400i Solar package is it enogh to camp on

[Keelz]

I just bought a 2023 Cougar 22 MLSWE with the 400i solar package with inverter and 2 Lithium Ion batteries. I was wondering if anyone else has this system and how they made out camping off grid for 3 days.

[firestation12]

Perhaps if your system was twice as robust as it currently is, you’d a have a better boondocking experience. If you have a backup generator you’ll be ok with what you have. Don’t count on using any a/c without a 3500 watt or larger generator. My 2 cents subject to criticism/opinions by others.

[Canonman]

Our system is not nearly as robust as Keelz. With two 6 volt golf cart batteries and a 200 watt portable solar kit, we can camp for days at a time. Our limiting factor is fresh water use. We can usually make it 5 days before needing to hit the dump station.
If you have reasonable sun for the panels to keep the batteries topped off and are willing to forego A/C, microwave and other high wattage electric appliances, it really isn't a problem. We use the lights, stove, furnace and other 12 volt appliances normally and even watch an evening movie if we're in the mood. We also carry an inverter generator as a backup just in case we get 4 solid days of rain (like we did this summer), but other than that the genny stays in the truck. It also comes in handy if we find ourselves needing to run the A/C as we did at the Reno Air Races.

[Max23]

Originally Posted by Keelz

I just bought a 2023 Cougar 22 MLSWE with the 400i solar package with inverter and 2 Lithium Ion batteries. I was wondering if anyone else has this system and how they made out camping off grid for 3 days.

I have this same setup. Don't plan on running a/c or microwave as you can't. I wouldn't run any high draw items such as coffeemaker or such. Other than that, it'll run u fine. Make coffee on the stove top. We can run a fan, cpap, furnace lights, refrigerator and the batteries completely recharge by next afternoon if full sun. Have fun, it'll work.

[cougar23]

We have the same solar package and can go several days without shore power.
Just remember that you cannot run your AC or microwave. We carry a Wen 2000 watt generator if we need AC [with Soft Start ] or microwave.

[Stircrazy]

Originally Posted by Keelz

I just bought a 2023 Cougar 22 MLSWE with the 400i solar package with inverter and 2 Lithium Ion batteries. I was wondering if anyone else has this system and how they made out camping off grid for 3 days.

Looking at the makeup of the kit you should be ok.

now having said that, I do not have a 12V refrigerator and doing some reading on the one you have it seems it will consume about 80AH per day in the summer so without the solar package you would not have enough batteries to make it 3 days, but you should be able to with the solar you have.

Steve

[Rock7]

Solar worked great for a trip in April for maiden voyage, Other than Bathroom leak and,No water in kitchen. Factory screw ups. REPAIRED BY OWNER. Turned it all off as not going to use it until Sept
Went to turn it all on. . NO power in Solar outlets. Batteries at 13.74 volts
After charging for a period. Outlets only powered up after I plugged it into garage 110.Everything was working, all outlets were going. Then I unplugged shore power. Solar outlets died. Am at loss, fridge is 12 volt and works. All lights work. Slides work and awning works. Leaving Monday, Camping World service is closed today Sunday.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Rock7

Solar worked great for a trip in April for maiden voyage, Other than Bathroom leak and,No water in kitchen. Factory screw ups. REPAIRED BY OWNER. Turned it all off as not going to use it until Sept
Went to turn it all on. . NO power in Solar outlets. Batteries at 13.74 volts
After charging for a period. Outlets only powered up after I plugged it into garage 110.Everything was working, all outlets were going. Then I unplugged shore power. Solar outlets died. Am at loss, fridge is 12 volt and works. All lights work. Slides work and awning works. Leaving Monday, Camping World service is closed today Sunday.

It sounds like either your inverter in the front passthrough is not turned on or your transfer switch is not working.

When on shore power the outlets are working: That proves the outlets and wiring from the transfer switch to the outlets is OK.

When on inverter power, nothing works: That indicates either there is no input power to the inverter (solar system not active), the inverter is turned off, or the transfer switch is not changing the contacts from "shore power" to "inverter power" to apply electricity to that side of the outlets and wiring.

[Stangfire]

I'm not familiar with that system but I'm set up permanent off grid. I have 200w solar panels and (2)6v golf cart batteries. I've gone 5 days in a row with no issues. I use everything except AC and microwave. I also have a 1500w inverter for tv and dvd players.

I love being off grid and can still do (almost) everything. My solar panels top the batteries up each day. Maybe I would have issues if it was cloudy days in the fall with less daylight but so far no issues. I have a generator for back up or for the +30 days and need AC.

[RET.LEO]

Originally Posted by firestation12

Perhaps if your system was twice as robust as it currently is, you’d a have a better boondocking experience. If you have a backup generator you’ll be ok with what you have. Don’t count on using any a/c without a 3500 watt or larger generator. My 2 cents subject to criticism/opinions by others.

Fully agree, need to double or triple the Li's and solar to feed the Li's

[SWillier]

We bought a 23 Cougar 27BHS late in the season this year with 400i and the 200Ah Lithium. We have only had it out 2 times so far. I also cary a Renogy 200W portable suitcase solar panel to catch the sun throughout the day. I was mostly conserned about the new 12v fridge as our old camper had 200Ah lithium, but less load with a propane evaporative fridge.

Our first trip was 3 nights parked in the trees, so the roof solar wasn't capturing all it could, but the portable grond solar did fine. With the 12v fridge CPAP, and some inverter use, we did fine.

Our 2nd trip was 5 nights. This time parked in the sun with much more exposure for the roof panels. Between them and the ground panel, we were able to be fully charged by the evening on bright sunny days, and still did well on the 1 rainy day and intermitent cloudy day we had.

Everyone's use is different, but we found that with the 12v fridge on the lower of the 2 dry camping settings, conservitive temp setting on furnace, CPAP overnight 12v power supply), and a little inverter use for coffee, we would be down in the 40-something % battery levels at the end of the morning. Then solar would bring us back up effectivel. If there was a lof of cloudy or rainy weather, you migh need some generator supliment.

For a extra buffer I am adding a little more solar to the roof, testing that, then might add one more 100Ah battery to the setup. Just to be sure we can last through some lousy weather if we encounter it.

[JohnnyB1966]

That is the same as our solar setup. We do a lot of beach camping and our battery stays at 13 volts or more, even when we occasionally run the marg blender on the inverter!

[Kzneft]

You didn't mention how many amp hours your batteries are? With only two 100ah batteries, in my opinion you do not have enough. I started off with two L-ion batteries, but if you run the furnace overnight, and an inverter, you might not have enough. I ended up with four L-ion batteries (400ah total) and that works great. We always boondock and haven't had any issues since.

[Max23]

Originally Posted by Kzneft

You didn't mention how many amp hours your batteries are? With only two 100ah batteries, in my opinion you do not have enough. I started off with two L-ion batteries, but if you run the furnace overnight, and an inverter, you might not have enough. I ended up with four L-ion batteries (400ah total) and that works great. We always boondock and haven't had any issues since.

You apparently missed my post. I have 2 100ah and run all kinds of stuff all night with a full recharge by next afternoon. I mean, cloudy days excluded, 2 is more than enough. Can't speak for cloudy days.

[Sean D]

I’ve made it one night and had to buy a generator the next day.

[Kzneft]

Originally Posted by Max23

You apparently missed my post. I have 2 100ah and run all kinds of stuff all night with a full recharge by next afternoon. I mean, cloudy days excluded, 2 is more than enough. Can't speak for cloudy days.

Sorry, must have missed it.

[Kzneft]

Originally Posted by Sean D

I’ve made it one night and had to buy a generator the next day.

I generator is good for a back up source.

I rarely run out of power with 400ah Lithium batteries. I do have two solar panels on the roof, then I also have two GoalZero portable solar panels I put on the ground just to get a little more charging. I do have a built-in generator in my toyhauler, but I don't hardly use it, unless I need to run the AC. My batteries will run Starlink, tv's, ,streaming videos, microwave, waterpump, lights, etc. My fridge I run on propane, When I use the furnace at night, I still have about 80% charge left in the morning.

[ToddCarey]

I had a similar experience with my new Outback 328RL which has the 400i solar and 2KW inverter. The inverter protected outlets ran fine on shore power, but were dead when shore power was off. In my 328RL the bottom of the master closet has a hatch which opens up to expose the inverter. On the inverter unit there is a control panel with an off/on button. Mine was off (it was out), but a simple push in turned on the inverter and everything is now working correctly.

[govols380]

Our old camper has 160 Ah of FLA batteries and it runs lights and furnace on <30 degree nights without discharging below 50%. Given 90% discharge on 200 Ah, and the way LI batteries are willing to take charge, I expect the 400i to be adequate for modest expectations.