about my solar

I mentioned that I power my Instant Pot pressure cooker with solar in the EasyPressureCooking group https://easypressurecooking.groups.io/g/main

Whereupon I received a couple of replies. 

Would you mind posting about your solar power set-up? I'd love to learn how to run a 3 Qt IP using solar power! For example, what type and size solar panels do you use, what type and capacity inverter do you use (does it need to be a pure sine wave inverter), what type and capacity charge controller (if any) do you use, what type and capacity battery do you use, etc.? Inquiring minds want to know ;-)  -  Thanks!

and

I would like to learn more about solar panels also. And wondering about your set up inside that trailer

I can run up to a 2,000 watt appliance on my system that has 5 solar panels cover (overshadow) my converted cargo trailer. The panels are 185 watt, for a total of 925 watts of solar input. As MA pointed out I do have to park in the sun, but the 5 panels provide shade to the roof of the trailer from about 10AM to 2PM. Before and after the sun is at an angle that negates the heat gain. 

I have never heard of a RV park not allowing an RV because of the solar panels installed on the RV. On the other hand most of us with a large number of panels have them so we don't have to go to RV parks. Some state or federal campgrounds may have a shade problem.

If are installing solar on ground or permanent structures you will need to comply with local ordinances and if it is a grid-tied system you will have to follow their regulations.

My trailer is little more than a box (no windows, I live outside) with a bed and some storage boxes and a cabinet. All of the interior solar equipment is mounted on a partition just inside the side door. 

In the upper-left is the 2,000 watt pure sine wave inverter, to the right is the 12 volt fuse block. Below it is the negative buss bar,

and the blue box is the solar charge controller that is rated for 100 volts and 50 amps. 

There are various fuses, circuit breakers with power cutoff switches for the solar panels and battery bank.

The flooded lead acid batteries are outside on the A-frame of the trailer. They are 2 very large (~86 pounds each) 155 amp hour rated for a total of 310 amp hours.

Because you should only discharge to 50% the real useful capacity is back to 155 amp hours. This equates to 2.6 hours of continuous heating of the 3 quart Instant Pot (IP). In reality it seldom uses more than 500 watt hours for my cooking. I have used my IP for 3 cooking tasks in one day, charged up my tablet, phone and laptop, and run the lights without going below 65% charge.

With the prices of pure sine wave inverters dropping over the last 15 - 20 years I would not use a modified sine wave inverter today.