Calculating solar capacity

[jonsun]

Solar Blvd has 140w mono panels for around $125 shipped

 

[SternWake]

 is there more to high capacity batteries that I don't know about? I am financially well off and would like to know what kinds of options I have available.  I would like to try and generate/store as much power as I possibly can, and I don't mind spending money to do so. 

I think you are a candidate for Lifepo4 prisimatic cells, even though it can be argued that they are cheaper in the long run as they last longer and do not require the constant topping up like lead acid batteries.  In fact it is better to not fully charge lifepo4 but keep them in a lower range.
The initial outlay of Lifepo4 and their unforgivingness of over or undercharging are the downsides which keep so many of us stuck on lead acid.
There are many considerations with Lifepo4.
I could relate what i have read, but it is much better to get information from a person with actual experience with setting up, AND actually cycling Lifepo4. Not just read about it.
 Two members here that I know of use them, Blars and Oberneldon. The latter links more info in post 15 of this thread:
https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-Lifepo4-batteries?page=2
If you wanted to stick to lead acid, you can get individual batteries with capacities over 250AH, but they weigh a ridiculous amount and are hard to move.
If 300AH was a much more desirable goal than 224( 1 pair trojan t-105), then the trojan t-1275 is one of the only true 12v deep cycle lead acid flooded batteries. Get 2 for 300AH.  

If AGM's are more desirable to you, the 12v Lifeline GPL-30HT is also 150AH.
The lifeline AGm can also accept huge charging amperages without issue, and is better off for it.
These batteries are a bit taller.  AGM batteries like lifeline and Odyssey and Northstar are all top$$ top quality AGM that can take as much charging current as you can throw at them, but they need not only this occassional high amp blast, but also the true full recharge more often and more so than a true deep cycle flooded battery.

Lesser$$ AGMs instructions say recharging amperage is  be limited to 30 amps charging current per 100AH of battery capacity.  Not really an issue with 300AH of capacity.
Also of mention is the Oasis firefly battery.  Only one size available, group 31, 115 AH.  These batteries are 482$ each, and supposedly can be returned to full capacity with a proper duration recharge,  after many partial state of charge cycles and never reaching full charge.  The PSOC cycling is very hard on regular lead acid batteries. Flooded or AGM. PSOC =  Partial State of Charge cycling.
The Oasis Firefly is relatively new.  There are glowing reports.  I am waiting on the fence, personally.
One member here owns one, and did not understand the 'conditioning' procedure.  Instead of quickly draining the battery to dead and instantly recharging to full, they slowly overdepleted it beyond dead over a period of days, and then fully charged it low and slow over a few days via solar.  The battery freaked out but last report was everything was back to normal with it despite this rather extreme abuse that would likely kill many other batteries.
Still on the fence but hope they can do as they claim.
One can put as many batteries in series and or parallel  for as much storage capacity as they desire/care to carry.  Quality  Balanced wiring becomes more important with more batteries.

 

[akrvbob]

Thanks.  Is 220 amps the best I can get, or could I get higher capacity batteries?  Whats the highest amp hour battery I can get that's still realistic for van dwelling?  I have seen 200ah 6v batteries.  Would those work as well, or is there more to high capacity batteries that I don't know about? I am financially well off and would like to know what kinds of options I have available.  I would like to try and generate/store as much power as I possibly can, and I don't mind spending money to do so. 

Sure, you can have as big a battery bank as you want, but the practical limit is the weight and physical size of them in the tiny space of a van. I was quoting you 4 standard golf cart batteries (Trojan T105=260 pounds of batteries)), but you have many options. You could get 8 golf carts for 880 total and 440 available. Or, you could get 4 golf cart batteries that are much taller (Trojan J305=400 pounds of batteries)and have 660 ah of which you can use 330 ah. Or you could get 6 of the tall batteries and have 990 total of which you can use 495 ah (600 pounds). 

I think the practical limit in a van is about 750 watts of solar with 6 golf carts.