Just Starting Solar Research
Man, there's a lot to read and digest with possibly installing a small solar panel. I very recently replaced my original 1-stage converter/charger with the Progressive Dynamics PD4600 series conve...
Forum Discussion
I found one 80w panel to have too small an output (5.1amps at high noon)but that a 120w panel with more like 7.5a would do much better. YMMV I suspect if you got the 80 you will soon be mad at yourself and wish you had gone bigger.
Although, you can get two 80s and hinge them for a "suitcase fold-out" portable and have 160w (but now you will need a 15a controller, not a 10--RJ says they are now $15 so that's ok. :)
The thing is that the 120w panel is not much bigger or heavier than the 80 so it is no more trouble to deal with if using it as a portable. Not much more in price either.
In addition a simple PWM 10a controller will run the 120, and they cost under $20 (ask RJ where he is getting his controller collection from--great prices)
A portable gets you the most haul during the day since you can keep pointing it to the sun. You could try it as a portable first and if that is found to be too much bother, then you can nail it to the roof (but now you need to install it--no labour costs when using it as a portable)
The panel can be stored behind your sofa or on the bed when travelling, or whatever works.
The controller should be close to the batteries and it has one set of wires going to the battery and the other set going to the panel. The controller's wires to the battery should be in parallel with the converter's. Both can charge at the same time. But don't have the converter upstream of the controller so it tries to charge through the controller to get at the battery.
You can buy proper wiring of any length required; I use standard battery booster cables I already own to connect the portable panel to the controller, which has fixed wires to the batteries, but how you do that depends on the layout of your RV.
Lots of ways to do it.
Although, you can get two 80s and hinge them for a "suitcase fold-out" portable and have 160w (but now you will need a 15a controller, not a 10--RJ says they are now $15 so that's ok. :)
The thing is that the 120w panel is not much bigger or heavier than the 80 so it is no more trouble to deal with if using it as a portable. Not much more in price either.
In addition a simple PWM 10a controller will run the 120, and they cost under $20 (ask RJ where he is getting his controller collection from--great prices)
A portable gets you the most haul during the day since you can keep pointing it to the sun. You could try it as a portable first and if that is found to be too much bother, then you can nail it to the roof (but now you need to install it--no labour costs when using it as a portable)
The panel can be stored behind your sofa or on the bed when travelling, or whatever works.
The controller should be close to the batteries and it has one set of wires going to the battery and the other set going to the panel. The controller's wires to the battery should be in parallel with the converter's. Both can charge at the same time. But don't have the converter upstream of the controller so it tries to charge through the controller to get at the battery.
You can buy proper wiring of any length required; I use standard battery booster cables I already own to connect the portable panel to the controller, which has fixed wires to the batteries, but how you do that depends on the layout of your RV.
Lots of ways to do it.
