Motor home electrics

[Sea Dog]

7 minutes ago, Stilllearning said:

So, with 2 roughly 120Ah batteries, how many watts of solar panelling is considered necessary for maintaining the batteries at an optimal level of charge?

That's a bit like asking: "with a 60ltr fuel tank, what will be the mpg?"

 

You need to work out your consumption to understand your charging requirements. Search here for "power audit" and you'll get the idea. In truth, your most likely limiting factor will be roof space. 

[malp]

6 minutes ago, Stilllearning said:

So, with 2 roughly 120Ah batteries, how many watts of solar panelling is considered necessary for maintaining the batteries at an optimal level of charge?

On both the motorhomes I had the limiting factor was the amount of room on the roof.   Both only had a single 120Ah service battery, one took a 100 watt panel, the other a 90 watt.  That sufficed for main season usage off grid (mostly at French motorhome aires), but not sure it would have been enough for winter use.

 

On my current boat I have 2 batteries like yours, and had room to fit 180 watts of solar panel (2 x 90).  12v is used mainly for lighting, pumps, TV and charging devices, and battery voltage always stays healthy, despite 10 year old batteries.

[Stilllearning]

Thanks for the various answers. 

We are in the process of going over to led lighting inside, we don’t do a lot of stuff like playing dvds, have no tv, so may well have enough roof space for ample panels. 

Like most motor homes, ours stays in a garage or barn for most of the year, plugged in to the mains, so it’s really a question of solar to give us the freedom to do more wild camping than we do at present (ie none).

We want to avoid getting a generator, and also would like to join France Passion, which offers dozens of fantastic locations to park up, but without facilities.

Back to reading up about solar controllers now.

[malp]

3 minutes ago, Stilllearning said:

.........., and also would like to join France Passion, which offers dozens of fantastic locations to park up, but without facilities.

If you are planning to motorhome in France, then apart from France Passion, have a look at these (if you don't already know them!):

A good source of guides , maps etc is Vicarious Media

Also this site has info about Aires.

 

[Stilllearning]

1 minute ago, malp said:

If you are planning to motorhome in France, then apart from France Passion, have a look at these (if you don't already know them!):

A good source of guides , maps etc is Vicarious Media

Also this site has info about Aires.

 

Excellent links, thanks.

As we live in France, we really only motorhome here, or sometimes in Italy and Belgium.