cactusjk
Explorer
Thanks. Might be good to sit back and let all this settle out in favor of the overland users!
Goal Zero Nomad 13.5 Vehicle Battery Charging Setup
- Thread starter cactusjk
- Start date
I did too, and am loving it all! The Light-a-life is awesome.
I'm looking forward to seeing their controller as well, which is something I will need once I get around to outfitting my cargo trailer with solar.
Fireman78
Expedition Leader
So now I am using my Escape 150 and "Light a Life" lamp for lighting up my shop/out building which has no power to it. And, running my satallite radio in my grocery getter wind-up Subaru that has no cig lighter power. I pretty much use it every single day. Now Iam thinking it will charge up my R/C cars while in camp.
cactusjk
Explorer
I have a female 12V receptacle already attached to my second battery. is there a male 12V connector setup option for the charge controller?
Well, I did some solar charging of the Sherpa 50 with the Nomad 13.5m this weekend. <20% on the battery both times. The first test was a very overcast day and after all day it charged the Sherpa to where the 60% icon was flashing. The next day it was sunny and was able to fully charge the battery after 7.5 hours.
The panels were tilted at about 45˚ and I moved them a few times to track the sun. In the field I won't be around to move them. I'm happy with these results and I'm not all that surprised. I have always considered the claim of charging in 4hrs under optimal conditions to be more of a holy grail and the I take the reminders from Goal0 that 7-8 hours as more realistic.
I am having a bit of trouble deciding what the LCD panel is telling me. When it is at the 80% mark, does that tell me I have between 80-100% or that I have consumed 20% and I have between 60-80%?
Thanks, so far I am pretty happy the set up. If it performs like this over the summer I'll be plenty happy. I'm particularly happy with my booty-fabbed panel frame. I made it with some stuff I had in the shed, plastic plumbing fittings for 3/8 flex tubing and some garden stakes.
The panels were tilted at about 45˚ and I moved them a few times to track the sun. In the field I won't be around to move them. I'm happy with these results and I'm not all that surprised. I have always considered the claim of charging in 4hrs under optimal conditions to be more of a holy grail and the I take the reminders from Goal0 that 7-8 hours as more realistic.
I am having a bit of trouble deciding what the LCD panel is telling me. When it is at the 80% mark, does that tell me I have between 80-100% or that I have consumed 20% and I have between 60-80%?
Thanks, so far I am pretty happy the set up. If it performs like this over the summer I'll be plenty happy. I'm particularly happy with my booty-fabbed panel frame. I made it with some stuff I had in the shed, plastic plumbing fittings for 3/8 flex tubing and some garden stakes.
expdtnoffroad
New member
GeoRoss as it was explained to me the LCD should be telling you that you are between 80-100% power. I will double check with Goal Zero tomorrow for clarification. It would seem to make sense though with the experience that I had testing a 350 Power Pack this weekend. We charged the 350 for 12 hours on the 110 wall charger before heading out. We hooked just about everything that we had in camp to the 350 and the LCD dropped to 80% immediately. However we ran the 350 for more than a day and it is still at 80% without putting the pack on the panels to charge.
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expdtnoffroad
New member
Here are a couple of pictures of the Goal Zero plug and play charge system for automotive 12 volt charging.
cactusjk
Explorer
Okay now I am looking at starting with a Goal Zero 30W panel with controller for my ARB. Comments welcome!
While those certainly look like nice panels, they are definitely on the high end of the $/W. Depending on which brands you are comfortable with, you could get a 50 - 80W panel at this price point with very similar specs. In the 60 - 80w range you are pretty close to being able to stay put indefinitely with your ARB. I have friend who is currently installing a 100W system on his Vanagon, with the ultimate goal of being able to leave his ARB running in his van all summer. Always having a case of coldies in the fridge is a pretty attractive outcome!
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Corey
OverCamping Specialist
I would not go less than a 60 watt panel like I run to power an ARB fridge or keep your battery topped off while running one.
A 60 watt ones can power the fridge hooked directly to it with good sunlight.
cactusjk
Explorer
Agree 60W would be perfect. Options include 2 Boulder 30 panels or if Goal Zero starts making a 60W panel. Not sure if you can combine the Escape 30 W panels?
http://www.ul-solar.com/65_Watt_12_Volt_multicrystalline_solar_panel_p/stp065p-n.htm
PS I wouldn't connect your fridge straight to a solar panel. The battery is a critical part of the circuit - it provides the voltage regulation. Without a battery the panel voltage could be anywhere from 0 - 20V depending on the load.
PS I wouldn't connect your fridge straight to a solar panel. The battery is a critical part of the circuit - it provides the voltage regulation. Without a battery the panel voltage could be anywhere from 0 - 20V depending on the load.
D
Deleted member 9101
Guest
You can combine the Escape 30. I'm considering getting 2 Escape 30's or 2 Nomad 27's....Leaning more toward the former.
Salue