Low maintenance solar setup?

[MikeinVA]

I've been reading for a few hours now and I'm seeing that there are several ways to achieve energy independence in a campervan. None of them really seem to fit my needs 100%, which was what I expected, because everyone is different. I put some deep thought into what I really needed and what I really wanted and I'm still lost in the sauce trying to determine what I need in regards to a solar setup. My Transit Connect will be my daily driver for the next year while I convert it, and will most likely become a "fun" vehicle for road trips to festivals and such in the future. I don't foresee living out of it full time at any point, but when we are at festivals camping, I'd like some amenities like tv, A/C, hotplate, fridge, etc. I don't want to invest $500+ into a nice battery that I wont be using all the time, like when I'm driving to and from work (16 miles round trip.) 

My question to the forum and experts is What kind of setup should I be researching if I want the vehicle to have the capabilities to run off the grid for a few days at a time, but wont require maintenance from not using it for months at a time? Money is not an issue, since this will be a project spread out over a long period and doing it the right way will only increase value of the van after it is completed. 

Would LiFePo batteries be the way to go? Portable solar panels that can be removed and stored when not in use for the time I'm not traveling? I'm most concerned about buying an AGM battery setup and it failing on me from under-use over a long period of time. 

This is the system that I will design the rest of the van around, so naturally I want to get this setup done first and then design the interior around the power needs. 

Thanks for all the knowledge! I love learning about all of this stuff!

Mike

 

[highdesertranger]

running an AC and hot plate are in he generator realm. to run those off solar will take a lot of money if you even have enough space on your roof for all those panels. you will also need a huge battery bank or a very expensive battery system. highdesertranger

 

[rvpopeye]

Yeah , ^ what he said!
How about getting a generator for your use now and while you're doing what you described.
It would be great for that .
Then , a few years down the road re-think the solar. Your needs might be very different then...

 

[jimindenver]

It can be done but I am glad you said money is no object because it ain't gonna be cheap. If you could fit a pair of 435w panels on the truck you could do what I do with my system. I have 750 watts of solar, 675 Ah of battery and a industrial inveter that all together I use to run a 5000 BTU window A/C, the 470w burner on my hotplate and other fun stuff. It would cost 3-4000 to replace those off the shelf not including wiring, fuses, switches, hardware and labor. You can save some by using lower cost batteries, controller and inverter, just depends on what you pick out.

 

[akrvbob]

You aren't going to be able to run AC or a hot plate in a Connect, it simply can't hold the panels or batteries. To run a 12 volt compressor fridge, TV lights and fans, I recommend 200 watts of solar with a much longer cord. Preferably you can carry them with you and then set them outside to charge. I'd buy a 200 watt Renogy kit,use a hinge to attach them and make them folding and set them out in the sun. You'll need a battery, I'd say the largest 12 volt AGM you can find. When the trip is over take it all inside the garage and put a trickle charger on the battery.

 

[MikeinVA]

Thanks for all the input so far! I'm reconsidering the A/C and hotplate because I can run the vehicle's A/C to cool it down and with proper insulation, which there should be plenty, it should do the trick to keep it cool at night. The hotplate could essential become a camp stove, although I'm not sure I'd like to travel with propane onboard. The plan is for panels is a roof rack with the largest panels I can fit in it and awnings attached to both sides and the back of the rack. I'll be researching fridges next since that and a TV seems like my biggest power consumption if I remove the A/C and hotplate. I'll do some more digging around the forums to find some more info.

thanks for all the input so far!

 

[DannyB1954]

I am going with a modified system because my situation is similar to yours, (part time, van, will need air conditioning in the summer for my dog when shopping, etc). I am going to run a small generator to power a battery charger, and take all of my AC loads from a large inverter, (3.5Kw), connected to a starter battery, (or two). My reasoning: I can run a 1,200 watt generator most of the day if necessary on a gallon of gas. If I use an appliance like an air conditioner that takes more power than the generator outputs, the peak current can come out of the battery. When the item cycles off, the charger can bring the battery back up.

If I don't need high all day power, I can just run the generator an hour or two, or just go for a drive and let the vehicle's alternator charge the battery. I am convinced that a starter type battery is best for me as they can best deal with high output, (like when I use a microwave for 10 minutes. 1,000watt / 12volt is 83 amps), and they also take a quick recharge. They are cheap. A $99 Walmart maxx 29DC comes with a 2 year warranty. I may add solar later, but will probably always have the generator for heavy loads.

 

[MikeinVA]

So, after much thought, I have decided on the following electrical appliances and power needs for our van! Woohoo! 

Lighting: LED lighting recessed into ceiling 3w (per day? hour? millisecond?)

LED Lighting

TV: Vizio D24 (20.8 Watts operational) per hour or day???

Smart TV

TV Specs

Fridge: Dometic Drawer Fridge (agv power consumption 40w 3.3amps) is this per day or hour???

Dometic Fridge

Battery Charger for 18650 batteries: I have no idea how much power this thing uses. If I charge 2 3000MaH batteries a night?

Battery Charger

Charging Macbooks (2 of them), charging iPhones/iPads, charging portable power packs. 

Now I get to figure out how much solar and what size battery and inverter and then figure out how to throw it all together. This is so much fun! I really enjoy learning about this stuff! any suggestions are always welcome!

 

[SternWake]

The LEDs draw 3 watts when turned on, per hour if on for an hour

The Visio TV draws 22 watts when on. Volume and screen brightness will influence electrical consumption.

3.3 amps from the compressor fridge ais the draw when teh fridge compressor is running, roughly 1/3 of the time or 20 minutes per hour.

I have the Nirecore I4v2 charger, It can operate off of 12vDC. I had to use a barrell plug I already had as it did not come with e the 12v power cord. Looks like eh I2 has the same 12DC input socket as mine.

2 Macbooks, well How much you use those could make or break the viability of your proposed system.

I'd consider at least 150Ah of battery and 240 watts or more of solar.

How much solar can you squeeze on your roof?

YOU going to utilize alternator as you should for recharging?
YOu going to be able to plug in and top off the batteries with an AC powered charging source?

Or are you going to expect solar to take care of all your electrical needs?

I

 

[DannyB1954]

If the LED draws 3 watts that would be 3 watts / 12 volts or .25 amps. If you left it on for an hour it would use 1/4 amp hour. If you have all 4 running as a set they would use one amp hour each hour that they were on.