Charging recommendations
Finally got a permanent spot in the woods, by a river. We are there every weekend. Site has no services, good sun all day. We want to leave the fridge on while we are away. Has worked so far, but need...
Forum Discussion
When I am out off the power grid I just watch my BATTERY BANK DC VOLTAGE reading with a meter panel (NOT THE % METER that comes with the trailers)
When the DC VOLTMETER meter drops down to around 12.0VDC then I know my batteries are getting close to their 50% Charge state. Then I know I need to run my 2KW Generator that has the trailer shore power cable connected to it using a RV30A-15A adapter. I will run it for 3 hours or more to get my batteries back up to their 50% charge state.
My situation is I need to have my battery bank at its 90% charge state before we really start using them after 4PM each day. What you want to happen using the SOLAR PANELS is to get your batteries to at least their 90% charge state before you start using them again.
Just keep in mind a typical 120WATT SOLAR PANEL only generates around 5-6AMPS of DC CURRENT when in high sun so you are hoping the 6 hours or so of being in high sun all will be enough DC CURRENT to re-charge your batteries back up to to 90% charge state.
If we don't start out our evening run off the batteries at their 90% charge state it will get dark on us around 10PM at night. Usually where we camp here on the EAST SIde of the US we can't run our generator after 8PM at night due to the campground generator run time rules.
I would play with your setup at home with how many panels it takes to get your batteries up to their 90% charge state before committing to the camping off the power grid.
Your generator will always be your PLAN B but in my case if my batteries did not get to their 90% charge state before the high sun went away I would not have enough time to run my generator before the 8PM deadline for running generators haha...
Roy Ken
When the DC VOLTMETER meter drops down to around 12.0VDC then I know my batteries are getting close to their 50% Charge state. Then I know I need to run my 2KW Generator that has the trailer shore power cable connected to it using a RV30A-15A adapter. I will run it for 3 hours or more to get my batteries back up to their 50% charge state.
My situation is I need to have my battery bank at its 90% charge state before we really start using them after 4PM each day. What you want to happen using the SOLAR PANELS is to get your batteries to at least their 90% charge state before you start using them again.
Just keep in mind a typical 120WATT SOLAR PANEL only generates around 5-6AMPS of DC CURRENT when in high sun so you are hoping the 6 hours or so of being in high sun all will be enough DC CURRENT to re-charge your batteries back up to to 90% charge state.
If we don't start out our evening run off the batteries at their 90% charge state it will get dark on us around 10PM at night. Usually where we camp here on the EAST SIde of the US we can't run our generator after 8PM at night due to the campground generator run time rules.
I would play with your setup at home with how many panels it takes to get your batteries up to their 90% charge state before committing to the camping off the power grid.
Your generator will always be your PLAN B but in my case if my batteries did not get to their 90% charge state before the high sun went away I would not have enough time to run my generator before the 8PM deadline for running generators haha...
Roy Ken
