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| Solar Panel Updates [message #245030] |
Tue, 25 March 2014 15:59  |
RadioActiveGMC
Messages: 1020
Registered: November 2010
Location: Hot AZ desert
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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After always being laughed at and never knowing "anything" I rarely ever come on and support this site anymore. Its funny how all my crazy non working ideas have come together on a motorhome 30 years past its prime. I love how people turn this coach into a idol, and forget its just a old motorhome, with a cool unique design.
Anyway, I was laughed at for removing my smelling, stinking, loud, takes the peace out of camping onan, and installing a solar setup with battery bank. But it was absolutely the best upgrade I did and I will not stop preaching that people should get caught up with the modern era and stop thinking solar and wind is new fangled and odd.
I have never once not even one time, used a generator after installing my solar setup. I have two kids, and a wife and we have never had a need for a drop of extra power with just (4) 100w mono panels, (1) Mppt charge controller, and (6) 6v golf cart batteries. My other 100w panels are collecting dust since I never need to install them.
Taking out the old way out of date RV type furnace and replacing with with a fuel sipping Mr. Heater Buddy, yanking out the power sucker upper AC, with my TurboKool Swamp Cooler, and every light, fixture and appliance being low consumption I have never remotely run out of power.
I have ran for testing purposes (1)1400 watt microwaves (1) 550 watt microwave, a power saw, every light, my ice maker, swamp cooler, 115v fans, (2) 12v fans, all at the same time for so long that I got bored with the test and just realized I would never need more power. It fired up a 7000 btu Window ac with no problems. My low consumption ice machine makes tons of ice and works great on the panels.
While I do perfectly understand that having AC might be a deal killer depending on where you travel in humid areas, I freeze in AZ where I park my coach. But it is at 6400 ft. Down here in the desert, the swamp cooler worked but in the deep summer, during the afternoon 115 degrees with a black painted RV, I'll admit, I'd rather be outside then inside. But insulating the heck out of the GMC. Painting the roof with ceramic paint, tons of insulation, and I do have to use bubble insulation in the stock windows when its under 35 degrees for draft purposes, and over 90 when the sun is beaming, otherwise works great. Taking down the ceiling and insulating and armafoil ceiling might not look show quality, but it stops the heat, and doesn't look bad IMHO after I painted it.
Getting rid of the water heater and going EZ 101 instant water heater was a no brainer. Works so much better, and the water burns my fingers off!
My only regret is doing all this on the GMC and not a bigger coach. Maybe a 26 fter would of been better then the 23 ft, but I stink I would of gotten a minimum of a 28 ft conventional coach, since (2) adults, and (2) kids in a 23ft is a big snug.
But thats ok.
My next project is to remove that small propane tank and install a 100 gal one, and I have a new idea for water, but that will require a external tank and pump, hooked up to the coach but of course not attached.
For those who read this forum and get paranoid about "You have to balance the coach for drive-ability" That IMHO is full of bull. I have loaded the coach about every way possible, and it never affects the ride, when I switched to "OMG" steel belted tired! OMG NOT RAG WALLS! Soon as I switched to steel belted tires I can load my RV any way imaginable and it rides perfect. Of course you do have to follow the keep the back lower rule. Measuring the distance for air bags, never ever do it. Just fill the bags, till it even looks like the rear is slightly lower then the front and go. Tire pressure. 65 lbs all around never check them either and they ride perfect.
Its amazing how complicated this site makes owning a GMC seem. You can't do this, you have to do that. Don't use rubber fuel lines, OMG YOUR GOING TO DIE! MY rubber fuel lines don't leak a drop, I never have fuel issues, and my coach drives perfect. When I followed the advise of the "experts" man everything seemed to confusing. Why someone would have to bore themselves in sitting in seminar on GMCs while on vacation makes me scratch my head.
***"Gettin There"-1973 23' Sequoia-
Michael, Onans smell, "Go solar/wind power!"
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