How much battery charging from alternator?
Having spent a few years here I often read about the concept that while a typical trailer wiring connection from the vehicle to the camper will supply 12V, it is of low amperage and as such the camper...
Forum Discussion
So much of what works depends on the style of camping you like to do. Some folks will drive for 30 minutes to their favorite remote spot, and then spend a week there. Solar is the answer.
Others will stay for a day or two, then drive on for a few hours.
Even others won't bother with upgrading to solar, or to additional wiring. I like to carry my Honda 2K. If I need it, it is there. If I run it for an hour a day, it will keep me going through most of my camping. My 45 amp converter will put around 500 watts into the battery in an hour.
But to directly answer your question, with a normal setup you might get 15 amps back to your battery. That is 15 times 12 volts, so 180 watts in an hour. With 280 watts of solar, if you were perfectly aligned to the sun, can you get that much in an hour? Will the sun last?
So, upgrading to get 30 amps from your vehicle can be a good thing, or even heavier if everything else can handle it.
But only you can determine how much you drive.
Others will stay for a day or two, then drive on for a few hours.
Even others won't bother with upgrading to solar, or to additional wiring. I like to carry my Honda 2K. If I need it, it is there. If I run it for an hour a day, it will keep me going through most of my camping. My 45 amp converter will put around 500 watts into the battery in an hour.
But to directly answer your question, with a normal setup you might get 15 amps back to your battery. That is 15 times 12 volts, so 180 watts in an hour. With 280 watts of solar, if you were perfectly aligned to the sun, can you get that much in an hour? Will the sun last?
So, upgrading to get 30 amps from your vehicle can be a good thing, or even heavier if everything else can handle it.
But only you can determine how much you drive.
