Forum Discussion
Almot
Sep 20, 2013Explorer III
Don't listen to BFL :), he is traveling with a big generator, of course he'll tell - go ahead, spend those amp-hours...
There is no limit in saving energy when you have to, i.e. when you don't have much of it. You have propane to make a dinner, AA battery LED lights, and if it's not freezing in trailer before you go to sleep, you don't need any 12V power. Consider a catalytic heater, in your situation this is an investment well worth it, will save both AH and propane for hot shower. With a whole 140 AH bank, this is 70 AH usable, more than you need for 5 days with cat heater.
Here is a recent portable setup of 2*50W panels hinged together, propped on pieces of conduit. Doesn't cost much. One 100W might be cheaper, but 2*50 is easier to store. As it's been said, you only need a thin #10 cable from panel to controller. People use landscaping cable if panels didn't come with MC4 plugs, otherwise you have to buy MC4 extension cable #10 and cut it in half, it comes in up to 100ft length. And a red-black booster cable #8 with crocodiles from controller to batteries - like the one that you have in your truck, cut the crocodiles off on the controller end.
There is no limit in saving energy when you have to, i.e. when you don't have much of it. You have propane to make a dinner, AA battery LED lights, and if it's not freezing in trailer before you go to sleep, you don't need any 12V power. Consider a catalytic heater, in your situation this is an investment well worth it, will save both AH and propane for hot shower. With a whole 140 AH bank, this is 70 AH usable, more than you need for 5 days with cat heater.
Here is a recent portable setup of 2*50W panels hinged together, propped on pieces of conduit. Doesn't cost much. One 100W might be cheaper, but 2*50 is easier to store. As it's been said, you only need a thin #10 cable from panel to controller. People use landscaping cable if panels didn't come with MC4 plugs, otherwise you have to buy MC4 extension cable #10 and cut it in half, it comes in up to 100ft length. And a red-black booster cable #8 with crocodiles from controller to batteries - like the one that you have in your truck, cut the crocodiles off on the controller end.
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