Single source for all camper electrical needs?

[ripperj]

I am in the process of rebuilding a 12' alaskan cab over. I have completely gutted it and insulated the lower section, I added a cassette toilet and shower. I still have a long way to go and am hoping ( but not overly optimistic) that it will be ready for Acadia Maine in July. I am making maple cabinets, and found some really nice wormy /curly maple for the doors/ drawers.
I need to start thinking about the electrical. I am very familiar with large industrial power systems(ups, chargers, battery banks ect) but pretty clueless on offerings for the rv/expo crowd.

Is there a vendor/ seller that's pretty honest that I can source my inverter/ charger / solar controller from? Pretty much need everything.(wiring, panel,connectors,fuse blocks ect) I envision dual Sears platinum batteries with 100+ watts of solar. I have an Arb 50qt that draws about 2.5 amps and a propane furnace, propane/ 110v hot water heater and led lights. I also have a Honda 2000 that I plan in using to supplement if no sun/ shore power.
I need some one that will provide recommendation based on my needs,not trying to sell me the most crap . I don't mind spending on quality stuff though, mppt controller ect.

Thanks much

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[wrcsixeight]

Odyssey batteries require a 40% recharge rate when deeply cycled, So 2 group 31's require 80 amps. You are not going to achieve that with Solar.

It is not as if the batteries will die the 5th cycle if not fed the recommended recharge rate but they will not last the claimed 400 cycles to 80% DOD either, not even close.

Properly matching battery capacity to recharging sources will yield best performance and longevity. If you can't meet the minimum recharge currents weekly( when cycled daily) the batteries will protest. Any Solar is better than No solar, but too little solar must be viewed as negating some of the battery capacity used and not as a proper recharging source.

I got most all my Solar equipment through Arizona Wind and sun. I don't think you will find a one stop shop for all the equipment you desire.

I liked Genuine Dealz
http://www.genuinedealz.com/

For all cabling and connectors.

 

[Tennmogger]

One source I have used is E-Trailer. Other than typical trailer stuff, they carry wiring, terminals, and some neat boxes to terminate wiring in. Trailer multi-conductor cable, being color coded, is really handy for internal camper wiring (I have a 10 ft Alaskan NCO).

Bob

 

[ripperj]

Thanks for the replies, I left out what is probably a critical piece of info. Most of my trips are short 2-3 nights, a week max. The short ones I can just recharge at whatever recommended rate back at the house, the longer one I guess I will need to run the generator. Right now I don't really have enough useful data except the fridge use, the furnace and everything is all new, I suppose the smart thing to do is start with one battery and no solar until I get an idea of what I use , but I am kind of known for going overboard, no point in changing now

 

[southpier]

wherever you can get reliable customer service. most retailers are shaky in that department, and this time of year there's an influx of new/ seasonal help. if there's a West Marine within practical distance you could try establishing a rapport with one of the regular salesmen, and get back up through their website. shipping is free to any store, too.

 

[wrcsixeight]

Well there are only a few 80 amp + chargers out there, so even proper recharging a pair of DHP 31's at home requires the right equipment.

Also, batteries in parallel are best off to be the same make size and age. Not really good to add a newer battery to the old if you find one is not enough.

KNowing how much battery power you will use each night, an energy Audit, is a pretty important step, so you are not just guessing and hoping it is enough.

A Kill a watt Meter used on 120vac appliances can tell you what they will use, then add 15% for inverter inefficiency.

Since you have a generator, you can get a powerful Converter charger, like a power factor corrected Powermax pm4 100, to shoehorn in as much into the batteries in the morning, and let the solar take over for the rest of the day. Not perfect, nothing is, but DHP's will really appreciate high amp blasts first thing in the morning, more so than most other batteries would.

 

[zelatore]

Well there are only a few 80 amp + chargers out there, so even proper recharging a pair of DHP 31's at home requires the right equipment.

Why not use an inverter/charger? Almost any of them are 80 amp or more, and he has a gen to provide the power. Magnum, Xantrex, and Charles are the big dogs in the US market, with others to choose from as well such as Mastervolt (big in Europe but still gaining market share here).

 

[wrcsixeight]

An inverter/charger would work fine too. I never considered such a product for myself as they seemed to be much more expensive than buying a separate inverter and separate converter/charger, and if the inverter charger fails, you lose both functions.

I'm still making due with a Schumacher 2/12/25 amp charger and 200 watts of solar, and a heavily upgraded alternator circuit for my Charging needs, with Solar accomplishing at least 85% of what I remove. None of them are ideal charging sources for my batteries, but at least I can program the voltage setpoints of the solar controller to find the regimen which best returns specific gravity to the maximum base line, even if the amps are a bit on the light side according to the manufacturer recommendation for minimum bulk current.

 

[jays0n]

A single source is a bit of a tall order but a couple is do able for sure. I got my fuse blocks, cutoff switches, power cables, battery terminal caps, 120v battery charger, 12v outlets, USB chargers, switch panel, battery hold downs, and most of the other stuff I needed to put my electrical hub together from West Marine. They carry Blue Sea Systems, which in my experience is a rock solid brand, really well made equipment. The 100w solar panel and charge controller came from Amazon.com and was about $160. I got a few of the other parts from ebay. Let me know if you have any specific questions about the setup, the wiring was my favorite part (I know, there may be something wrong with me )

 

[southpier]

beautiful job!

 

[IdahoXJ]

Great and useful thread. Thanks for the info.

 

[DiploStrat]

Free Advice ... is worth less than what you pay for it.

That said, I highly recommend AM Solar (http://www.amsolar.com) For the OEM or DIY type, they sell nice gear with appropriately heavy wiring, etc.

For deep background, Handy Bob is worth a read. (http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com) He aims at the stationary trailer, as opposed to the mobile camper, crowd, but he knows what he is talking about. Although I use a Blue Sky system and no longer need my TriMetric meter.

As you are rebuilding, some thoughts for your consideration. Ndeke Luka (http://diplostrat.org/about/) is about the same size as a normal truck camper. My set up is:

-- 500w solar.

-- 600 Ah of AGM batteries

-- Bidirectional "smart" battery combiner. (150A minimum charge from the truck)

This allows me to run diesel heat/12v refrigerator/microwave/induction cooktop/air conditioning, in various combinations, for several days, without the need for sunlight or engine start. If I drive or have good sun on any day, I almost cannot discharge the batteries at all. My typical overnight consumption is between 100 and 200 Ah, depending on meals, temperature, etc.

There are a lot of skeptics, but it can be done. Best wishes with your project!

 

[ripperj]

Thanks for the detailed replies, some nice work done! I need to get to a big screen vice the phone and go thru these posts

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[Petrolburner]

That said, I highly recommend AM Solar (http://www.amsolar.com) For the OEM or DIY type, they sell nice gear with appropriately heavy wiring, etc.

For deep background, Handy Bob is worth a read. (http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com) He aims at the stationary trailer, as opposed to the mobile camper, crowd, but he knows what he is talking about. Although I use a Blue Sky system and no longer need my TriMetric meter.

As you are rebuilding, some thoughts for your consideration. Ndeke Luka (http://diplostrat.org/about/) is about the same size as a normal truck camper. My set up is:

-- 500w solar.

-- 600 Ah of AGM batteries

-- Bidirectional "smart" battery combiner. (150A minimum charge from the truck)

This allows me to run diesel heat/12v refrigerator/microwave/induction cooktop/air conditioning, in various combinations, for several days, without the need for sunlight or engine start. If I drive or have good sun on any day, I almost cannot discharge the batteries at all. My typical overnight consumption is between 100 and 200 Ah, depending on meals, temperature, etc.

There are a lot of skeptics, but it can be done. Best wishes with your project!

I second the recommendation on reading handybobsolar