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The vanlife => Van Conversion => Topic started by: TylyrBangaRangButler on April 25, 2018, 04:02:04 AM

Title: Can someone link me to an solar and shore power setup?
Post by: TylyrBangaRangButler on April 25, 2018, 04:02:04 AM
I would like to have the ability to have 450w solar setup with the additional option of running shore power (common 30A or 50A) to the same circuits. If anyone knows a link, diagram, video any advice or direction will greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Can someone link me to an solar and shore power setup?
Post by: Camper_Dan on April 26, 2018, 01:40:39 PM
Greetings and Welcome!

I wouldn't waste your money on solar, anybody with any experience will tell you to get a generator instead.  Only newbies and people looking to make money on it push solar.

Charge your house battery while driving, and if that isn't enough go with a generator.  Even with solar, you'll need a generator, so just skip the solar, it isn't worth the time or money.

Cheers!
Title: Re: Can someone link me to an solar and shore power setup?
Post by: Island Geezer on February 04, 2019, 03:56:20 PM
Solar has proven a very good asset to numerous van dwellers and mobile dwellers and cost wise in many opinions is more beneficial . 
Title: Re: Can someone link me to an solar and shore power setup?
Post by: Camper_Dan on February 05, 2019, 08:25:27 AM
Quote from: Island Geezer on February 04, 2019, 03:56:20 PM
Solar has proven a very good asset to numerous van dwellers and mobile dwellers and cost wise in many opinions is more beneficial .

Greetings!

While what you are saying is technically true, when you look at the whole picture it is very misleading.  You're describing less than 1% of vandwellers or mobile dwellers.  While 10% have tried it, only 1% are happy with it, and of that 1%, most of them also use alternative charging sources, and they likely wouldn't be happy without those alternative charging sources and were relying on solar alone.

I always marvel at the people bragging about their roof full of solar while they are running their generator. 

Facts are facts, and at the present time, the facts don't favor solar.  The facts show that most people think the negatives outweigh any positives, and the numbers are even higher among people who have actually tried it, and still higher among vandwellers, RVers, and those living off the grid.   Isolators, generators, and shore power remain the #1 choice for vandwellers and RVers.  Hydro and wind power both rank higher than solar for those living off the grid.

With all that being said, nobody should depend on any single source for power.  I have 3 options that I'm happy with, charging while driving is my primary source, and then I have the choice of my generator or shore power for a backup plan.  Since I carry my generator with me, I don't have to search for, or pay for shore power. 

IF I would have been charging while driving, and had my generator as a backup, I too might have been erroneously happy with my solar system, giving it credit for what the other systems were actually doing.

Cheers!