RV dry camping for twelve days on solar. Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Here are the results. Did our solar work for an extended camping period in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park? Did we have to use our generator?
This is a numbers post about RV dry camping for twelve days on solar power.– If you want the story about our wonderful visit to the Smoky Mountain National Park area, here is the article link.
The first part is the raw data, followed by analysis and conclusions.
Solar Energy data points:
- Solar Array = 1800 watts, no attempt to orient the panels to the sun or track the sun’s path. The campsite was in full sun from 9 am (solar time) until 5 pm. (8 hours)
- The maximum amperage for the charge controller is 50 each—two controllers. The maximum combined amperage is 100 amps per hour. Occasional production at 100 amps/hour has been observed. Energy typically flows into the battery at above 90 amps per hour.
- The typical voltage from the solar panel to the charge controller was 55 volts at 12.5 amps. The typical PV max voltage was 66 volts, and the peak voltage was 70.98.
- We typically observed watts per hour at 1,300. Typical array conversion 72% of rated 1,800 ideal output.
- Peak watts per hour were observed at 1,476. Maximum array conversion 82% of rated 1,800 ideal output.
- The typical battery voltage is 13.5 static with no charge or discharge. The peak battery voltage when charging is 14.62. The minimum battery voltage was observed at 12.91.
- Typical battery temperature 72F. Peak battery temperature 90F. Maximum outside air temperature 90F.
- Sunny days seven, cloudy days 3.
- The energy produced from solar and consumed during our eleven-night—12-day stay was 53,210 watts full days with no partial days included; thus, the average solar yield was 5.32 KWh/day (including three overcast cloudy days).
- Maximum energy gained in one day was 6.93 Kwh. The minimum energy gained on a cloudy day was 2.95 Kwh.
- The average energy produced during cloudy days, with some periods of light rain, was 3.51 kWh per day.
- Typical battery state of charge is 90%. Battery state of charge range 62 – 100%.
Appliances used from the battery power
- Air Conditioner, one day, two hours
- Clothes Dryer, one day, one half hour
- Microwave, every day
- Instant pot, three days
- Computers (two) every day
- Televisions (zero) no internet or over-the-air signal
Measuring our electricity consumption
If we hadn’t measured our electricity consumption and, more importantly, how much electricity we had already drained from our battery, living on solar power for 12 days would have been folly. This one device made our electricity manageable. Here is a link to what I consider the critical component. Battery Monitor
Solar Analysis
The three cloudy days, with two in a row, were exactly the test I was hoping for and were a key design consideration for the 1,800 watts of panels limited by two solar controllers. During the cloudy days, we produced almost half as much energy as during the sunny days. Had the array size been limited to thumb rules that are standard in the industry, production during cloudy days would have been cut by an additional 30%.
Analysis Battery State of Charge
Our battery bank varied between 62 and 100%. On a clear sky day, the battery charge was typically 100% by solar noon. (Solar noon is not the same as daylight savings time noon.) Battery’s low state of charge at 62% was a combination of using our air conditioner at the end of one day dropping the state of charge from 100% to 82% followed by two cloudy days. By the morning of the second cloudy day, the battery state of charge was 62%, and by the end of the second cloudy day, the battery state of charge was 88%. Although the state of charge dropped to 72% overnight, the next day was sunny, and a full charge was achieved in the early afternoon.
Conclusions after dry camping for twelve days on solar
Our experience shows that assuming we don’t need air conditioning or a clothes dryer, we should be able to operate without electricity outside all summer or winter. Not only do the results of dry camping twelve days on solar prove our solar design, but we also have the data to prove our electrical independence — without running our generator.
Predictions after dry camping for twelve days on solar
The cloudy day data should accurately predict wintertime, limited daylight, less-than-ideal orientation, and energy production. With our current 1800-watt solar array, we may be able to operate indefinitely without limitations, except for air conditioning and clothes dryer, in a mild climate in the winter. If this doesn’t work out, I still have more room on the roof for more solar panels.
Measuring our electricity consumption
Living on solar power would be folly if we didn’t measure our electricity consumption and, more importantly, how much electricity we have already drained from our batteries. This one device made our electricity manageable. Here is a link to what I consider the critical component. Battery Monitor
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Components List
Lion Energy UT1300 Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries
BMV-712 Victron Battery Monitor w/shunt & temp sensor
Zamp Obsidian solar panel. Zamp
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