A real solar generator

[John61CT]

Does the same apply to the bigger units?

Would it be a very difficult project to make that work with a DIY custom insulated box?

 

[jimindenver]

Depends if the new unit came with thermostats and controls/electric connections. It needs really good insulation. I am using 3 inch thick down pillows to help insulate my 45 and if you stick your hands under them it is COLD! using them has really cut down on the run times and cycling.

 

[John61CT]

Yes if I do my own box minimum is 4" total, the inside layer XPS rest polyiso.

Probably buy a prefab hatch as that's tricky to fab for a noob.

Spillover design, smaller freezer box, the rest fridge, maybe a last higher temp section for leftovers, drinks and fresh fruit & veg. Movable divider panels so can reduce cu.ft in hotter weather but get max space normally.

 

[29chico]

Update, 

I now have a couple of 365w LG panels on my RV home.  The battery bank below the floor of the Tiger is 440ah from 4 6v Lifeline AGM golf carts.   The hybrid Magnum inverter with 125 amp charging is now in the RV and the cargo trailer sports a pure sine 1000w Magnum inverter that will charge at 50 amps. Both inverters are controlled by the same model Magnum advanced remote controllers for full programming possibilities.

Usually I would consider 730w of solar as to little for a 440ah lead acid house battery
bank.   But since I have so much surplus power from the trailer to also feed into the bank I think it should be ok.

Looking forward to see if I can cook and heat during the peak of a sunny day in the SW winter with solar power.  I will have to feed the AC power supplied by the 945w array thru the 1kw inverter in the trailer into the hybrid inverter in the RV and select the load support mode so that I may be able to do so.  I have a little Vornado space heater that pulls 375w on low and 750w on high.  If I can run the heater on high while also cooking with solar power I will be very stoked.

Too wacky of a system?

 

[highdesertranger]

wait a minute Chico, slow your roll. did you say you have a Tiger? has this been mentioned before? is my brain just lost in a million different posts? what model? have you done a write up on it? I don't remember any mention of a Tiger before, am I loosing it? highdesertranger

 

[29chico]

HDR I was sure that you would be the first to notice the Tiger.  Yes, I had one built.

The basics:


Bengal Tiger, only rig that Provan is currently building.

2018 Chevy 3500hd dually, suppose you could call it a 6x6, double cab not crew, L96 6.0L gas, 6L90E trans and transfer case skidplate option

Deleted:

windows in cabover sleeper and rear window
A/C,  TV antenna, fold out steps (clearance issue)
No graphics or insignia other than required rv tag

A slew of electrical upgrades.  Most importantly we used as many Blue Sea systems components as possible, all Ancor wire and heat shrink connectors.
Used MHS 3012-m Magnum inverter

My oldest Engel mt35 is now mounted behind the front passenger seat on a platform that I built where the rear seats were.  Built in Novacool under counter fridge.  Newer mt35 lives on a slide under the workbench in the cargo trailer doing freezer duty.

Propane quick connect on right side of rear bumper, gas from main tank on the other.  Double switch setup for fuel hidden and locked away.  No more gas cans.

You did not miss anything, just haven’t posted in a while.   Been busy spec’ing  out the rig, taking Amtrak to SC and driving back across the country.

 

[highdesertranger]

sounds nice I got to see it. when I was in Bend Oregon a couple of years age I went to the Provan dealer and they were doing the back seat delete and adding a box instead. see you at the RTR. highdesertranger

 

[jimindenver]

Hey chico, it's good to see that you got the Tiger all together. Using the trailers inverter to boost the RV's system is brilliant. Combined that's a lot of watts and you already know that the trailer can run a hotplate by itself.

 

[29chico]

Thanks for the kind words gentlemen.

It has been a long road to get my setup to this point.  But I do have a sneaking suspicion that it is going to work out well.

Happy trails

 

[Seminole Wind]

Probably not even with 2000 W genie.

I need 2000 W to run my 50 amp charger.

not all chargers are the same. most chargers have a terrible powerfactor that really hurts what you can run. the promariner chargers are powerfactor corrected and have a power factor damn close to "1" i run my 30a 12v promariner from both my honda and sportsman 1000w inverter gennerators. the kill-a-watt never shows more than 450 watt draw even when the output is 30 amps at 14.8v i have also run a friends 40a promariner with the honda and the kill-a-watt was floating right around 600w durning peak charging. i have no doubt my honda, andmaybe even my sortsman would run the 50a promariner. but would probably choke on a non PF-corrected charger