Sizzler-KEY
New Member
Hey guys! I recently purchased a property that came with a 2020 Alpine 3850RD (so I am super new to RV ownership). It has full electrical and septic hookups where it's kept. But I noticed it draws a lot of power even when I'm not at the property and it's all shut down (except the fridge is left on at power 2).
I'm only at the property two weekends per month so I'd like to unplug the RV from the electrical hookup while I'm gone but I want to keep the refrigerator on to keep the ketchup and stuff cold. I saw the Furrion 10A Solar Power plug built into the side of the RV so I wanted to see if I could rig up a solar panel that would recharge the batteries during the day and the batteries could keep the fridge running overnight. I'm in the Sierra Nevada foothills in California and we get tons of sun for most of the year.
I bought a 160W solar panel that came with a charge controller (this). And I followed this youtube video and did exactly what he said. The set up doesn't seem to be doing anything.
If anyone knows how I can fix my current set up so that I can unplug the RV when I'm away from the property and still have the batteries keep the fridge running and solar panel recharge the battery, I'm open to any and all suggestions.
Alternatively, if anyone has a better idea to reduce the energy usage while I'm gone but not have to bring new condiments with me every time I come, I'm all ears on that too. In case it's relevant, the RV is drawing about 20kws per day when everything is shut off (fridge at power 2) and everything else at the property is off. I confirmed it was the RV drawing the power by unplugging it and watching the usage drop to zero. This is costing ~$8/day ($240/month) which is a lot just to keep my ketchup cold. Thanks for reading!
I'm only at the property two weekends per month so I'd like to unplug the RV from the electrical hookup while I'm gone but I want to keep the refrigerator on to keep the ketchup and stuff cold. I saw the Furrion 10A Solar Power plug built into the side of the RV so I wanted to see if I could rig up a solar panel that would recharge the batteries during the day and the batteries could keep the fridge running overnight. I'm in the Sierra Nevada foothills in California and we get tons of sun for most of the year.
I bought a 160W solar panel that came with a charge controller (this). And I followed this youtube video and did exactly what he said. The set up doesn't seem to be doing anything.
If anyone knows how I can fix my current set up so that I can unplug the RV when I'm away from the property and still have the batteries keep the fridge running and solar panel recharge the battery, I'm open to any and all suggestions.
Alternatively, if anyone has a better idea to reduce the energy usage while I'm gone but not have to bring new condiments with me every time I come, I'm all ears on that too. In case it's relevant, the RV is drawing about 20kws per day when everything is shut off (fridge at power 2) and everything else at the property is off. I confirmed it was the RV drawing the power by unplugging it and watching the usage drop to zero. This is costing ~$8/day ($240/month) which is a lot just to keep my ketchup cold. Thanks for reading!
