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zul's avatar
zul
Explorer
Dec 14, 2013

Solar System Purchase for Weekend Boondocking

Looking for some advice on our upcomming purchase of a DIY 12v Solar System. We've done lot's of research and we are on a small budget. Our frequent trips are usually 2-4 days at a time. We really only NEED to run the water pump, propane detector and a few lights. This totals 6-7 Amp Hours / Day using online usage calculators = super low usage.

Here is the 100W Solar Panel we've decided on. $169 & free shipping:

http://www.amazon.com/RENOGY-Monocrystalline-Photovoltaic-Battery-Charging/dp/B009Z6CW7O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387034158&sr=8-1&keywords=100w+solar+panel

The Converter in our travel trailer does not work. So rather than replacing it we are going solar. We almost never hook onto Shore Power (dedicated boondockers). So, when we install our little solar system, what will we lose by not having the converter? and will there be wiring problems created by the not-working converter/charger?

Charge Controller: We'll get the best PWM w LCD that we can afford. MPPT is just too expensive:

http://www.amazon.com/Amp-PWM-Charge-Controller-Display/dp/B00FB3OPKM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1387034226&sr=8-2&keywords=30a+charge+controller+with+lcd

We currently have a typical cheapo 35 Amp Hour battery. Could this setup handle:
1. A second battery?
2. A second panel?
3. A real battery with 70-80 Amp Hours?

When finances allow, we would like to expand our system. So overall, would this be a worthy start? How would you expand later? Maybe different start up purchases?? Maybe sell all this and start again with a real MPPT charge controller???

We are soon to take the leap into this little PV solar system setup for $270-$300 and use last years battery. Then a new battery ... then 2 batteries ... and then... and then... EEEK!

And finally, will this small system require a FUSE and/or a KILL switch? Each time you cut and connect wire, you lose some valuable power. But what level of saftey is neccessary?

THANKS !!!
  • I have not too much of a clue on this, but I was thinking the same thing Don. I guess they won't be using fans of any sort? They are in Arizona, I would think they might be running at least a fantastic fan at some time or another.
  • I am wondering how the battery is being charged between trips.

    We use to be ultra low power users and a single grp 27 could last us quite a while if furnace isn't needed. Then as West said, we got solar and started camping like pigs power wise. Lights,fans, furnace, etc. etc. etc. If it has a switch, we are not worried about using it.

    I was never a fan of the kits as I could pick up the parts separately and do better while getting better gear. Lately the kits have been so inexpensive that they are hard to ignore. Their weak point is the no name controller but for very little you could buy a tested reliable and change it out in the event of a failure.

    As far as battery goes, we have been using a single grp 27 with our solar and as long as we don't get 3 days of clouds in a row, it keeps up even with furnace usage. Should you expect bad weather you may want more battery or a alternate means of charging. That could be a generator and stand alone charger or even a simple pair of heavy jumper cables to the truck.
  • When we camped in our popup we could go several days on its Group 24 battery without plugging in.

    We always carried a spare, fully charged, optima battery. We used that spare just a few times but were glad we had it.