Small solar charger system...
I am interested in using a basic solar panel with my camper to charge one or two 12V batteries. I would want to be able to run the water pump, a light or two and a 12V fan. Any suggestions of how to a...
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You don't need as much solar (or any) as most of these people are telling you.
For instance I just went dry camping for three days. I have converted to all led lights and have two six volt deep cycle batteries.
We camp in the mountains so not much direct sunlight. Lots of shade. I have a 45 watt portable solar bank. Got very little sun over the three days.
I was using lights unrestricted. I have the outside strip led lights with the remote control that were on for at least four hours per night. Also used the water pump as required for dishes and showers. Fridge on propane, ran DVD player (12 volt) and tv on an inverter for a total of about three hours per day. Charged cell phones and tablets daily from a 12 volt charger.
Furnace ran one night for an hour or two.
At the end of the trip I took voltage measurements and was still at 70%.
You can safely discharge to 50% (or lower on six volt batteries) without damaging your batteries. They are made for that. You don't have to charge them to 90% each day.
So you can calculate your solar needs to a 50% discharge level. You may find you don't need any. I probably don't but I always set it up anyway and have never come close to dead batteries in trips up to five days.
For instance I just went dry camping for three days. I have converted to all led lights and have two six volt deep cycle batteries.
We camp in the mountains so not much direct sunlight. Lots of shade. I have a 45 watt portable solar bank. Got very little sun over the three days.
I was using lights unrestricted. I have the outside strip led lights with the remote control that were on for at least four hours per night. Also used the water pump as required for dishes and showers. Fridge on propane, ran DVD player (12 volt) and tv on an inverter for a total of about three hours per day. Charged cell phones and tablets daily from a 12 volt charger.
Furnace ran one night for an hour or two.
At the end of the trip I took voltage measurements and was still at 70%.
You can safely discharge to 50% (or lower on six volt batteries) without damaging your batteries. They are made for that. You don't have to charge them to 90% each day.
So you can calculate your solar needs to a 50% discharge level. You may find you don't need any. I probably don't but I always set it up anyway and have never come close to dead batteries in trips up to five days.
