No solar or refrigerator?

yvrr · 07-09-2012, 08:59 PM

For the first 3 years after getting our SMB, we didn't have solar. (It wasn't an option when we purchased on van in 2001.) But we retrofitted solar to our SMB in August 2004.

During those early years (BS...before solar), we were completely satisfied with the limitations of our house battery. In those days, we typically moved every day (this was before retiring) and those moves recharged the house battery.

But, once we added solar (and retired), all of our house battery concerns disappeared. No longer did we watch our e-Meter and calculate how long before we had to get moving to recharge the house battery. We also no longer had to plan to drive everyday in order recharge the house battery.

Well, we were getting ready for a trip a couple of weeks when, while restocking, I suddenly noticed that the voltage on the house battery was 12.2v! With solar, I only occasionally even pay attention to the house battery status. But, this was in the middle of the day with the van in full sunlight! Obviously, something was seriously wrong!!!!

I started up the engine and it was obvious that the alternator was charging the house battery since the controller showed the voltage of the alternator. But, with the engine off, the controller showed 0 amps coming from the solar panels. So, it seemed that the solar panels were no longer working.

I contacted Peter at SMB Fresno and, unfortunately, he couldn't schedule me right away. My first instinct was to cancel our trip. My wife argued that we should still go but my problem was that our itinerary involved driving up to the mid-Sierras and then fishing over several days with little moving from campsite to campsite. That wasn't going to work without solar.

The major problem was our after-market Isotherm refrigerator...it cools at night while monitoring the house battery voltage. When the house battery voltage drops to 12.2v (the minimum voltage for AGM house batteries), it stops drawing power from the house battery and starts relying on a frozen gel pack in the refrigerator. This works VERY well with solar since the solar panels start recharging in the morning about the time the propane heater (and its associated electrical fan) come on at 6:30 am. The solar charges at the same rate as the fan uses power and the battery stays as 12.2v until the sun rises more and the house battery voltage starts to rise.

But, without solar, the refrigerator would drop the house battery voltage to 12.2v by the morning and there was no way to recharge the house batteries without starting up the engine.

So...bottom line, we still went on the trip but switched destinations from a mid-Sierras trip to a trip to Mammoth with the idea that we'd drive enough everyday to recharge the house battery. So, instead of cooking in the van, we utilized a lot of take-outs (see the post about "Highway 395 eats" in the Campfire section).

Since we "couldn't" use our refrigerator during this trip (due to the problem with it drawing down the battery at night), we took along an ice chest. What a pain in the behind! While block ice kept it cool for several days, we had to get cubed ice just about every day in order to have a cocktail before dinner. While keeping a zip-locked bag of cubed ice on top of the block of ice worked slightly better, it was a far cry from being able to make ice every night with the Isotherm!

For those planning their SMBs, I would STRONGLY argue for including solar panels and a refrigerator in their build. A trip without them really emphasized how important they can be...

**daveb** · 07-09-2012, 10:36 PM

I couldn't enjoy my SMB the way I do with out that system.

Ultrasport12 · 07-10-2012, 12:02 AM

We don't have solar, yet but we do have and love our 63 quart ARB fridge/freezer. It's just great to have more room without ice and the food and beverages stay nice and cold. We will never be able to camp without a real refrigerator ever again.

Tapatio · 07-10-2012, 08:07 AM

Totally agree. With solar you don't worry about battery levels. We saved a few bucks by ordering our SMB with a solar per-wire kit and then added a 210w solar panel later. A must have IMHO.

Ford_6L_E350 · 07-10-2012, 10:04 AM

Jack,

Your experience mirrors ours. While we were working and driving everyday on vacation, living without solar was not an issue. Now that we are retired and spend a week or more in one place the solar is mandatory.

The moral of this tale:

SOLAR, don't leave home without it!

Mike

EMrider · 07-10-2012, 10:44 AM

Interesting.

I have not gone the solar route yet.

After almost 7 years, the combination of house battery and Honda eu2000 generator has been able to keep the fridge running strong on trips of 4-5 days.

It usually takes 2-3 hours in low-idle mode for the generator to top-off the house batteries.

If I were doing longer and more frequent trips off the grid, I'd go solar. Hopefully, I'll be doing more of those over the next 5-7 years.

R

Ford_6L_E350 · 07-10-2012, 12:08 PM

But, you have to carry the generator (in a space challenged SMB) and plug it in and start it and carry gas for it (in a diesel van for me). The solar panel is invisible and fully automatic.

Mike

**daveb** · 07-10-2012, 04:05 PM

I'd say it really depends on where and when you go camping. If you visit areas of constant overcast you might need a generator to get buy. Folks that frequent areas with high snow fall would be in the same catagory. Overall even in fog, shade or overcast I generally get enough sun for my 2 panels to get by but winter camping can take a toll. People in the PNW might also have a different view.

As far as the refrigerator, being able to stock up my rig a week ahead of time is a huge advantage. If I could fit a larger one in with a good freezer, it would be even better. I wish I could make more ice.

EMrider · 07-10-2012, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350

But, you have to carry the generator (in a space challenged SMB) and plug it in and start it and carry gas for it (in a diesel van for me). The solar panel is invisible and fully automatic.

Mike

Fully agree. There is some hassle with a generator.
R

86Scotty · 07-10-2012, 05:05 PM

I would love to have solar, but this setup works pretty well too when I need to charge batteries.

It stayed there the entire 6k miles of my last trip and we charged whenever we were NOT driving during the day between stays, meaning if we were parked in a lot somewhere off sightseeing or shopping. I made the rack and it mounts to a front receiver, hidden extension cord underneath to shore power at rear. Just don't rear end anyone! I can also run it while I drive, I have once or twice and you don't know it's running.