Wondering if anybody is using solar to charge the batteries when off the grid?
Where did you mount them and how big are your panels? My TH has the connections
on the roof for the power, so do you mount them up their?

 

I have 2 160w panels with a Bogart engineering 2030rv (monitor) and sc-2030 (charge controller). I run 2 12v deep cycles as I had them in the old camper. I used a pair of heavy jumper cables for my wiring from the panels to the charge controller. Keep the wires short and fat.

 

My toy hauler had no solar prep at all. I had the local RV dealer/service center install a single panel on top, add a GoPower controller/monitor and all the necessary wiring. That one panel does a nice job of keeping the battery topped up at the storage lot as well as when boondocking. I have dual 6v Trojan batteries. Supposedly I can add two more panels before I have to change the controller.

The actual size of the panel? My guess is 2' x 4'. It is mounted towards the front of the trailer on top. It's a good location for me since that is very close to the ladder. I climb to the top of the ladder and use a squirt bottle with a solution of soap/water to wet down the panel and then a squeegee to clean it off.

 

I have two 160 watt panels mounted on my roof and a Morningstar 20amp controller to maintain the batts. I also have a Trimetric Battery Monitor so I can keep track of how the batts are doing charge wise. I run 2 6volt batts, I love my solar I never have to worry about charged batteries as long as I have sun. I can go 4-5 days dry camping with no sun and in a few hours of full sunlight my batts will be 100% charged. I only use my genset now if I need the AC or Micro. The best mod I ever have done.

 

I'm following this thread because I'm on the fence with RV solar. I look at the watts everyone is posting and one of my panels on my house puts out 320 watts. What makes RV panels different?

 

The RV ones are smaller?

 

Why use 6 volt batteries? More capacity? Thanks for the replies!

 

Correct.

Cost is also a factor. AGM batteries are great, especially if they are stored inside the unit. But they can be a lot more expensive than my set of Trojan T-125 batteries. Eventually I'll stop using flooded cell batteries and hopefully by then the cost of LiFePO batteries has come down.

 

6 Volt batteries have more draw down cycles. Meaning they last a lot longer than 12 volts when doing things like dry camping. Not only in how long a charge will last, but also in longevity of the battery life. I am not a battery expert, but all the RV sites I visit say to use 6 volts. Do some research on www.rv.net and you will get all the info you could possibly want to know.

 

The only negative to having solar that I have found is that you need to check the water in your batts more often because the solar is always charging. I ruined my first set of batts not realizing this, that is when I switched to 6 volts batts. I never turn mine off so batts are ready to go at anytime. I guess one could turn off your solar, but that negates the point. By the way if you are at all mechanical you can save a lot of money doing your own solar set. I did mine my self except for mounting my panels, couldn't bring myself to drill holes in my brand new RV roof. I had a professional do that part. Solar is actually really easy to do. Lots of youtube videos on how to do it.

 

I bought a 2x160w panel kit from a local dealer here. It came with a 30a controller, all in it cost me $360 and it has been absolutely fantastic. I can blare the stereo all day, leave all the lights on at night and I never have to run my Gen unless I'm firing up the microwave or doing something intensive. I installed the whole thing in a Sat. afternoon...super easy install. I alos bought 2 6v batteries at Costco after the first run out in the desert with these. Those 6v batteries are no joke, they hold a hell of a lot more juice than my 12v deep cycles ever did.

 

"RV" panels are 12v (16-21vmp) where as your "house" panels are 24v (36+ vmp), yes rv panels can be smaller but that isn't the difference.

 

scraprat,
Thank you for the explanation. I thought they were just 12 volt, didn't know it went deeper than that.

 

Don't forget like your house they can be configured to be wired... all series, all parallel, mixed series/ parallel depending on your charge controller.

 

I went a different route with my Solar as mine are portable, 150 Watts total. I can set up the RV in the shade but have my solar panels in the sun, I use 2-6v Interstate Batteries. The Solar Panels fold up and slide into a carrying sleeve for easy storage/transport. I have a 500 watt solar controller purchased through Harbor Freight, it displays all the solar energy being produced, rate charge and battery charge, battery usage, I also installed a 800 watt inverter to run the Dish receiver. My solar panels easily recharge my dual 6v batteries daily, well worth having.