Spitballing ideas for a 12V system.

[LovinPSDs]

So I'm pretty new to setting up my rig and don't have an Amp/hr requirement at this point, but I'm doing my upfront research to make sure I get it correct. I've listed a few question below, so any help would be great....

Is there a charging controller that I can hook all three types of power into it and let a smart controller handle the system? The three being 12V from the truck, solar and 110v from the house. I'm wanting it to simple once it's in. My solar will end up being a unit i'll setup, not mounted to the roof. So what are my options here?

Other idea, would something like a goal zero 400 or even dare i say a 1250 be more up my alley? It seems so simple, modular which i love because the truck is my DD and my setup is ideally either going to be modular or mounted into my tool box. Questions on the Goal Zero's...

will they accept a charge wire from the trucks 12V? I'd like to hard wire this charging wire into my truck if possible.
Can you add any solar setup instead of using the Goal Zero setup?


So a big question... Build my own setup, mount it in my tool box? Or attempt to go modular?

Honestly guys at this point i'm spitballing ideas... Any input would be great.

 

[southpier]

what's "spitballing"?

 

[LovinPSDs]

Just starting up a conversation is all...

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Spitballing

 

[stevo-mt]

The goal zero setup is pretty cool! $1400 for the 1250 is what I saw out there on the internet. The downside I see to this thing is it doesn't seem to have the option for a more "quick" charge. The most current going into the unit that it can handle is 20 amps. But if you have solar panels it might not be such a problem. But talk about a pretty sweet form factor! My brother uses their smaller setups with the forest service and generally has good things to say.

There is no such thing as a free lunch when it comes to this stuff! If you decide to build your own you could probably do so for less money.
~$400 for an odyssey pc2150 (or a sears platinum group 31m ~$289, made at the same factory but thats about all i know about them) battery of comparable size
about $300 for a decent pure sign wave inverter
$210 for a 100w solar panel and charge set up (http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Sola...&qid=1377057958&sr=1-2&keywords=renogy+panels)
$100 for a battery isolator solenoid to hook up to your truck's battery (allows you to charge up quick from your alternator! and jumpstart the truck if needed. A good set of jumper cables! would work too.)
$30 for a bluesea fuse panel
$22 for a blue see usb charger
$10 for a blue sea 12v outlet
$100 to mount in on an rubbermaid action packer
~$75 for electrical wiring and crimps (rough guess, i forget how expensive the heavy guage wire is)

~$1400 store bought or DIY for ~$1200 + time + not looking as nice, but more fun. You could DIY it for a lot less money with lower quality products too. A single goal zero 30W solar panel is about $240 dollars on top of the $1400.

It is pretty easy to mount a second battery in your tool box or something that stays in your daily driver. I used to have one in the rear of mine. It saved my bacon when I left my lights on once. It does also make it quite a bit more safe to jump start somebody else on an isolated battery. The same goes with an inverter, if you have an auxiliary battery already mounted you don't need to long of leads. I just think at 111 lbs the goal zero isn't as modular as what a guy would like!

A person could go a little different route. A honda EU2000 is about a $1000, which they are pretty quiet and weigh about 47 lbs. We were running one on the back deck of a 32 ft boat to keep the freezer cold and radio's/electronics going when the large diesel engine was off. It barely sips gas and paid for itself pretty quickly. Probably not the route desired, but its a good option if you do other projects that you occasionally need a generator, or even backup for your home (at least one appliance! and maybe a light or two)

All kinds of fun stuff out there!

 

[LovinPSDs]

Bump for a multi input charge controller??