Inverter, generator or both... or niether?

[billiebob]

Don't do the generator. Very polarizing. Many campers absolutely hate the sound of a genset in the wilderness.

Inverter sure, silent, we will love ya, but expensive and heavy to do everything you listed.

Every day the option of just running 12Volt gets better.
Laptops might plug into the wall but they step down 120Volt to about 19Volt. There are solutions just bump 12Volt to 19Volt.
Same with tablets and cell phones and cameras and drones and ...., just charge them while driving.

Slow cooker, propane on low.
18Volt tools, really, why, just use the cordless tools our grandfathers used.
Blender, be a bartender, use a shaker, no power needed and wayy cooler.
AC/DC fridge.... just use the DC unless you are at home and can plug in.

 

[wirenut]

$1,000 for a 100 watt solar system is an amazing rip off. The 100 watt panel is kind of uselessly small to begin with. You can buy a 325 watt or larger panel for less than $200. A charge controller that will handle 2 of that size panel costs about $400 tops.
I don't see any reason, with your listed loads, to have a generator.

 

[WanderingBison]

We have just considered this carefully, because we just spent our winter on Vancouver Island where solar yield was much lower than we are used to while putting a lot less mileage than usually for our travels.

We have a 200ah lithium battery that is charged by 300w of solar or chassis charging from the vehicles alternator.

We have a 2000w inverter that we use for some cooking (induction cooktop, instant pot/air fryer, immersion cooker) but very little device charging.

We charge/power virtually everything from 12dc, using a vehicle charger for power tool batteries and using some high power USB power sources, including. Some USB-C outlets for the newer electronics, including our camera gear and MacBooks.

When we considered a generator to help us get through the stationary, overcast and rainy days this winter, after doing some math, decided it wasn’t worth it!

In a pinch, we could idle the engine for some chassis charging and since lithium batteries accept a charge very quickly, it doesn’t take much. For a dollars and cents, the operating costs of idling vs acquisition/operating cost of a generator made more sense for us.

Not to mention, I hate generators when I’m a campground or in the backcountry, so I was having a hard time bringing myself to contributing to the noise.

For our next build, we will have additional battery capacity to help and/or use an ethanol fuel cell system - for about the same cost as an additional lithium battery, we could buy a fuel cell system that would quietly, efficiently and environmentally friendly charge our battery days and night when solar can’t keep up. Operating costs aren’t cheap and you’re adding another fuel, but hopefully costs will decrease. Many cruisers are using this type of system.


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[Porkchopexpress]

$1,000 for a 100 watt solar system is an amazing rip off. The 100 watt panel is kind of uselessly small to begin with. You can buy a 325 watt or larger panel for less than $200. A charge controller that will handle 2 of that size panel costs about $400 tops.
I don't see any reason, with your listed loads, to have a generator.

I figured with the initial build, it was worth it to get all the wiring from the batteries and controller to the roof panels clean compared to having it added afterwards and once it's all there it would be easier for me to DIY upgrades. Do you think it's worth dropping from the build and paying an aftermarket shop to add solar? I can't imagine i will find any bargains right now.

 

[DaveInDenver]

In a pinch, we could idle the engine for some chassis charging and since lithium batteries accept a charge very quickly, it doesn’t take much. For a dollars and cents, the operating costs of idling vs acquisition/operating cost of a generator made more sense for us.

You're carrying the charging system in your vehicle whether you use it or not. If you've designed a power system that is optimized for running from batteries, e.g. using solar primarily, then carrying a generator for an occasional use does seem quite redundant.

Using a generator instead of solar/wind/battery/inverter is a different primary use comparison. There's pros and cons with each of those approaches for sure. Noise being one definite negative. OTOH never worrying about sun, rain, snow to have consistent power is an upside.

 

[Porkchopexpress]

If specified correctly, having aftermarket shop do the install probably wont be any cheaper, maybe even cost more. But will be wayyyy better.
Massmarket RVs just dont do anything electrical thats going to be high quality. Either materials or workmanship.

It's not a stick build from Elkhart, one of those made to order truck camper builders in Colorado so hopefully a step up in quality. Maybe they would be willing to prewire for solar for a lower price? The builder has been so accommodating on other upgrades and customizations that I'm inclined to just leave the solar on my build sheet and take the financial hit.

 

[Joe917]

The solar price is very high, I would suggest you have a wire conduit installed from the roof solar panel location to the charge controller/battery location. Add the solar yourself, it is not complicated and you will learn a lot.

 

[Rando]

Ask the manufacturer (Hallmark, Phoenix?) if they will just do the solar pre wire, but not install anything. The only thing you need them to do is to run 2 wires to the roof, everything else is easy to do after the fact. For a lot of manufacturers (eg Four Wheel Campers) the solar wiring is default, regardless if you order their solar or not.

Also definitely skip the generator. Nothing ruins a beautiful back country campsite than the buzz of a generator, no matter how quiet you think it is.

 

[Porkchopexpress]

Ask the manufacturer if they will just do the solar pre wire, but not install anything.

I'm considering it. When I pick up the camper, I'm immediately going on a road trip, (3-4 weeks). The convenience of immediate availability and the other extra design elements the builder is including for free or at cost is another consideration too.

 

[Pixeltim]

Idk, I totally get the thought of generators, even quiet ones, being disruptive, but it's by far the most economical way to run safe heat or A/C on days when it's absolutely necessary.
I'm thinking of putting one in a locked box that has additional sound insulation, if I can make it silent from 50' away, I'm good with that.

 

[DiploStrat]

It's a shortbed truck camper, (pop-up). There is an optional second panel but I was thinking I would see how much power I use and add more later. ...

Like my buddies, my first thought is that you don't have anywhere near enough solar. Figure 5A of charge per hour per 100w of panel on a good day.

BUT, the first thing you need to do is plan. Don't try to do this piecemeal - it costs much more.

FWIW, the older GoPower! solar controllers are terrible for lead acid. Don't ask how I know this. Do yourself a favor and get a better controller. (Or buy my old GoPower!)

This may help a bit: https://cookfb.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/plan-electrical-system.pdf

(The other articles on the same page discuss charging lead acid and isolation alternatives. Sorry, haven't updated for lithium, but there are lots of good sources.)

 

[Buddha.]

We were at grand Teton once in a non generator site, a couple hundred feet away from generator sites.
It was annoying hearing the construction generators running when I myself couldn’t run my quiet inverter. If I ran mine in the back of the truck under the bed cover with the tailgate down(in eco mode) it wasn’t any louder than my truck with a mild turbo muffler on.