Tiffin RV 34TGA Solar Panels 700 watt

Solar report:

We have gathered data on electricity used in our RV and have compiled a solar report to analyze the actual results. We still have issues of understanding what is going on, but overall we are thrilled. Yesterday was the true test and we did really well.

Data to follow.

Starting last spring we monitored battery use carefully so we could determine how much solar we needed to live without electric hookups and without running the generator. The answer was 600-700 watts of solar (700 installed) to recharge our 300amp (150 useable) batteries on a daily basis.

Test results

Starting at sunrise we used 96 amps. Left the solar off until 8 am, sunshine hit the panels at 7:45. Didn’t use any generator to find out when the solar could recover to 100% batteries. Started the evening with fully charged batteries reading at 13.05v. Used the inverter and heater during the test, thus creating lived in situation.

Everything worked as expected. We had high clouds in the morning. Bulk charge started the day a little handicapped by the high clouds. Achieved absorb mode at 11 am meaning most of the charge was delivered. Float mode started at 1 pm. Float for four hours. Ended the day with about 12.9v under a small load fully charged at sunset.

So my conclusion is that I could generate more in a day, and still hit 100% by the end of the day, but if I used more than about 120 amps I would need more panels or a suitcase I could point. I’m still only good for one night of use if I have sunshine the next day.

Here is the link to the long version of the RV solar report.

Link to our 2019 Route.

Link to our route San Diego to El Paso

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24 thoughts on “Solar report:”

  1. Dennis and Karen

    If you were in Colorado, plenty of sunshine but it is 5 degrees in Denver right now. That would be a test!!!

  2. to Dennis and Karen

    The panels would work better, unless under the snow, but my heater would never turn off.

    Everything worked as expected. Had high clouds in the morning. Bulk charge started the day a little handicapped by the high clouds. Achieved absorb mode at 11 am meaning most of the charge was delivered. Float mode started at 1 pm. Float for four hours. Ended the day with about 12.9v under a small load fully charged at sunset.

    So my conclusion is that I could generate more in a day, and still hit 100% by the end if the day, but if I used more than about 120 amps I would need more panels or a suitcase I could point. I’m still only good for one night of use if I have sunshine the next day.

  3. Dennis and Karen

    So, was the cost of the panels and installation worth it as opposed to just buying fuel for the generator?

  4. to Dennis and Karen

    Hard to say in terms of dollars. The big benefit is not using the generator for extended periods each day. The additional confusing factor is — do you want to be places that don’t have hook-ups.

  5. to Dennis and Karen

    Next winter I may spend a month at a park that charges extra for electric and just live as if it was not available. But before that I need a much better inverter hooked to things other than TVs.

  6. In one night you used nearly 100 out of 150 amp-hours. You’ll need the sun daily. The good thing is you can recover to 100% daily.

  7. to Joe

    So my conclusion is that I could generate more in a day, and still hit 100% by the end of the day, but if I used more than about 120 amps I would need more panels or a suitcase I could point. I’m still only good for one night of use if I have sunshine the next day.

  8. What are the coach battery? If you had more battery capacity could the solar keep it charged?

    Sounds like you have a well-balanced system now. Are you using heat pump at night with inverter or propane heater? Overall I think propane is electrically more efficient.

  9. to Chaz

    The pain is listening to the generator, which has only been on for about 15 minutes in the last week. Only when running the jacks or moving the slides in and out.

  10. to John and Brenda

    As if you didn’t already know the answer at the end of the story.

    Everything worked as expected. Had high clouds in the morning. Bulk charge started the day a little handicapped by the high clouds. Achieved absorb mode at 11 am meaning most of the charge was delivered. Float mode started at 1 pm. Float for four hours. Ended the day with about 12.9v under a small load fully charged at sunset.

  11. John and Brenda

    Becoming more independent is an awesome feeling. It allows you so much more opportunity to explore. Enjoy!

  12. John and Brenda

    I get that. We run it twice a month for an hour with a load on it. Unless we need an air conditioner, the generator does not get used.

  13. to John and Brenda

    My next issue is inverter stuff and more storage so I could bridge a cloudy period. My current Triplite inverter has overhead equal to output and it only runs the TVs.

  14. Excellent! I am still amazed they remain stable on the roof at speed.

    The result you are experiencing is due to your experience with solar panels.

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