Solar, worth it in my case?
Hope I am posting in the proper forum. DW and I tend to boondock or stay in parks with no electric. Although we have a generator I am reluctant to use it because of the smell and noise. I have a 2010...
Forum Discussion
Harvey51 wrote:
I think 100 watts of solar will be perfect. I'm sure glad to see the price fall to $250 in Canada! http://www.amazon.ca/Renogy-100W-Mono-Starter-Kit/dp/B00BFCNFRM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406333714&sr=8-1&keywords=renogy+solar+panel
Those kits pop up here and there, Solar Blvd in the US sells similar kits, but they are not what they seem. Essentially, you're paying $250 for a 100W panel, nothing else. Controller is likely cr-ap, you can get one like this from Ebay for $15, but this is half the problem. You will need to buy more (and, possibly - thicker) MC4 cable. You will need to buy proper stainless hardware. And - preferably - make your own L-brackets that would allow removing the panel without ripping anchor screws from the roof, because Z-bracket wouldn't.
If you consume 20 AH daily, a single 100W flat panel will just barely cut it, and this is only on sunny days.
It's nice keeping your batteries full on cloudy days too. If you think you need 100W but have a room for 2*100W, then get 2*100W. Some winter you'll decide to go to AZ or Mexico, and even though warm, winter sun is very low, sunset is at 6pm and flat 100W panel in January at latitude 30 will collect less than in Alberta in June.
