Harbor Freight 45w Solar for $139

Keep in mind your skill level.

A folding 'kit' won't require any wire striping, finding a special crimping tool for ring terminals, clips, MC4s, powerpoles, etc, tinning, wire cutting, mounting/drilling etc.

Once delivered to your door it can be setup to maintain your battery and hauled to your favorite campground for use.

Or buy a plug and play unit, until you feel like going solo and building your own.

Keep in mind, if you think you might go with additional panels in the future, wire accordingly. Voltage drop is the issue, here.

And allow at least 20% extra for controller. So, for example, 200w = ~12a + 20% = ~ 14.4a, so go with a 15-20a controller. Likewise, 300w = ~18a + 20% = ~21.6a, so go with a 30a controller. This will result in better efficiency, overall.

A decent PWM controller can be had for about $1/amp.

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Obviously, there's more to this entry level solar thing than I realized.
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Well, no, theres really not.
1) just buy a 100 watt panel off ebay (will output 5-6 amps max)
2) then buy a $8-12 controller off ebay 10-20 amp (20 amp for up to 3 panels)
3) for portable, silicone controller to back of panel, and connect w/ 10ga wire, and alligator clips for the battery.

To go permanent mount, bracket the panel to roof.
Mount controller to RV near batts. Connect wires
To go bigger watts later, add 2 more panels in parallel, use same 20 amp controller, for 300 watts, or 18 amps max.

The eco-worthy 100W kit is very fairly priced, IMO. I don't have one, but I have a similar one I built from scratch. It's a fine choice for entry level portable solar.

A 100 watt panel from this place is probably less expensive than the 45 watt kit from HF. That works out to about $2.50 per rated watt for the HF kit. Nowdays panels run around $1 per rated watt.

SunElec.com

Good luck!

Fred.

2oldman wrote:
Forum members solar
Solar basics

VERY helpful, 2oldman! Thank you.

"Rated Output 14.5 V~ / 15 W (per solar panel)"

Amorphous are for when you have tons of real estate, like on the roof of a house. Completely impractical for portable use.