I went and ordered some solar.
Been looking and asking questions for a couple week about solar, didn't want to spend the money right now but I also don't want to run out of juice while hunting for 2 weeks so I ordered this kit, Win...
Forum Discussion
I'm thinking I would would want to make several dry run at my CAMP BACK yard experimenting with how to live with two each GP27 batteries running all the things I want to run in a one day/night run off the batteries and being able to re-charge the batteries the next morning so I could do it all over again.
The SOLAR PANELS is nice but keep in mind these you have will only produce around 5AMPs of usable DC Current from each panel during the high sun time frame. If your GP27 batteries get behind in their charge state the 10AMPS is not going to help much re-charging your batteries back up to their 90% charge state so you can get at least 99% of the battery performance for the night.
I would be experimenting with what it takes to get my batteries re-charged without the added solar panels first and then the solar panels would be icing on the cake for me when I am away all day long fishing.
I would also reduce my 12VDC consumption as much as possible with the number one mod being changing the 12VDC Incandescent automotive light bulbs over to LED units. Each 12VDC automotive bulb draws 1 AMP of 12VDC when turned on. This would be a hugh saving of energy changing over to LED Boards.
Your other big battery drain is going to be the PROPANE HEATER Blower system. This will draw 5-6AMPS from your 12VDC batteries when being used. You mentioned using the MR BUDDY heater for heat and in the TENT DAYS this was pretty safe to use. Todays closed up trailers this may not be safe to use for you. You have to have open windows to do it and that sort of defeats having a heater in the first place. The best approach is to abandon the propane heater and use OUTSIDE VENTED CAT5 Wave propane heaters. Then use a couple of O2COOL 12VDC/D Cell fans to move the heat around the trailer.
I would also make sure I have a smart mode converter/charger on board to charge my batteries in a quick three hour time span.
I would also be looking at the EU1000 Generator set you have and make sure it has enough output power to charge my batteries being connected to 30AMP Trailer shore power cable. A 1000WATT generator probably only has around 850WATT of 120VAC usable power. If connected to your trailer shore power cable you need to figure out what all you need to turn off so it will run the on-board converter/charger to recharge you two GP27 batteries. Do you have a RV30A yo 15A Long DOGBONE type ADAPTER (WALMART) to use with the generator to plug-in your trailer shore power cable...
You will also need to know what you can do with your B&D 750WATTS MSW INVERTER. This is a 60AMP Battery drain if fully loaded own. Being a MSW type also has problems on what works and what doesn't. I would want to find that out before heading out. Electronics and solid state devices along with transformer fed items sure run alot better using PSW Inverters...
These are very important items to be looking at before I would just jump in the truck and head for the back country for three weeks with just a EU1000 generator and 10AMPS of solar Power.
Back in the day we solved all of these problems with a good flash light and a bag full D-Cell batteries along with a white gas Coleman very bright lantern hehe...
I think you are going be in for a very bumpy road for unplanned trip to back country fishing trip.
There is also who is staying around the camp site while everyone is out fishing all day... Portable Solar Panels may grow feet and wander off on your when left unattended. You may come back from fishing all day and fine the solar panels, batteries, and the propane tanks all gone... They will probably leave you a nice note thanking you for the nice toys...
Just some of my thoughts
Roy Ken
The SOLAR PANELS is nice but keep in mind these you have will only produce around 5AMPs of usable DC Current from each panel during the high sun time frame. If your GP27 batteries get behind in their charge state the 10AMPS is not going to help much re-charging your batteries back up to their 90% charge state so you can get at least 99% of the battery performance for the night.
I would be experimenting with what it takes to get my batteries re-charged without the added solar panels first and then the solar panels would be icing on the cake for me when I am away all day long fishing.
I would also reduce my 12VDC consumption as much as possible with the number one mod being changing the 12VDC Incandescent automotive light bulbs over to LED units. Each 12VDC automotive bulb draws 1 AMP of 12VDC when turned on. This would be a hugh saving of energy changing over to LED Boards.
Your other big battery drain is going to be the PROPANE HEATER Blower system. This will draw 5-6AMPS from your 12VDC batteries when being used. You mentioned using the MR BUDDY heater for heat and in the TENT DAYS this was pretty safe to use. Todays closed up trailers this may not be safe to use for you. You have to have open windows to do it and that sort of defeats having a heater in the first place. The best approach is to abandon the propane heater and use OUTSIDE VENTED CAT5 Wave propane heaters. Then use a couple of O2COOL 12VDC/D Cell fans to move the heat around the trailer.
I would also make sure I have a smart mode converter/charger on board to charge my batteries in a quick three hour time span.
I would also be looking at the EU1000 Generator set you have and make sure it has enough output power to charge my batteries being connected to 30AMP Trailer shore power cable. A 1000WATT generator probably only has around 850WATT of 120VAC usable power. If connected to your trailer shore power cable you need to figure out what all you need to turn off so it will run the on-board converter/charger to recharge you two GP27 batteries. Do you have a RV30A yo 15A Long DOGBONE type ADAPTER (WALMART) to use with the generator to plug-in your trailer shore power cable...
You will also need to know what you can do with your B&D 750WATTS MSW INVERTER. This is a 60AMP Battery drain if fully loaded own. Being a MSW type also has problems on what works and what doesn't. I would want to find that out before heading out. Electronics and solid state devices along with transformer fed items sure run alot better using PSW Inverters...
These are very important items to be looking at before I would just jump in the truck and head for the back country for three weeks with just a EU1000 generator and 10AMPS of solar Power.
Back in the day we solved all of these problems with a good flash light and a bag full D-Cell batteries along with a white gas Coleman very bright lantern hehe...
I think you are going be in for a very bumpy road for unplanned trip to back country fishing trip.
There is also who is staying around the camp site while everyone is out fishing all day... Portable Solar Panels may grow feet and wander off on your when left unattended. You may come back from fishing all day and fine the solar panels, batteries, and the propane tanks all gone... They will probably leave you a nice note thanking you for the nice toys...
Just some of my thoughts
Roy Ken
