Solar panel recommendations
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From: Sioux Falls Area
Solar panel recommendations
I need a recommendation for a solar panel.
Going camping for a week and a half with no shore power. It is just a pop up camper, but I’m expecting to need to run the furnace at night.
ive got a single group 27 battery and just need a way to recharge the battery during the day.
the only load I’m expecting is the furnace at night, a few lights at night and the igniter for the propane fridge.
i found this one on Amazon. Topsolar 30W 12V Solar Panel kit Battery Charge... https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0836R5B...ing=UTF8&psc=1
any thoughts or recommendations otherwise? Cost is a factor as always
Going camping for a week and a half with no shore power. It is just a pop up camper, but I’m expecting to need to run the furnace at night.
ive got a single group 27 battery and just need a way to recharge the battery during the day.
the only load I’m expecting is the furnace at night, a few lights at night and the igniter for the propane fridge.
i found this one on Amazon. Topsolar 30W 12V Solar Panel kit Battery Charge... https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0836R5B...ing=UTF8&psc=1
any thoughts or recommendations otherwise? Cost is a factor as always
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,472
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From: Calgary Canada
For occasional use, a small inverter generator will probably be more effective and less expensive than a solar setup. Solar is awesome, but a meaningful system is a real investment.
That panel you posted is rated at 30W, so that's MAX output, and you'll get much less than that most of the day in reality. Have a look at what a cheapie 1000w inverter generator costs and give it some thought.
That panel you posted is rated at 30W, so that's MAX output, and you'll get much less than that most of the day in reality. Have a look at what a cheapie 1000w inverter generator costs and give it some thought.
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From: Sioux Falls Area
I’ve thought very hard about getting a portable genset, but then it is one more thing to carry along and then I need to Carry fuel as well.
I can get a 100 watt panel set up like that for $140 but it is 4’ long.
but a genset is almost 4 times that cost.
im really at a loss on which way to go.
I can get a 100 watt panel set up like that for $140 but it is 4’ long.
but a genset is almost 4 times that cost.
im really at a loss on which way to go.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,472
Likes: 727
From: Calgary Canada
Dollars per watt, a generator is the cheapest option. You don't get into solar to save money. I know a guy who has a 400W array on his trailer, and he says that's enough that he's always topped off before nightfall. So it can be done, and for one or two nights it's probably no big deal, especially when you can always run your truck for a while to do an emergency top-off if needed. I've even see people turn their trucks around and charge the trailer batteries with booster cables from the truck. Not an ideal solution, but it works in a pinch.
I personally wouldn't want a buddy heater anywhere I was planning to sleep.
Outdoor temperatures and how cold you can handle the interior are big factors too. We let our trailer get down to 60F overnight, and find that pretty conformable. With another blanket I'd be fine with it much colder, but my kids and wife complain. If the Outdoor temp is 50F, that's a lot different than 20F . . . .
In the end, there's a lot of ways to handle this. None are wrong, just some are easier than others.
I personally wouldn't want a buddy heater anywhere I was planning to sleep.
Outdoor temperatures and how cold you can handle the interior are big factors too. We let our trailer get down to 60F overnight, and find that pretty conformable. With another blanket I'd be fine with it much colder, but my kids and wife complain. If the Outdoor temp is 50F, that's a lot different than 20F . . . .
In the end, there's a lot of ways to handle this. None are wrong, just some are easier than others.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Wyoming
Where are you planning to mount the panel? How many watts do you think you'll need to replenish each day?
I'm not a fan of kits. They're often a minimal solution and maximum cost.
Look on Craig's List for leftover panels from installs. Sometimes you can find bargains. I looked today and found a couple that caught my interest, but quite a few that were way overpriced.
I'm not a fan of kits. They're often a minimal solution and maximum cost.
Look on Craig's List for leftover panels from installs. Sometimes you can find bargains. I looked today and found a couple that caught my interest, but quite a few that were way overpriced.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 256
Likes: 253
From: Auburn, WA
If it's a one-time deal with the pop-up then I'd agree with HRTKD - see if you can find something used or leftover from an install. I wouldn't worry about mounting, especially on the pop-up - just add some leads directly off the battery using something like an Anderson PowerPole connector, get an inexpensive PWM charge controller and keep the panel(s) leaned into the sun. If you want to get some longer-term mileage out of things then I'd switch to a MPPT controller and add on the "portable" aspect of things with some reasonably cheap casement hinges, angle aluminum, square tubing and threaded rod so you can fold it for easier storage. Assuming you have good full sun available and keep the panels aimed appropriately 100 watts would deliver ~5-6 amps max - so maybe 30 amps for a full day - a bit less if the panels are flat-mounted on a roof or have periods of partial shading.
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From: Sioux Falls Area
I appreciate all the feedback.
given what I’ve gathered from all of the above, I decided to get a cheap inverter generator.
I was wanting a hands off solution that would restore power while we are gone, but it looks like that just isn’t a guarantee and losing the furnace half way thorough the second or third night is not going to be good.
I’ll just have to plan on running the generator for an hour or two every night to restore the battery for the overnight run.
If it was just the wife and I, this wouldn’t be such a big deal. Run the furnace at 50 and we would be fine, but my 2 year old is gonna get cold, and then everyone will be awake ... so we are gonna have to keep it reasonable. I think 60 will be fine, but lower than that could be a non starter. There are quiet hours so we can’t run the generator all night, so we have to be able to charge the coach battery.
so, with a generator on board, are we better charging with the converter, or with a battery charger? I have a 10 amp smart charger I can bring along.
thoughts?
given what I’ve gathered from all of the above, I decided to get a cheap inverter generator.
I was wanting a hands off solution that would restore power while we are gone, but it looks like that just isn’t a guarantee and losing the furnace half way thorough the second or third night is not going to be good.
I’ll just have to plan on running the generator for an hour or two every night to restore the battery for the overnight run.
If it was just the wife and I, this wouldn’t be such a big deal. Run the furnace at 50 and we would be fine, but my 2 year old is gonna get cold, and then everyone will be awake ... so we are gonna have to keep it reasonable. I think 60 will be fine, but lower than that could be a non starter. There are quiet hours so we can’t run the generator all night, so we have to be able to charge the coach battery.
so, with a generator on board, are we better charging with the converter, or with a battery charger? I have a 10 amp smart charger I can bring along.
thoughts?
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Wyoming
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Calgary Canada
A small 1000W generator, it's not going to matter which method you use. An added benefit to the genny is that if you do run out of juice, and the trailer is getting cold, you can start up the generator in the morning when it's time for breakfast and get your trailer up to temps quickly, which isn't possible with solar.
I'm a huge fan of solar, but it's not the cheap or easy way to do things for a beginner.
I'm a huge fan of solar, but it's not the cheap or easy way to do things for a beginner.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,707
Likes: 12,846
From: Wyoming
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,707
Likes: 12,846
From: Wyoming
I kind of like doing the upgrade. Plus, if someone put in some noname, off-brand piece of crap system, I would just have to rip it all out and start over.
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From: Sioux Falls Area
I’ll plan on bringing the charger too.
The generator I got is a 1900w running so it should be plenty to run anything we need. Going to try it on our microwave to see if it can handle that. If it does, it opens up some food options for the kids.
it only has one regular outlet on it though. One is a twist lock, which I might make up a plug for that just in case.
this should work. If I run it a couple hours a day it should be fine I think.
The generator I got is a 1900w running so it should be plenty to run anything we need. Going to try it on our microwave to see if it can handle that. If it does, it opens up some food options for the kids.
it only has one regular outlet on it though. One is a twist lock, which I might make up a plug for that just in case.
this should work. If I run it a couple hours a day it should be fine I think.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,707
Likes: 12,846
From: Wyoming
The guy I hunt with will fill his generator's tank just enough for it to run for an hour (or however long he needs it to run). That way he can leave it running while he isn't there and it won't run all day.
Be sure to secure the generator. They have a tendency to walk away.
Be sure to secure the generator. They have a tendency to walk away.