Solar questions
Hello all and thanks again in advance. I have found some suitcase style solar panels that get great reviews on Amazon and am considering pulling the trigger as they would work well for my intended us...
Forum Discussion
I like portable - keep the trailer in the shade and put the panels in the sun, I actually have a 100W setup that I mount in the bed of my truck (utilitrac on Nissan), so I can park the truck bed facing south and run a cable to the trailer - no theft that way and the battery tops up during the day. If we want to go somewhere, I just disconnect the cables, or I could pull the panel off and set it on the ground (or I can hook up the little 40W system which is in the pass through).
We probably use power different then some because we camp normally 2 or 3 days at a time, up to 7 days max. We use our trailer as a sleeping / showering / bathroom, we dont sit inside and watch TV etc., though we do read a little at night, so our power usage is minimal (water, propane fridge, lights, heater in the AM) I was able to get by with a single battery and a 40W solar panel for a long time, but got a good deal on 4 50w panels so bought them and set up a 100 watt portable system for the trailer and we are easily topped off by noon.
We typically only use the heater in the morning, so again, not a lot of usage, I get up, turn on the heater, start the coffee on the camp stove, and by the time the coffee is done the DW is up and moving in a warm trailer then she comes outside, I shut off the heater and we start our camping day.
I think about mounting the panels on the roof from time to time, but, cant justify the labor or cost to have it done when the portable works so well and I don't want the trailer in the sun if I can avoid it. I might consider this if the glue on flex panels get cheap enough, I dont want to put holes in my roof either, so that is a deterrent for me as well.
At home, I hook up the 100w system in the back yard and the battery stays topped off.
d
We probably use power different then some because we camp normally 2 or 3 days at a time, up to 7 days max. We use our trailer as a sleeping / showering / bathroom, we dont sit inside and watch TV etc., though we do read a little at night, so our power usage is minimal (water, propane fridge, lights, heater in the AM) I was able to get by with a single battery and a 40W solar panel for a long time, but got a good deal on 4 50w panels so bought them and set up a 100 watt portable system for the trailer and we are easily topped off by noon.
We typically only use the heater in the morning, so again, not a lot of usage, I get up, turn on the heater, start the coffee on the camp stove, and by the time the coffee is done the DW is up and moving in a warm trailer then she comes outside, I shut off the heater and we start our camping day.
I think about mounting the panels on the roof from time to time, but, cant justify the labor or cost to have it done when the portable works so well and I don't want the trailer in the sun if I can avoid it. I might consider this if the glue on flex panels get cheap enough, I dont want to put holes in my roof either, so that is a deterrent for me as well.
At home, I hook up the 100w system in the back yard and the battery stays topped off.
d
