Solar / Generator Plans

[RogerD]

First, let me say that my goal is to be able to run a small AC unit and a Laptop / Hotspot for 12-14 hours per day and use the generator as little as possible.

I'm in FL near Tampa. So it's hot but sunny. I looked online and it says average sunlight for the area is 6 hours per day.

The AC is going to be about 40 amps @12v. 

Not sure about the laptop. The AC adapter says

In: 100-240V 1.7 amp
Out: +19v 3.42 amp

So is that like 18 amps @12v?

However, I see DC chargers for laptops. Seems like that may be the better way to go???

Won't have the hotspot till Friday. I currently use a phone as a hotspot, so hours will actually be divided between them once I have the hotspot.

Planning on getting Energizer [font=helvetica-neue,]eZV2000S generator. 2000w peak / 1600w continuous. Says it gets about 11.5 hours at 25% load (400 watts) / .9 gas tank.[/font]

[font=helvetica-neue,]Vehicle will be a chevy express extended van.[/font]

[font=helvetica-neue,]I figure I can get at least (5) 160V Renogy panels on the roof. I'm open to any other panels that will provide more power with the same footprint.[/font]

[font=helvetica-neue,]Looking at Duracell ultra 230ah 6v GC  batteries.  I'm thinking 8 of them. Don't know how to factor the batteries, just assumed 8 is 860ah and 5 x 160 is 900ah. So they are close.[/font]

[font=helvetica-neue,]No idea as to what hardware (charge controller, etc) to get as of yet.[/font]

[font=helvetica-neue,]I'm new to this and not sure what factors need to be considered and what is realistic.[/font]

[font=helvetica-neue,]Thoughts?[/font]

[font=helvetica-neue,] [/font]

 

[John61CT]

There have been dozens of threads all repeating the same info, could you try reading through some first?

https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=32282

 

[John61CT]

More https://www.google.com/search?q=site:www.cheaprvliving.com/+solar+aircon+generator

Adjust keyword strings to suit.

Then you'll be able to ask more specific questions being better informed

 

[jonyjoe303]

someone who is doing about the samething as you running an AC on his van has a 945 watt solar system and 780 ah battery bank of agm batteries. His website is "hurriedyear.com" he got lot of pictures on his installation.
So your close in your specs (800watts solar) and (920ah in batteries). 
The laptop depending on size will use between 2 amps (netbook) and 5 amps for a 16 inch, thats at 12 volts using an inverter.
The weight of your 8 batteries (64 lbs x 8)will be 512 pounds, almost a quarter ton. I know my van acts very differently when I use to carry 3 to 4 lead acid batteries.

Myself I would consider massive insulation and get a giant swampcooler and see if that would work. Even if the humidity is high, maybe the cooler will get you enough temp drop to be worthwhile. A fan by itself wont work but a swampcooler will always get some sort of temp drop.
Right now we are going through a heatwave in california and humidity has been high for the past month, my little 2 amp swampcooler has kept me cool the whole time, I been running it 24/7 with my 240 watt panel and 100ah lifepo4 battery(30 lbs), barely inconsequential for the battery. And I also running my intel I5 12 inch laptop almost all day and not a big drain on the battery.
Thats an option, but van has to be heavily insulated, at least 2 inches of foam insulation in most areas. Swampcoolers work in all areas, they just dont get you a large temp drop in humid conditions. 

Below is the temperatures I have seen in my van front uninsulated section(148 degrees), and back heavily insulated with swampcooler running (94 degrees, the van parked in the sun with all windows/doors closed. With a larger swampcooler I could probably get better results. Even though 94 sounds high, I can spend all day in my van with just the swampcooler blowing on me and not sweat.

 

[Riverman]

94 inside.... no thanks. I keep mine at 73 with plenty of a/c.

 

[highdesertranger]

the 94° is not that bad but the 89% humidity is the killer. not sweating in that type of environment is a sign of heat stroke. highdesertranger

 

[RVTravel]

Need a big fan at those temps ; )

 

[Canine]

I have spent my money on more insulation instead of more solar panels and more charge controllers. It's easier and cheaper to keep the cold in instead of trying to replace it.

 

[John61CT]

Great insulation is important, but for extreme temps off grid saves propane, gasoline or diesel, not electricity so much.

Solar power should have very little to do with temperature control.

 

[Canine]

I had tried to use a 200 watt electric heater, but it was only a minor improvement; I could use it only part of a day during the winter. As much solar and batteries and insulation as I have, it flat out can't be heated by electricity alone. No way no how.