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Vintage465's avatar
May 15, 2016

Four Six Volts with 300w of Solar?

I have Samlex Controller and two Samlex 150 panels set up to a couple Interstate 6v batteries. This seems to work fine. Just wondering if I can stretch to a four 6v battery for a little more stability on long cold weeks in the wilderness? All interior lights are LED. Our only large draw is the furnace in the winter. No inverter, nothing run off 110v. Wife will not go for a catalytic heater so don't bother suggesting it. Yes I know they are safe, it's just a mental block she has and she is not getting over it in this life time.
Thoughts?

24 Replies

  • Educate your wife on catalytic heaters with a cracked open vent and a cracked open window, for cross flow of oxygen. Or get a new wife, without mental blocks. That sounds like blackmail, I know.

    They are far more efficient than a forced air heater, which is a huge waste both of propane and electricity. Or buy her a new wardrobe for cold weather.

    Another option is to get yourself a more efficient, lower wattage Energy Saving LCD TV. There are several brands, Samsung comes to mind, that consume very few watts nowadays.

    4 GC2's on the tongue of a Creekside 20FQ Travel Trailer is probably a poor idea, tongue weight alone. I'd suggest you find another solution.

    All the batteries need to be installed somewhere where they are always properly vented outside.

    Another option, and one most dry campers consider, is a small generator. If you don't use the microwave oven, a Honda Eu1000i is enough, if you do use the microwave, then the EU2000i would be the better choice. Tie that in with a MegaWatt 30 amp Power Supply unit, and set the voltage for 14.8 volts, maybe 14.9 if it's quite a bit colder. Do a search on how to do it by mexicowanderer.

    PS. I am in the same situation as you, in a 2012 Palomino Gazelle G210, 30,000 miles on it, at least, since I bought it.

    video of Palomino Gazelle G210
  • 2oldman wrote:
    With no inverter that sounds fine. Panels are a bit more efficient in cold temps.
    The 150W panels suggest PWM and the positive current coefficient will be less amps when colder. But likely to be a small amount.
  • Never hurts to add a pair of 6 volt batteries to the equation, certainly helpful for extended furnace usage. I believe 300 watts would suffice on most sunny days although 100 watts per jar is what I suggest and utilize in our solar set-up. Running a tv, dvd or satellite a few hours will not take much out of a four battery configuration.
  • With no inverter that sounds fine. Panels are a bit more efficient in cold temps.

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