Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I have decided to invest in some solar panels for my trailer and also my house, any advice on what to use and what to expect?
I have watched youtube videos and it looks more technical than I am ready for.
I would like to get enough panels that I could run a 8000 btu window AC dureing the day off the panels and then run my generator at night.
I am wondering if I should find a local company that does this so it's done right, it looks like you can ruin your batteries if you don't know what your doing?

Running AC on solar takes a lot of power/panels!
For solar expertise there are a number of us on this forum http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/forum.php
You are looking at in excess of 8 amps starting surge for an 8000 Btu 120V AC.

If you read my form or blog under the same name I am running a 5,000 btu AC with 840 watts solar during the day time.
The solar puts out 670 watts max & the AC uses about 550 watts.

If your just cooling one room , it's cheaper to insulate more & maybe only use 5,000 Btu AC unit.

For what you are looking for your talking at least a $10,000 project

Thanks for the link to the solar board that is just what I need to learn more, I want to invest in a solar system for my house and I thought I could start and learn would I need for the trailer.
I was watching a youtube video and this person was running a AC but it didn't go into details so I wasn't sure if it could be done?
I am starting to think for my house I should go to a company that does this to have it done right, and it looks like it would be expensive but probably worth it in the long run, maybe after I read the solar board for a while I may change my mind?
When I bought the AC for my trailer I found a 5000 btu on sale for 100.00 after I bought it then I went to lowes and found a 8000 btu AC for 160.00 so I have 2 I figured I could use them both, I put the 8000 in the trailer and I haven't used the the smaller one but I could swap it out and put the larger one in the house?

It is very difficult to make a good return on investment on solar unless it is necessary i.e. off grid remote location, or in states where it is heavily subsidized. It is even difficult to justify in a trailer unless you will be doing a lot of boondocking and are obsessive about not having a generator running, which is where I am. Having said all that you can, with used panels or the panels that will be coming in the future get to a more reasonable ROI.
If you check on the wind and solar forum you will find that there are many clueless and dangerous solar installers.

Hey Shadow Catcher

"""If you check on the wind and solar forum you will find that there are many clueless and dangerous solar installers.""""

Stop talking SMACK about me
ROTFLOL

My 840 watt solar trailer has not burned down yet

I just doubled my insulation with a second layer of blue Smurf board
soon I will be able to heat with a match & cool with a ice cube


http://overthetopcargotrailer.blogspot.com/

jwhite wrote:I have decided to invest in some solar panels for my trailer and also my house, any advice on what to use and what to expect?

Forget about running an A/C unit off of solar panels, its just too expensive and you probably don't have enough roof top area for all the panels you would need. The first step in designing a PV system is to figure out how much power you think you'll use in a night. Here's a link:

Solar Linky

I can't emphasis how important this step is, all though no one (myself included) seems to do it. You'll probably end up buying things twice (like I did) if you don't understand what you're designing towards . We can size your panels, controller and battery after you figure out your usage. Wiring is easy, you can probably do it yourself with forum help.

Bruce

Thanks for all the input,I have been reading the boards and have been watching youtube videos.
one of the best one's I saw was a guy who's set up generates 800 watts and from what I read that the small window AC's use 400 watts so I guessed that would work but I didn't think about the start up?
I think the system he has built looks like what I need and it cost him 5000.00 I don't mind the cost but I am not sure how to put it all together and have it work right.
I think I will go to a local solar company and talk to them after I do more reading and have a better idea what to expect.

Bruce

Remember my ac is running on the solar, now with the newer insulation it will be

TWICE as COLD !!

But its good you keep telling others don't do it.....
I don't want another 100,000 solar trailers out there

Jerry

PS - jwhite

GO TO BRUCE - he is the Forms SOLAR GURU

looks like what I need and it cost him 5000.00

Sh*t, most of us don't have that much tied up in our trailers in total, much less in a PV system to power it.

If you have more dollars than sense, go for it. Otherwise listen to Bruce!

<Chas>

My original post I said I was going to invest in solar for my trailer and my house ?
I live in south GA and get alot of sun and have been through many hurricanes over the years.
When hurricane Kate roared through power was out for 2 weeks,I would like to be prepared incase that happens again.
The youtube I was watching this guy designed his system so so he could take down the solar panels and store them if you knew a
hurricane was coming and I thought that was a good idea.
If I could take a couple panels with me if wanted to take them camping that would be evan better.

Hey chas

I have a $5k 100% all glass tile shower in my trailer

Why do you think it's called

OverTheTopCargoTrailer.

PS - Bruced helped me with the solar

Besides jwhite has a harmless u tube video watching habit & wants to learn how to do stuff
He wants solar system to remove before the hurricane & then reinstall
To give him power till the city gets it back on

jwhite wrote:My original post I said I was going to invest in solar for my trailer and my house ?

You might as well get started on what your energy usage will be as any good PV installer will start there.

Bruce

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pedyMd5mGg4
This is the video that I am looking at that I think would work for me, it looks like he has done alot of research.
I live in a hot part of the country and I use wood heat in the winter so the only heavy electric use is in the summer running AC.
When I built my trailer I wanted to use solar but it was just easier to run my Honda 2000 generator,now I would like to see if I could learn about solar on a small scale starting with the trailer to run a small AC in the day to save me from running the generator 24 hours a day.
I think the solar system would be a good investment in the long run,I also think I could live off the grid if I had to, I would need to change some of my appiances to propane and do a couple other things, but living without AC in the summer would be impossible.

You could do it that way; he's on the right track but his installation methods are terrible and doesn't come close to meeting code. Also, BZ controllers are universally panned over at NAWS. Lets start from scratch, what A/C are you going to run?

Bruce