Handy solar info for lead acid batteries

I think there are different main reasons most folks use solar panels for... Probably the most times solar panels are used is only for the occasional user for just a few small wattage items for just a day or two of camping off the power grid... A couple of lights, charging up of cell phones and computer batteries etc... They do this without much storage of solar power in the battery banks...

The reason I would use solar panels in my setup would be to supplement the charging of my larger battery bank... I have been running many days off my battery banks for several years now with the idea I will re-charge the battery banks the next morning using my 2KW Honda generator running my trailer smart mode converter/charger for the three hours I need to recharge the batteries. Solar panels for me would cut down the time I have to use the generator and of course this would work if iI had good days of high sun... I will have to use whatever method gets my batteries recharged as we all know what happens if you start each evening with batteries less charged then the 90% charge state. For me it always gets dark around 10PM at night. Then I have to deal with the wife as why she hates camping off-road especially in the dark haha...

The other most expensive way to use solar panels is to use many large solar panels and associated battery banks to run everything in the RV UNIT from the solar power. Several guys on this forum do just that. I always imagined there setups was like living inside a hugh building UPS setup...

The point here is there are many scenarios for using solar panels and although the process of solar panels and solar controllers is the same the application process is much different...

I would not downbeat anyone's method of using solar panels... What will work for me obviously may not work for others...

We all know one method does not fit all user's needs...

Roy Ken

Handy Bob's info is a bit wordy and dated, but it is far from "dead wrong". It was a great source when I was setting up my solar system. Jack Mayer's Golden Rules is an excellent source. Both sights offer good info.

"...dead wrong." ???

You want RV solar, it's here. Every size, layout, type you can think of and these people use it. Post a thread saying you want to do such and such with solar and 30 pages later you will know what to buy, what it will do and how to make it all work like a charm. We all do it a bit differently so you will likely have several options with the same result, your needs met.

Not to mention the personal experiences of those here really give you a good idea of what you can do with solar in the real world. Also where blogs get out dated, this forum is constantly dealing with new gear and concepts. Believe me, solar changes fast.

Here is a simple flow chart.

Budget-->Energy Audit-->Battery bank size-->number of watts-->PWM or MPPT. What ever type of controller is chosen, make sure it has adjustable set points and a temperature probe that is on the battery.

If you use solar as a battery charger, one rule of thumb is between 60 and 150 watts of panels per 100 amp-hours of storage. The smaller the battery bank the higher the wattage needed (per 100 amp-hours). Here is a link to the rather special spreadsheet which includes an energy audit, that N8GS has created to help size solar battery charging systems!
solar spreadsheet by N8GS

If you full time or use an inverter lots, then populate the entire unshaded area of the roof with panels. I'm considering replacing my awning with solar panels.

For a nice explanation of solar, try this link:
Golden rules of solar