RV FEATURE
monocrystalline modules are more efficient
than polycrystalline modules, but the top quality
modules are now equal.
WHAT CAN I RUN FROM SOLAR?
By and large, running from solar is feasible with
LED lighting, and a microwave oven run for only
a few minutes a day (they typically draw 130
amps at 12 volts). That not feasible is direct
electric space heating and water heating
on anything but a minor scale. But one can
readily install a solar-only hot water heater.
The top brands of reverse-cycle air-conditioners
are just feasible to run from solar in the larger RVs
that have space for the solar capacity required
during the day. The top Daiken 2500 watt US7
draws only 420 watts at its maximum cooling
capacity, and 600 watts at maximum heating.
Dometic’s hatch-replacement Harrier reverse-
cycle unit is even more efficient. It is claimed
to produce 3.1 kW cooling and 2.8 kW heating
for only 6.5 amps at 12 volts (78 watts) and 5.2
amps at 12 volts (62.4 watts) respectively. That
is readily feasible with a dedicated 120 amp-hour
LiFePO4 battery.
LED lighting has long since replaced halogen, or
should be if not done already. It works extremely
well in older RVs: their lighting wiring was usually
less than adequate, but is now virtually (but
useful) overkill for the typically ten-times-more-
efficient top-brand LEDs. The Philips 7 watt units
are particularly suitable for RVs — the warm
white version particularly.
Final tip: if travelling far north in anything but
winter, be aware that solar input is actually lower
than (say) Sydney. This is because the irradiation
is partially blocked by the high humidity. Worse, it
stays hot all night as well… and people have been
known to drink more cold beer!
EXPERT ADVICE
Collyn Rivers is an engineer with a particular
interest in recreational vehicles. He has
written extensively on most technical
matters
relating to the field, from correct
EXPERT
ADVICE
caravan
weight
to solar
towing
Collyn Rivers is an distribution
engineer with
a particular
dynamics.
interest
in recreational vehicles. He has written
extensively
on most technical
matters relating and
to
His websites,
www.solarbooks.com
www.rvbooks.com,
are a weight
trove of distribution
insightful,
the field,
from correct caravan
practical,
to solar
towing technical
dynamics. information relevant to
Australian RVers. These articles are easy
His to
websites,
www.solarbooks.com
and www.
understand
— a degree in rocketry
is
not needed
the
rvbooks.com,
are — a without
trove of ‘dumbing
insightful, down’
practical,
essential
technical aspects.
technical
information
relevant to Australian
RVers.
Collyn you
has are
written
these
articles
easy
Whether
buying
a new
RV, are
want
to
to understand
— look
a degree
rocketry is unit,
not
know what to
for in a in
second-hand
needed
— without
‘dumbing
down’ the
we can
recommend
his websites
as essential
a source
technical
aspects.
of reliable
information.
Whether
you BOOKS
are buying a new RV, want to know
SOLAR
what to look for in a second-hand unit, we can
recommend his
websites as a source of reliable
WWW.SOLARBOOKS.COM
information.
SOLAR
BOOKS:
RV BOOKS
www.solarbooks.com
WWW.RVBOOKS.COM
RV BOOKS: link to www.rvbooks.com
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