ShoelaceExpress wrote:
As for the converter/charger in the trailer, I'm not sure what DC output current it's rated for. I will have to check next time I'm there. Where would I look? Likely behind a panel near the circuit breaker panel?
Just fine the model and part number from the front of the converter/charger or inside the large door opening...
Then you can search for that model number on-line and get that off of the specs sheet. You should have a manual for the unit as well in your trailer somewhere...
The trailer on-board converter/charger will take better care of your batteries automatically if it is a smart mode charger. All you will need to supply is the 120VAC from the Shore power connection or a generator. The solar panels will only IMO be a trickle charge for your batteries when in high sun... Since the two panels can't produce the 17-20AMPS then you can't rely on battery science to charge your two batteries in a three hours run time. If the sun is high all day long those panels will get the job done before you lose the high sun in a days time. Just be aware the SUN isn't always out and some days it will be cloudy, or raining, or you are parked under a shade tree. Got to have the battery charging routine established around a generator in my book and then take advantage of the the high sun when it is there. In order for the battery science to work for you is when you initially hit the batteries with the 14.4VDC Boost charge voltages you will see a big increase of around 40AMPS DC current coming from the converter/charger and in an hours time this will taper back to around 8AMPS DC current as the batteries start taking on the charge. This is what happens with my PD9260C converter/charger at any rate. Then you shut down the generator and let the high sun continue on charging your batteries until the sun goes down that day. The solar controller box will do the same functions as your smart mode converter/charger does charging your batteries. Those two panels may only have 4 Amps DC current capacity or slight more coming from each panel in the high sun... Most likely enough to get the batteries charged in their tapered back state before the high sun goes down charged. It may even get them charged going all day long without the generator running the initial high DC current period required.
You have to get all of this stored into the battery bank before the sun goes away so you can get through the night with no high sun running off the batteries...
I know what would happen in my case being out off grid somewhere and not have my generator with me. The sun would not be high in the sky all the time haha... Mother Nature loves to play those tricks on you... You will look around and finally see a bird in the tree laughing his butt off at you for not having the generator going for the first hour of the charge period hehe...
Got to have the good PLAN Bs to be successful about all of this...
Getting solar on my off-road POPUP trailer may be a challenge for me due to available space on the roof and the weight of the panels involved. I will need at least two 100WATT size panels on the front end and a 240WATT panel across the rear end to get the the min 20AMPS of DC current capacity... It may be that I will have to get a folding dual 100WATT panel and only mount one large panel on my popup roof. First all I want to do is get my updated battery bank going then I will start looking into using solar panels to supplement my battery charging.
I have been playing with just batteries and a 2KE generator for charging since 2009 in my off-road POPUP trailer... My PD9260C converter/charger only needs 1000WATTS on the 120VAC side to operate it. I can run my 2KW generator in ECO mode and it revs up real high at first and then starts running slower as the batteries start taking on their charge. I can almost tell when it would be ready to shut down the generator just by listening to it and let solar panels take over.
Kinda exciting now that I am starting to think about some solar panels now...
Kinda neat to setup back in the woods somewhere with no hookups and have extension cords running away from the trailer like you see here in this camping photo running some 120VAC fans or whatevers with your camp setup... Folks come wandering by asking how do you do that haha... I always answer magic beans or dilithium crystals. Running fans at the camp site table area keeps the mosquitoes away the best hehe...
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