My proposed usage. Yes? No? Maybe so?

[XERTYX]

I plan to have 2 - 4 group 29DC batteries from Wally world. 

Eventually 2 250 watt panels from santan solar or similar. 

In the interim 2 100 watt poly panels from Amazon wired in series. 

In the interim a 20a epever AN series controller.

Charging 2 phones, 1 tablet. Running 1 ebox wifi solar maintenance module.

1 32" LED TV. 10 hrs per day or more.

1 300 watt peak rice cooker as main source of cooking 2 times per day or less.

1 butane fuel cooker.

Heating via 12v diesel parking heater.

Cooling via 5V USB fans.

Occasional 900w coffee maker the output put into a thermos on completion. 

Occasional 900w air fryer. The output is ready to eat.

12v continuous compressor fridge. 20L or so. Is that realistic?

 

[Camper]

With that long list you need to use a solar calculator:

https://www.parkedinparadise.com/solar-calculator/

 

[XERTYX]

I have calculated the usage with 500w solar and 4 x ~125 Ah batteries. It's all theoretical.

Just like the time I based my cooking on theoretical times when I poisoned myself when I was on my boat. Food poisoning taught me one thing, see how many others have successfully made a similar mission.

 

[XERTYX]

Based on my parameters how many people have achieved success?

What did they have to shed?

In my experience it was quick heating.

I had quick cooling. Very cool. But the food was dangerous.

 

[XERTYX]

I ate plastic coating. Very quick. Very sickness.

 

[tx2sturgis]

It might work for a few days or a week if you have nothing but bright sunny days, but the first two cloudy or rainy days or parking in a shady area, poof....your gonna be fighting to keep the batteries alive.

 

[XERTYX]

Sorry. That's not fair. My nominal usage surpasses what I expect. 

I DID eat some plastic on some normal canned soup etc. The lesson is do not eat food cooked over a candle. I have done so.

 

[XERTYX]

It might work for a few days or a week if you have nothing but bright sunny days, but the first two cloudy or rainy days or parking in a shady area, poof....your gonna be fighting to keep the batteries alive.

Good advise. Do you run a fridge?

 

[XERTYX]

My roof rack is closely near the santan 250 watt panels. But it Is very near 170w mono panels. It is close to 250wx3 or 170w x 5. Santan is clearly cheaper per watt but the freight is crazy.

Its nearly cheaper to run 18 volt panels than the 30+ panels from santan.

 

[bullfrog]

I personally think you are asking way too much of the system, especially coming from the east coast and traveling so panels will be flat, way inefficient if not angled in winter. I would keep an eye on morning and evening voltages. I would suggest running a generator when using higher load accessories and for bulk charging in the mornings and even evenings is full charge is not obtained by the solar during the day. Once your solar system is proven to be large enough to do what you want it to without destroying batteries by under charging them, sell the generator.

 

[user 423]

x2
This past summer I've run mostly just a 12v/20L fridge, a couple of lights,small PC fans for circulation,charging devices,AA batts and only moderate laptop usage. No TV.

Most of the time with 180W of solar and two 100ah batteries that was enough but I still needed to run the genny occasionally.

That is without any charging from the alternator, so I probably would have been OK since I did a lot of travelling.

I've thought about a microwave but I have limited space in the van. If I did, I would probably only use it when parked in a spot for a while and the genny stays setup. If moving around a lot, it would be a hassle to set it up for just a short time to use a MW.

 

[Matlock]

I have 4-100w panels feeding 2-220 AH 6V GC batteries.
My goal is to use a max of 55 AH each day, that way the 4 hours of full sun tomorrow will recharge my batteries.
However, cloudy days and rain and my occasional extra use of AH's means running the Honda for a few hours every 3-4 days.

LED lights
Laptop
12V TV
12V Truckfridge
Tablet
Muffin fans
Cell
Mobile Mifi

Everything is 12V and If I ran them all for the amount of time I'd like to, I'd use abt 120 AH's a day. I'm not going to be able to recharge that unless I add abt 4 more panels and ideally 2 more batteries.

To your other thread on Microwaves, I do have a 700w microwave that I run when I'm plugged into the Honda. Not nearly enough battery juice to attempt that.

My Sams club $80 batteries are 5 years old and are accepting less charge lately. FWIW, I have never had them below 70% SOC. I'll probably go with 2- AGM's when it's time to replace.

So to answer your question, I'm gonna say Probably "No" but "Maybe"!

 

[gsfish]

I recommend buying a "Kill A Watt" power monitor. With that, rather than reading a label on a piece of equipment and guessing, you can directly measure how much power is required to brew a pot of coffee, cook some rice, watch TV, fry some air etc. There are similar devices for DC voltages.

Giving rated watts without a length of time used doesn't allow for determining power used.

You will need to factor in losses from the inverter used to power the ac devices.

If running low on battery power you can cook and brew on your stove.

Rather than starting with 2X100 watt panels with plans of upgrading to 2X250 watt panels in the future, why not start with 1X250 watt? You would have more power and be half way to your upgraded system.

Guy

 

[abnorm]

^ the cheap recycled 250 watt $50 panels are only CHEAP if you pick them up in Gilbert AZ

 

[XERTYX]

Yeah freight to me from Gilbert for the 250 watt panels is $300!

It's crazy. But then again 4 100 watt panels from amazon would be $300.

3 of the 200 watt panels from amazon would be in the range of $600

I may just eat the cost of the shipping and go ahead and get the 250W's maybe order a few more and list them on craigslist.

There are plenty of 250s listed semi close to me at reasonable prices but only in pallets. I found a place in north Carolina that sells I think kyocera 260s for 90 bucks. I might go that route idk yet. It just seems way overkill to pay $300 shipping on $100 worth of merchandise.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

 . . . It's crazy. But then again 4 100 watt panels from amazon would be $300.
3 of the 200 watt panels from amazon would be in the range of $600

Renogy still has free shipping on their 100W panels:
https://www.renogy.com/100-watt-12-volt-monocrystalline-solar-panel-compact-design/

 

[XERTYX]

Yeah but still at $1 a watt from renogy with free shipping spending $400 including shipping from santan for 500 watts makes more financial sense.

I just cant wrap my mind around paying that much. Rich solar I think on amazon has a 2 pack of 100 watt panels for $152 with free shipping. I was thinking of buying those in the mean time.

 

[Cammalu]

Yeah freight to me from Gilbert for the 250 watt panels is $300!

Where are you. Many of us are getting ready to
migrate out of Arizona. You never know if one of us will be headed your way and has room to transport panels.

 

[XERTYX]

I'm in North georgia. Not a lot of van lifers out this way as far as I know. Not a lot of free camping. No BLM lands. In Tennessee I think they have Tennessee river valley management or something. I looked up free camping in the free camping link someone posted on the forum some time back.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Many of us are getting ready to
migrate out of Arizona. You never know if one of us will be headed your way and has room to transport panels.

 
Oh hey Santa-Cammalu, bring me some!