The Honda 2000 has been the little engine that could. It just has a little trouble starting the 2 hp pump for the water maker. It really is 1600 watts for anything past a few minutes.
Where the solar systems cost money is the batteries, inverter, chargers, wiring, panels and monitors. Each lithium cell has to have a monitor keeping track of its temperature and amp totals. Each cell works great if it stays between 15% to 90% charged and doesn't get too hot. If you go with lithium you need to have a big capacity to keep the temps down. . .
If you go with glass matt batteries they are great but they only have a 20% useable range (20 amps out of a 100 amp battery) before the voltage goes too low. They start to add up fast.
In your calculations remember that most inverters eat about 4 amps an hour doing nothing. . . And for extended time periods my wife insists on a microwave when it is hot, and watching DVD's is great when it is stormy outside, and the coffee maker, and rotating fans, they have some very efficient air conditioners, etc. etc. ^^
None of the big yachts use solar, they just run generators day and night. Cost and weight wise it is very hard to beat a generator.
Talador
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Posted by: taladorwood@yahoo.com.au
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