My RV has a 160 panel on the roof. I'm looking for about 100 watt portable unit. I haven't decided on the wattage yet, but I think anything under 120 watts might be beneficial for my situation.What brand do you have and why?Is it just as simple as setting up the panels, and clipping on the positive and negative alligator clips to my battery terminals?Thanks,Frank

Hi,No, you would need to have a charge controller between the panel and the battery bank.

Well, that's a given LOL! But is it just as easy as hooking up to the batteries, etc?

Yes, but if the existing controller has enough capacity you might simply add another identical panel in parallel.

I need it for when I'm parked in the shade.

checkout RENOGY Portable solar suitcase kits on AMAZON... Great prices...I would think you would always want a SOLAR CONTROLLER that produces SMART MODE Battery Charging type DC VOLTAGES just like your on-board smart mode converter/charger does to keep your batteries charged.You also have to be concerned not allowing your battery to be discharged by the solar panel when the SUN is not present. The SOLAR CONTROLLER prevents all of this from happening and gives you a great reference point to observe what is happening when being charged...Unless you go SOLAR BIG TIME about all you can expect from the solar panels is to top off your battery system during the HIGH SUN DAY. Once your battery drain overcomes the DC CURRENT being produced by the solar panels the batteries start being discharged. Just keep in mind that a typical 120WATT SOLAR PANEL when in high sun will only produce around 5-6AMPS DC Current to be used for charging batteries. To re-charge batteries in a quick three hour time frame you will want to see around 17-20AMPS of DC Charge CURRENT for each battery in the bank.I have been camping off the power grid pretty heavy since 2009 and know what to expect with my 255AHs battery performance. I recharge my batteries each morning at 8AM when allowed to run my Generator by connecting my 30AMP Shore Power cable to my 2KW generator 120VAC Receptacle using a RV 30A-15A long adapter. I am just now staring to think adding some solar panels will help me out in getting my battery bank up to their 90% charge state each day before I start using them again after dark. If I don't start out each camping evening with at least a 90% charge state it usually gets dark on me around 10-11 PM at night. I want my batteries to drop down to around 12.0VDC by 8Am each morning. I will draw around 20AMPS of DC CURRENT between the 6PM to 11PM time frame each night running our toys.Solar Panels will help me out alot but are not the total answer on my somewhat high DC POWER consumption each evening unless I add several hundred WATTS of solar panels.Just my thoughts here...Roy Ken

Portable Solar Advice Needed | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

doughere
Explorer
Apr 05, 2015
I have 120 watts mounted on the roof, but have the same problem with camping in the shade.

I have a 100 watt portable (from solar blvd) that I clip directly to the battery. By the time its in the sun and wired up, there is enough voltage drop that I have never had a problem. If the voltage got too high, I'd just disconnect. You could of course just make a connector to connect your portable into your existing controller.

I actually have connectors to tie into the battery, or to tie to a set of battery clips. Panel can then be lent out to friends if they are running low.

Doug
JiminDenver
Explorer II
Apr 05, 2015
Veebyes wrote:
FrankShore wrote:
I need it for when I'm parked in the shade.

Umm, Frank, I am going to give the benefit of doubt & hope that you are not trolling.

Solar panels are called solar panels because they need sunlight, direct sunlight, to work as designed.

Solar panels are not very useful to those who spend their time camping under the trees.

This is where portables come in handy. :)
Veebyes
Explorer II
Apr 05, 2015
FrankShore wrote:
I need it for when I'm parked in the shade.

Umm, Frank, I am going to give the benefit of doubt & hope that you are not trolling.

Solar panels are called solar panels because they need sunlight, direct sunlight, to work as designed.

Solar panels are not very useful to those who spend their time camping under the trees.
Jim_Arndt
Explorer
Apr 05, 2015
The Solar Blvd kit no longer comes with a carry case or wire and alligator clips. You just get the panels and a controller, you have to add your own wire.
westend
Explorer
Apr 05, 2015
The pieces method:

Module-$125

Controller-$45

MC4 wire-$44

Put a stick or two behind the nodule for tilt-$0

For around $200, you've got your portable and can mount the controller close to the batteries where it should be. Good luck.
FrankShore
Explorer
Apr 04, 2015
Thank you gemsworld and vermilye and 4asong, I appreciate your help!
vermilye
Explorer II
Apr 04, 2015
Or, you can get a 160 Watt Portable (with controller) for $239.00 plus shipping, also from Solar Blvd.

I have one - My review is here.
Community Alumni
Apr 04, 2015
You can get a 120 watt portable kit from Solar Blvd for around $200 bucks. And, yes, all you have to do is clip the alligator clips to the battery terminals.
4aSong
Explorer
Apr 04, 2015
Check out the 100AMP suitcase portable solar by Renogy on Ebay. A bit less expensive than prices on Amazon.

Renogy 100w suitcase portable solar
2oldman
Explorer II
Apr 04, 2015
FrankShore wrote:
Is it just as simple as setting up the panels, and clipping on the positive and negative alligator clips to my battery terminals?
Where did you learn that method?