Anything wrong with this system? Critique requested.

Crosscut

I'm about to install a solar system on a Lance caravan.  Before doing so, however, I'd like some feedback from the forum.  The proposed components are: Four GoPower GP-PV-170M (170 watt) panels with tilt kits, Victron SmartSolar MPPT 150V/60A charge controller, Victron MPPT Control monitor, Four 6V Trojan Reliant T105 AGM batteries, AIMS "Global" 2000 watt pure sine inverter/charger (model PICOGLF20W12V120VR) or a GoPower 2000 watt inverter/charger (model GP-IC-2000-12).

Is there anything inherently wrong with this configuration?  Comments?

We are primarily boondockers and plan to use the system in cloudy Oregon, sunny Idaho, and at occasionally high Alaskan latitudes.  We need to power a furnace blower (20' caravan), TV, two laptop computers, two cell phones, and all the standard loads found on a 20' trailer.  Although it would be nice to run a microwave oven for reheating food/coffee, we are most concerned with the basic "life support" systems of the trailer.

We are aware that we'll need to carry a generator.  Our goal is to have to use it as little as possible.

Cheers
   

mike95490

You need a smart battery isolator, to charge the house battery when driving the rig.

Do you NEED a 2kw inverter ?  That's a lot of overhead to have just to run the blower motor.  Would a 600w inverter do the job, and just use the 2kw for the microwave ?

Ralph Day

Wouldn't the furnace blower fan operate on 12vdc directly off the house batteries?  All my basic life support is 12volt related.  Fridge (controls and propane firing/starting), furnace, cooking, even the controls for the A/C (requires generator).

Estragon

+1 on running off DC directly as much as possible.  The big inverter on my boat basically only runs the microwave, and is otherwise left off.

Do the inverter/chargers include transfer switch to automatically go from generator/shore power to inverter power, and if so, are they designed for mobile use (transfer neutral, etc)?

Crosscut

--I'm uncertain about the truck's electrical supply to the trailer.  I know one of the wires in the 7-pin trailer connection supplies juice to the trailer's battery bank when driving.  But that's about all I know.
--Furnace blower is 12V.  So the inverter would be necessary for microwave and laptop computers.  Not much more.
--Inverter/chargers do have auto-transfer switches.  They are designed for vehicles.

littleharbor2

Estragon

Depending on the laptop, you may be able to charge off DC using something like this:

https://www.amazon.ca/Laptop-Universal-Power-Adapter-Charger/dp/B076WQD6VW/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1544631236&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=12v+laptop+charger&dpPl=1&dpID=51y4GQF86AL&ref=plSrch