and Ray. I can personally say Eddie does great work if you need a guy to do a solar install.
Thank you! Your friend and you are both fountains of information. Great points on why he uses lead acid batteries, too! I am glad I still have mine.
You're welcome :)
Very nice setup!
Wow. That’s quite a rig. We have definite solar envy. Great review, Ray. Alice and Larry
It sure is, they are still working on the inside.
I love your set up neat and looks very robust. Plus your explanation is perfect nice job thanks.
That’s an impressive power system. Thanks for the sharing.
Another great video Ray! Many thanks ... really appreciate all the instruction and insight you provide on RV solar systems. Eddie sure does good work and and has an awesome rig. I was pleased to see he is using the Bogart Engineering System. I picked up on that from one of your prior videos and had that installed in our new rig. Safe travels!
Wow... what an awesome set up he has there. I have a small simple set up. Four Renogy 100 watt Monocrystalline panels, 40 amp mppt charge controller, RENOGY 500 watt pure sinewave inverter. and two Trojan T-105 RE batteries. it's a simple set up and has been up and running for the past 4 years. I'm happy with it. I don't use a lot of power and most everything that I have is 12volt. when I need more power I fire up my Honda is3000 inverter generator....
Outstanding video thanks please make more, 12v is better.
Someone who survived many hurricanes in Puerto Rico and earthquakes.
You're welcome. :)
WOW!!! That’s very impressive!
Big dollar power set up!
Leave it to a guy from WY to come up with a fantastic rig like this! Thanks Ray for sharing your friends RV
haha, yeah. :)
What an impressive setup.
Good seeing you and Anne. Didn't get a chance to say goodbye.
Good to see you folks again. :)
Great video, so many useful tips, thanks for sharing!!
Nice rig
One big plus of having the panels in parallel is that having e.g. one out of ten panels shaded reduces your output by 10% (to 90% of the fully-lit power). When panels are in series shading one out of ten produces much more that 10% reduction in power. This is due to the non-linear voltage/current response of the panels and how this changes with the amount of light hitting them.
WOW.... impressive
Hell yeah! :D
So nice to see a guy use the KISS method. For 98% of RVers a 12V system is fine. A great quality PWM charge controller with Temp Compensation like Morningstar or Bogart, 2-4 much cheaper good quality Flooded 6V batteries from Crown or Trojan, a good battery monitor like this guy's and Ray's Trimetric, and 2-4 Renogy 150W panels is a phenomenal system that is quite affordable. It helps to have a simple system because when something breaks down as it invariably will it is much easier to diagnose and fix that problem when you're out in the middle of nowhere with limited tools on hand. Nice video! What a system!
Seems to work great for us. :)
Very interesting set-up with a lot of good ideas for the solar setup. Video like this certainly helps promote solar power. But I sure hope the idea of pulling campers with road tractors doesn't catch on!! What is saved with the solar rig goes right out the window when that tractor cranks up!
Not much different than any of the large Class A diesel pusher motorhomes. They are just wrapped in a shiny outside box. :)
@@LoveYourRV ... Yep!
Great work
That trailer has the aerodynamics of a brick.
Look at the front end.........
It pulls like a dream, not at all like a brick.
What are the spec's for his home built solar panel brackets? Trying to make my own. Thanks keep the vids a coming!
Sorry I don't know, you would have to ask him - Mobile Homestead Solar Services Website - mobilehomesteading.com/
or maybe there is a video on his channel - ua-cam.com/channels/cwsCAkv49OJcxW66c1iBng.html Cheers, Ray
My brain hurts.. I can't even begin to comprehend what you was talking.
*about there.
Hauling with a semi equals, battery weight what battery weight?
Thanks Ray I got quite a CHRAGR out of your video ⚡️⚡️🧐
I like the rv but o wish to see more inside
Great rig. Excellent. :-)))) :-))))
Damn that's awesome.
Wonder if he's got video building that trailer
Eddie has photos on his website mobilehomesteading.com/the-new-mobile-homestead/
Awesome video thank you
I don't see me ever installing this much solar, but I am happy to see that I am not the first person to want to have a weather station. I was curious as to how that would work.
Here is the weather station I've been using www.loveyourrv.com/christmas-rv-goodie-deluxe-weather-station-for-the-rig/ It has its own built in solar panel on the outside sensor array and I've wired it into my RV battery for powering the inside display.
@@LoveYourRV Do you drive with it installed?
@@kcgunesq No, I have it mounted on a flag pole-type mount attached to the ladder. Easy to pull off quickly when I move the RV to the next campsite and reattach.
@@LoveYourRV I assumed that was the case. Thanks.
Give us a full house tour of that rig!
Its not quite totally finished inside but when it is I'll see if they will let me intrude. :)
A Campbell Riverite chasing the '70's! What kind of RVer are you?
I only chase '80's for the heat and not in the USA. You missed the snow again here in Campbell River so I might have to send you some.
Is that a slide out on the camp side of his RV?
He doesn't have the slide outs built yet but his plans are to have one on each side of the rig. You can see where the the seams are in place. He just has to find the time and money to complete the job.
We were waiting to find out about the chickens we could hear in the background. Or were we dreaming? Do they actually have chickens with on the road? We are thinking of buying layer chickens each fall when we arrive in Arizona and sell them in the spring when we head back north.
Yes, they have 3 chickens and a rooster. :)
@@LoveYourRV Ray, it would be nice to see how they have that setup when you run into them again. 🤗🐔🐓🐣🐤🐥
I'll let Eddie know its a video he should do. :)
@@bertandyvonne.campers6157 I will see if we can make one for you......
Happy Trails!!!
@@MobileHomesteading you almost had just the 3 chickens. Has the rooster grown tail feathers yet?
I agree with AThroop as well. I have no clue what I just watched. But this is awesome technology. And that trailer looks home built?
Yes, Eddie built it himself using a Big Tex goose neck trailer as a platform
@@LoveYourRV
What kind of Semi does he drive? Powertrain wise?
@@Sig721Tau Its a Volvo, not sure the exact engine, there are a few pics here - mobilehomesteading.com/mobile-homestead-heading-east/
Good Stuffff thanks 😎🇺🇸
wow Ray you know what they say here in Canada ,Bigger is better in the usa but that is really one hell of a rig. I like your system Ray its simple compare to his plus problably cheaper.Cheers Ray
I hear ya, it would be really hard to full time in Canada in that size of a rig, but quite doable in the US, so many more places to go that can handle the size and much warmer in the winter. :)
@@LoveYourRV Yep know what you mean Ray.Winter is not kind to rv,plus you have to find a spot open all year.Ya it better in the USA .Cheers
I thought it was "keep it stupid simple" 😂 this is one beautiful rig not really my style but it's absolutely stunning to say the least.
Great system ! Although 10X bigger than mine, I like the simplicity of it. I use the KISS method as well. I'm still using lead acid & PWM. It works for me & if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
nice system. It little off subject, but was wondering how DOT looks at him. Is his rig considered a commercial vehicle. Stop at scales...etc.
I'll ask, but I see on the side of his semi it says RV Not for Hire, but Eddie does have his CDL
Howdy Robert!
Our Volvo is tilted as a motorhome RV, so in my state I do not need a CDL. Also our rig is exempt as it is not a CV and we do not have to cross commercial vehicle scales.
I do hold a CDL and this keeps me from to much red tape if stopped.
Happy Trails!!!
I am still running lead acid and they should last another 6-8 years. Maybe then I will move to Lithium. Waiting for those costs to come down and saving for the extra system pieces that will allow for lithium.
You can buy your own 100ah cells and a BMS for around 500 dollars. Half the price of your name brand Battleborn or other brands.
You can build out a 24v 200ah bank for 2k and a all in one MPP solar inverter PIP-LV2424MSD and charger controls along with gen backup or grid back up for about 700 bucks. 2kw of solar will run you 75 cents a watt for the cheapest 100w panel on amazon or buy used panels for 25 cents to 50 cents from your local market.
Low end price will set you back about 3500 or less.
On an RV you can frame the whole roof up an inch over your open vents and or ac unit and gain more space. ( make sure the height is under your max height for bridges )
Tilt vs flat with a much larger solar system is not worth it to tilt it. You may lose 20% give or take depending on time of year.
2000w at about 1800 watts and 20% loss will give you 1500 watts of solar for the better part of the day. With the 150v charge controller In the MPP solar all in one you will still get huge amounts of power in low light conditions. With 1500 watts of solar incoming you can charge your empty dead bank up in 3 and a half hours and have the rest of the day to use what ever energy you want to use.
A 200 ah bank at 24v will give you about 4kw of power to use at night time, Which is when you will use the least amount of battery. This is a huge amount of power.
While the cycle rate will last you far longer than your lead batteries.
It's time to buy now. The Chinese are flooding the market and you can get 200 amp hours of lipo battery for just $800. That 200 amp hours is 100% usable, unlike with lead acid batteries.
They also have far more cycles in their lifetime so lithium batteries are about 25% the lifetime cost of lead acid batteries now.
I finally heard that rooster I thought I was hearing chickens
You should put water fill system for your batteries makes it really fast to maintain
Yeah, really handy if battery access is difficult.
Ray, are you still in the Quartzsite area?? We are in the area with a disabled truck. Thought we’d like to have a 10 minute meet up if you were convenient.
Wow, old school! I am guessing 50 percent total loss! But loving the redundancy setup!
Yeah, old school, they have been off grid full time RVers for over 10 years.
@@LoveYourRV .. the perfected it in that time
I wander if he’s learned solar from Handy Bob blog it all exact same products he recommends. I’ve got the same system but in miniature. Going strong 6 years now! But Trojans are getting tired so don’t forget keep that water up to them!!!
Fewer but larger batteries is always better, less imbalance between the cell chemistry, less maintenance, and fewer interconnects to corrode. Unless you needed the lower height of the 105's, L-16's would have been a bit better choice. L-16's can also be cheaper, per AH.My two cents worth, after 28 years off grid, and 13 years grid ties (NO batteries)! Everything else looks great, nice job!
I live in Wisconsin im going to be running a business out of my rv and need to be very mobile with off grid dry camping dependency. Who can i speak with to find out my set up needs?
You can find Eddie's contact info here - mobilehomesteading.com/ Cheers, Ray
wow !!
State of the art 6 or 7 years ago when you should have interviewed him. Seems antiquated only having 450 usable amp hours (50% of charge) and longer PWM controler charge times, weekly battery watering. Thanks for the look back in time.
Guess it depends on how much $$$ you have to sink into a system. It is pretty impressive given the economical cost and quality installation. For the vast majority of RVers, 1800 watts of solar power during the day and 450 amp hours capacity for overnight a is a huge amount even these days. Most RVs can't support near that much wattage on the roof area. btw, If you install a system properly set up and sized with quality lead-acid batteries like his Trojans there is no need to water them weekly, maybe every month or two. Cheers, Ray
@Stanford Smith For sure. Tried and tested is better in my opinion also.As far as the PWM longer charge times, what does it matter if the batteries get charged to 100% daily? If they charge faster, say by 10AM, the power is just wasted after that, isn't it?
Hi Ray! Hey do you know what type size wire is?
What section are you interested in? The battery cables or solar wiring or inverter cables or are you looking for a complete breakdown of the whole installation? There is a lot of wires in this install! :) Cheers, Ray
Sorry! The Battery negative and Positive crossing wire cables AWG? I personally only use 2 gauge wire.
I'll ask Eddie and let ya know. :) I use 2/0 gauge also known as Two Aught for my battery bank, but his may be bigger, not sure.
@@LoveYourRV Thanks! I was going to change to 4/0 gauge later. I been building 12 vdc in my home all around now. I still need to add solar panels next, I have all the gear ready. Thanks again! Enjoy better weather then here in Washington.
His battery cables are 2/0 becasue his inverters are only 2000 watts, if you run a larger inverter then you may need thicker cables.
I was next to someone at Scaddam's wash that has 4,000 wats of solar and still ran a generator all day long. I'll never understand the need for that much solar, much less that generator.
Maybe the sun wasn't shining. one thing about solar no sun , no power. :)
@@LoveYourRV My solar panel worked just fine, parked next to the guy running his generator. I don't use. nor have a generator, I have the same sun, and never have a problem. Yes, Im opinionated, I hate generators.
Different strokes for different folks I guess. It seems strange, 4000 watts is a ton of solar, not sure why they needed the genny. Maybe they were having an issue with the system. If you hate generators, my tip is to avoid the Quartzsite scene, especially in January. Lots of other quieter and prettier places in the southwest to boondock. ;)
@@LoveYourRV People love their instapot more than they like peace and quiet is my guess. Use your stove and stop bothering everyone, please.
@@vidguy007 Dude, chill out. Not everybody needs to revolve around you.
Wow!
Thanks!!!
That's incredible, but how do they survive without AC?....lol, good vid Ray.
Camper has wheels, just move where its cooler. :)
He said he has a ductless mini split system
I heard Eddie say he installed a Ductless mini split A/C system it probably has a heat strip in it also .
*Mobile Homestead Solar Services Website* - mobilehomesteading.com/
*Mobile Homesteading UA-cam Channel* - ua-cam.com/channels/cwsCAkv49OJcxW66c1iBng.html
WOW
Wow 😳. I have a Juicer, a laptop, and a cell phone. I make Cowboy coffee. 😅
I love "Cowboy Coffee"!
Happy Trails!!!
@@MobileHomesteading 😊 Your work and Craftsmanship are amazing, breathtaking !!!
He does amazing work, all the wiring and connections are built to last and get the most out of a system. Cheers, Ray
@@LoveYourRV Thank you for showing us :-0)
You could run a hydro in that thing
Viewing from Europe I always thought Ray's RV was pretty big, but no, it's not big after all!
That install looks like cowboy solar!
Finally a decent quality install. I have seen so many poorly run cables where people do not seem to notice any problem. This one is up to my standard.
About the moningstar solar charge controller, I wonder why he is so happy about them. They have some bad rating on Amazon "The charger is actually really nice, but the software is terrible." with comments like these, I will refrain purchasing them.
Maybe they just don't want to learn how to program it. Anyway once you program the thing its not like you need to touch them much, sort of like my Bogart/Trimetric setup, program it once and leave it to do its job. :)
Howdy Michel!
Thanks for the kind words about our solar set-up.
MorningStar Tristar solarcharge controllers (PWM &MPPT) are one of the best, longest lasting brands. They can be fully adjustable with dip switches, and the firmware is free and can be downloaded from the MorningStar website to set-up for custom Lithium battery banks.
Happy Trails!!!
Fine reply. I can take it. Do it once and step outside for your next trail.
I am new to solar systems and am looking for a tutor who’d: look at my set up, tell me about it, and help me understand how it’s working and how much can I do with the amount of solar I have. I’ll be in Arizona the first of April and could meet you and see if you’re available to work with me for, at leased, an hour. Of course, I”d pay you for your time.
Hi Jill you can find Eddies contact info on his website - mobilehomesteading.com/past-projects/contact-us/ Cheers! Ray
Love Your RV Thank you so much for the information about Eddie. Hopefully, I’ll be able to be ,worry free, with his help on my solar system.
He powers half of Quartzsite.
This is a mobile power company. He can sell power to the near by RVs.
Nice solar setup but i think i wd put it on a smaller fifth wheel say 35 ft so i dont need to drive a semi truck into town to get a loaf of bread...
Luckily his wife makes her own bread! and its very tasty. :)
@@LoveYourRV oh! Problem solved then! She drives to town in a semi to buy flour...ok...
Very interesting. The man knows his stuff. Wonder what he gets for fuel mileage? Just a reminder to all your viewers. The tax incentive on solar systems is dropping for this year. If you purchased anything in 2019 for your RV system, you can claim it on your taxes. 30% for 2019, going down to 26% for 2020 and 22% by 2021.
Howdy!
We get around 7.5 to 9 MPG on a good day, with a head wind and pulling hills we get around 6 to 7,5 MPG.
Happy Trails!!!
Dropping tax incentives for solar is such an intelligent move... Thanks Trumppets!
@@dogpatch75
Those parameters were established during the Obama administration. But whatever.
@@alaska-bornfloridaman Trump: no effort whatsoever to extend smart energy policy and the positive impact it will have on our future; no vision of the future beyond the further enrichment of giant corporations.
OK I heard the Chicken in the background? Most people boondocking don't take along their Chickens. LOL?
Fresh eggs!!!!
no need to run parrallel other than... smaller wire which saves a few $
I think you meant to say series. It uses a smaller gauge wire since the voltage can be higher. His system is run in parallel. Lower voltage, higher amperage needs thicker wiring down to the controller.
@@LoveYourRV no you read me correctly, I was quoting the statement he made in the video he said he had no need to run in a series he ran parallel and I was saying yeah other than smaller wire
Oh OK, I didn't understand the text you wrote was a quote. The video was from a while back so don't remember all the conversation. Cheers, Ray
I AM IMPRESSED ONE HUNDRED PERCENT. YOU SHOULD SEE MY PORTABLE 8KW WINCO PTO GENERATOR I BUILT YEARS AGO THAT RUNS ON 5HP. INEXPENSIVE TO OPERATE. YES I SAID 5 HP GAS ENGINE. IT WILL PUT OUT 110V 0R 220V VERY SMALL..
just an fyi its best to say kilowatt hour of battery bank no AH because 900ah could be any of the following
10.8kw [@12v]
21.6kw [@24v]
43 kw [@48v]
So as you can see the 900ah is completley useless in determing how much storage capacity he has
Thanks, since the vast majority of RVers are running 12V systems I felt they would understand amp-hours better since for years that has been the standard way to express capacity in RV batteries. Figure anyone running the newer generation of more elaborate 24V or 48V systems is smart enough to do the calculation.
@@LoveYourRV in the end i figured it out after watching the whole vid he was using 12v but i was wondering. a lot of guys now are switching to 24 and 48v systems just because of the fact they can so much power wattage per unit , just going from 12 to 24v on a charge controller doubles your power capcity . .
if yur chasing 70 degrees and not using a/c for cooling,,you dont need but 3 solar panels and a 1500 watt solar generator
Maybe for you, but they are a family of three living full time with a lot of different higher wattage daily power loads, a 1500 watt solar generator wouldn't cut it. Also, its good to have reserve capacity for short winter days, hazy days, cloudy days, etc. Cheers, Ray
Lifepo4 cells would be a good option for storage too, with half the weight of SLA or GEL batteries, the new LTO cells have a much more extreme temperature operating range, a 40 amp hour battery is about the size of a tall boy beer can.
Those types have a much higher cycle life, some lifepo4 used for off grid set up say 25,000 cycles... depending on DOD, the new LTO cells are even higher than that so they would pretty much last you a lifetime.
They bolt together easily enough, so as long as you can wire in series as well as parallel, you can build any size capacity and voltage you want.
There are new panels out, they heat water as well as do solar.
Have you ever thought of adding in some small wind turbines like they use on sail boats to augment your system ? you could probably find some old telescopic light masts to mount them on.
Good ideas, just takes money. :)
Was hoping the rig was ALL aluminum inside and out!
That would be cold, wood as a insulating factor in our construction is a better material . All Aluminum would be a conductor to the transfer of the outside temperature.
Happy Trails!!!
This is not an RV, it is a power house on wheels, can power generate for a small rv community and it is all green energy baby, ha ha. And have some left over for that jet power hot tub for 12, ha ha. TH
Interesting self built RV. I wish you had asked how much that thing weighs. Not that he really needs to care.
Meh. I'm using a 2400watt solar system with another 500 watt wind turbine for my fifth wheel. My big thing is that I need more batteries. I have 8 6V batteries now, wired in s-p for 24volt. I Want 16 batteries though, as soon as I'm able.
What this fellow might want to do though, is look into Silicon dioxide batteries. They basically have the best of both worlds from lead acid and lithium iron phosphate. They have the longevity of lithium, but will operate in temperatures to -40 degrees. They require no maintenance and are about a third the cost of lithium. The best part is you can run them to 100% depth of discharge multiple times without harming the longevity of the battery!
Nice, I have heard that carbon foam batteries are an alternative as well. Does the wind turbine cause much noise and vibration in the rig? People always ask why more boondockers don't use wind. Cheers, Ray
Love Your RV Yeah, no, not at all. I think a lot of people assume that wind energy will be very expensive as well. That's mostly because of the North American Marketing. I just buy super cheap ones from Alibaba. Companies like Green Energy (G&E) really do care about their product and you can be up and running for about $400.
I have a 5 blade turbine (looking back I think I would recommend a three-blade. 5 blades will start turning at lower wind speed, but 3 blades will spin faster once the wind starts to pick up a bit) so when it's really windy there is a bit of whooshing you can hear. But you don't hear any vibration from the PMG( permanent magnet generator) inside, or anything like that. I actually have started to really enjoy the sound of the whooshing through the turbine blades. It's music to my ears because I know it's making power! You can check out John Daniels UA-cam channel. He really knows his wind power. And he likes to do things on the cheap. while also maintaining reliability in his equipment. I wouldn't buy any Chinese turbines that he didn't specifically recommend.
I have a brand new fifth wheel. that I live in. I have to say, the Chinese solar array (which included a 3500 watt inverter, pwm solar charger, and wiring) and Chinese wind turbine are the only two things in this whole unit that I have not had any problem with whatsoever! The brand new Jayco trailer has had one thing go wrong after another since I bought it in October. But my power sources have not given me a lick of trouble.
Oh, btw, thanks for the video! =)
Looks overweight to me. But then I've only weighed a couple thousand RVs. They didn't show the factory spec plate, so it could have enough GVWR and GAWR. The tractor is fine. The GCWR is probably fine, this isn't 50k pounds.
I ask Eddie about that said he is still way under the trailer GVWR. It's built on a Big Tex gooseneck trailer - www.bigtextrailers.com/flatbed-gooseneck-trailers Has tandem dual axles so 4 tires on each side.
propane and battery bank next to each other, say no more...
It's not a sealed compartment, its located basically outside. Lots of travel trailers have the batteries right behind the propane tanks.
AUDIO!!!!!
Sounds Good!
we could meet if you gave me some notice dang
Where do I send the notice? :)
Commentary dry as the landscape....
1800 watts is nothing compared to some of the builds I have seen.
Trojan batteries are old tech, Where most people are building out 48v systems with 100ah of lithium, Which is far more than that 900ah at 12v.
I have seen 2kwh to 4kwh of solar and a lot better equipment.
People are running their ac units for weeks at a time with much larger and better systems.
Cool, sounds like cutting edge stuff, bet its a pretty penny. :)
@@LoveYourRV Not really, I did a build out in another comment on here, 2kw system with lithium battery 24v 200ah and an MPP Solar all in one unit cost under 4k.
500 for used solar panels, 700 for all in one inverter, 2000 for 4 12v 100ah lithium batteries, Then the rest in mounting hardware and other related items.
Nice, got some good deals there!
Yeah, that's not 900Ah. He needs to build his own life packs. Too easy and cheap not to, anymore
It is 900AH total capacity based on a 20 hour discharge rate. He has 8 Trojan 6V T-105 wired in a series/parallel arrangement for 12V banks. Each battery is rated at 225AH total capacity at 20 hour discharge rate. www.trojanbattery.com/product/t-105/
Usable capacity is a different story depending on how much lifespan you hope to achieve. Most people aim for around a 50% depth of discharge as the max recommended to preserve a long lifespan.
Yeah, LIFePO4 are nice, but this video was almost two years ago, prices weren't nearly as cheap. Things have changed fast in the lithium world. His batteries were already paid for and serving his needs well for years, so no reason to change. They also spend a lot of time camping in winter conditions in northern AZ and Wyoming. Cheers, Ray
@@LoveYourRV the date said 1 year, that is a big difference from 2 years.
Feb 2, 2020 OK, sorry I rounded up 21 1/2 months ago. I did say "almost"
stay at home
They are at home, they live full time in the camper.