How much Solar do you have?

[dzzz]

None, for now. But I do bring along solar led string lights

I think we can count you in at 3w

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: I'm afraid that direct sunlight is VERY important to the solar panel

I have 25 ft of 10ga pwr cable hardwired to my trailer battery so I'm fairly capable of moving my panel/trailer to stay in the sun throughout the day

Ain't no more free lunch's

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO

 

[Hill Bill E.]

It's more of a challenge for you guys with small camping trailers.

That's where I'm at. I set up my M416 w/RTT as a basecamp, and it sits for a week.

So far, instead of breaking camp and driving around with the trailer, I back up to it, hook up the plug, and run the Jeep for 3-5 minutes.

Not ideal. So solar would be better, in Moab. But, like R_Lefebvre, I also do a lot of camping in the woods, with little sunlight making it into camp.

Hmmm, have to figure out a solution. Maybe both, solar and a small generator.

 

[Trail Monkey]

Sportsmobiles often have 300 plus..

 

[billwilson]

solar

SMB
Fixed Cruiser top
Custom Aluminess rack
holds= Two Kyocera 180 watt panels
Blue Sky controler
one 4d agm 200 amp batt
two group 27 100 amp agm batt

running
4.2 cuft Truckfridge
lights
sterio
tv/dvd
laptop
water pump

over built, yes
glad i have it
yes

 

[User_Name]

Do any of you guys put the solar to use when you are parked at home?

Seems to me with the tax credits offered on alternative energy sources their must be a way to write off some of the costs associated with the systems you are buying.

 

[Jim K in PA]

We just added a 100W panel and simple 10A controller to our camping gear. Our first trip with it was a 3-week trip to SD and WY from eastern PA last month (trip report in process). We were off-grid camping for 15 days straight at one point, and the panel was fantastic. Absolutely the best thing we have done for our camping experience. Our pop up still has incandescent lights, we ran the water pump every morning and evening, and fired up the propane furnace (12V blower) almost every night in Yellowstone. By no later than 10AM every day the battery (single group 34) was fully recharged.

Something to think about with respect to going to larger/multiple panels; in less than ideal locations, with less than ideal weather or sun exposure, the larger capacity panel can often still put out more than enough power to recharge your battery. I inadvertently set up the panel on our camper roof facing due North at a 40 degree angle and it still made plenty of power. The controller showed it making power well after the sun officially set, just on reflected skylight.

If conditions only allow 40% output from your panel, size it large enough to still be useful in those conditions. When conditions are ideal, your power management regim can be less strict with the larger panel. We were going to install LED bulbs in the camper, but not now (I hate LED light temperature).

FWIW.

 

[Corey]

Answer me this for those who know.
I thought I read somewhere one should unhook the panel from the cable that goes to the jack for your controller at night.

If left hooked up with no sun (night time) it can drain the battery with it hooked up?
Is this real, or false information I read?

I did unhook mine each night last year, and also put the panel away.
I would hate to have a near grand panel walk away while I slept.

 

[Overland Hadley]

Answer me this for those who know.
I thought I read somewhere one should unhook the panel from the cable that goes to the jack for your controller at night.

If left hooked up with no sun (night time) it can drain the battery with it hooked up?
Is this real, or false information I read?

I did unhook mine each night last year, and also put the panel away.
I would hate to have a near grand panel walk away while I slept.

Yes, if you do not have a controler to stop reverse flow it can drain the batteries.

 

[tdesanto]

I think most controllers have a diode that prevents the panel from drawing power from the system.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

i think most controllers have a diode that prevents the panel from drawing power from the system.

x2

 

[Corey]

Cool, I have the Brunton 7 amp one.

 

[Pest]

Do any of you guys put the solar to use when you are parked at home?

Seems to me with the tax credits offered on alternative energy sources their must be a way to write off some of the costs associated with the systems you are buying.

I have no idea, and haven't looked into it at all, but I would guess that "home" solar panels are designed for 120V output, whereas these are all 12V output.

I really am curious too, anybody know??

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: Yea they're 12vdc, but

In Nevada, I was just told that NV Electric, (like PG&E) will pay for home power systems--windturbines or solar power, but I think you have to produce more than 1KW, or at least be consistant in providing more power that your dwelling draws --

I'm afraid the little expo solar systems won't do that

I have a 400 watt windturbine, but it provides 12/13vdc !!

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO

 

[bobDog]

Well knowing very little about solar I have to ask what might be not the brightest of thoughts! How much distance w/ the right cable of course can you put between the panel and the batteries. Feel free to answer as if i was a 7 yr. old.:smiley_drive: