Solar paneling or generator
Hello and thanks to all in advance I was wondering if this is even a good question. I plan to mostly camp in places with hookups but would like an occasional option to camp in dry places. I was w...
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we started with two honda 2000's. Then I added 240W of portable solar and 150ft of cable.
Since then, the only time we needed the generator was when we needed the AC.
We've camped for as many as 10 days with solar and our battery bank was down to 90% SOC after 10 days. We use LED lighting, but also run the microwave every day when needed, exhaust fan to cool the trailer, heat in the mornings to warm it up. Being reasonable, but not anal about power useage.
Our daughters In laws often dry camp with us, and he has 120W of solar and after 10 days, similar use was down to 50%SOC on two 6v batteries.
In our case without PORTABLE SOLAR solar would be of virtually no use. MOst of the time we are camped in the shade, not in the sun, and often in FS/COE, county parks that are older and have trees. so without a way to get to the sun, fixed panels on the roof would do no good. That plus in the early spring and late fall in northern lattitudes really decrease solar efficiency. Like around 60% of the current you can get vs a properly angled panel (roughly the lattitude your at)
Since then, the only time we needed the generator was when we needed the AC.
We've camped for as many as 10 days with solar and our battery bank was down to 90% SOC after 10 days. We use LED lighting, but also run the microwave every day when needed, exhaust fan to cool the trailer, heat in the mornings to warm it up. Being reasonable, but not anal about power useage.
Our daughters In laws often dry camp with us, and he has 120W of solar and after 10 days, similar use was down to 50%SOC on two 6v batteries.
In our case without PORTABLE SOLAR solar would be of virtually no use. MOst of the time we are camped in the shade, not in the sun, and often in FS/COE, county parks that are older and have trees. so without a way to get to the sun, fixed panels on the roof would do no good. That plus in the early spring and late fall in northern lattitudes really decrease solar efficiency. Like around 60% of the current you can get vs a properly angled panel (roughly the lattitude your at)
