CampStewart
Observer
You camp 8 to 10 days a year, Honda eu1000i. KISS
A ~230AH GC2 Bank and ~200W+ of Solar will easily run most peoples small trailer setups w/fridge, furnace, fans, and phone/laptop chargers, at least in the spring-fall.. winter is pretty hard for solar for many reasons.
..and portable would be better, fixed solar definitely cover every square inch you can.. and you might still need to bring along some portable ones.. fixed on a trailer is really nice for charging while driving, highways are usually full sun unless your in a canyon or bad weather and if your using OEM vehicle wiring it wont charge very well, or even fully w/out a bunch of mods to tow vehicle to get the required amps and voltage all the way back there.. my fixed solar can both run a crockpot and provide a very good charge current to my trailer battery while on the road... its so great rolling to camp late, beat and having a hot meal ready to go w/no effort.
A low-amp "maintenance" charger with intelligence should be fine.Can I keep the batteries on a trickle charger in my 45 degree shop all winter?
This might be the setup I need.As in your other thread, for what you’re describing I would start with a 100ahr AGM battery in a small tongue mounted box and add a basic weatherproof power panel to the outside. That can all be purchased for ~$200 at Costco/Sam’s/Amazon. Get a small Noco lithium capable charger ~10amps to allow later upgrades, and build a power extension box you can deploy inside the camper when you’re setup. Keep it topped up when you’re on the road or in camp with a 100amp panel & small charge controller. Zamp makes a nice suitcase unit with the controller built in, but it’s pricey. Not exactly portable, but affordable & expandable as your needs develop. If you need to keep small electronics charged on overnights away from base amp, carry a small Li powerbank/panel.
We have a similar setup except we’re powering a 65liter Dometic fridge and using 2 batteries. We’ve never come close to running out of power on a long weekend even on rainy trips.
As for hot water, since you’re carrying propane, just grab a Campmore .5liter endless heater. D Cell powered for the ignitor $120 Amazon. This is assuming you have onboard water & a pump.
A low-amp "maintenance" charger with intelligence should be fine.
Do NOT use the old garage style trickle chargers that just sit at a constant voltage until you turn them off.
Best would be your usual smart charger, applied overnight every few weeks, the batteries being completely isolated otherwise.
Yes cool temps is fine for storage, can charge lead no matter what, but Lithium should be very careful can damage charging in the cold.
You camp 8 to 10 days a year, Honda eu1000i. KISS
2ea 50 ft 12 gauge chords gets it far enough away that you don't hear a peep. Treat the gas properly or run it dry every time you use it and you will have 100 percent reliable power day, night, rain or snow for the rest of your life. 1 or 2 pulls and you have your power. All this solar talk, it seems to me like another expensive hobby and then you have to nurse the batteries 12 months of the year or they will die an expensive death and need to be replaced if you don't coddle them enough. Solar panels have a limited lifespan also before their power output wanes. I go camping to get away from it and experience nature, not to experiment with creating and storing solar power. If I wanted to experiment with solar power I would do it in my back yard not when I am trying to camp.Yes, that was due to not having anything to camp IN. LOL I imagine once I get the pop up sorted, those numbers will go up significantly.
I have looked at the Honda unit. It's basically a small, stand alone, gas powered generator, right? (Meaning: I wouldn't need anything else?). I'm a biit hesitant on this route, as I really like peace and quiet when camping, not sure I'd hate myself for being in the middle of nowhere while listening to a small engine putter along...
Solar also offers unattended operation. Set it up right, and a fridge will be able to run for days, if not indefinitely while you're away from the vehicle.you cant run a genset 24/7, you still need a bank to keep your food cold overnight.. and if you venture into any actual campgrounds your gonna a hell of a time getting it 100ft away without putting it in middle of someone elses camp.