Forum Discussion

PeterWilderness's avatar
PeterWilderness
Explorer
Apr 10, 2014

Opinion on portable/fixed solar panel for our rv?

Hi everyone,

Been looking for a solar solution. Choosing between a fixed and portable system. Pros and cons for both. We don't use a lot of appliances. Just lights in the evening (will be getting LED), and charging up small laptop, iPad, and iPhone. Will run a fantastic fan on hot days. And rarely, the furnace. We often camp in provincial campsites so we do get into a lot of sites that have shade. Thinking the portable would be better for the ability to move panels around in sunny spots.

Anyway found this site, Overland Solar and looking at their 90 watt unit to charge our 2-6 volt batteries. Anyone here have any experience with Overland Solar, or opinions on 90 watt portables?

Ideally? A fixed solar panel that works okay in the shade. But my research online says that is not a realistic expectation.

While I'm at it, I'm open to any solution to suit our requirements that would preferably involve a west coast Canadian company to save on shipping, etc. And I'm open to installing the system myself. Just thinking a "good" rv service centre would be better qualified to do the installation.

Thanks,

Peter
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Apr 10, 2014
    Hi Peter,

    90 watts is too little to adequately service a 232 amp-hour battery, except while the RV is in storage.

    In perfect solar conditions 140 watts on an MPPT controller would be barely enough.

    Kits are often outrageously over priced. The Overland is no exception.

    Costs for materials are less than $2.00 per watt, lock stock and barrel. Panels can be had for as little as $0.74 cents per watt.
  • Trackrig's avatar
    Trackrig
    Explorer II
    Apr 10, 2014
    Knowing how some people get lazy, if I had to get the portable solar panels out all of the time, set them up and then take them down, they would get used less and less. It would be interesting to know many people leave the portable panels in a storage bay more often than they set them up?

    Bill
  • Community Alumni's avatar
    Community Alumni
    Apr 10, 2014
    I just purchased a complete folding 120W solar kit from Solar Blvd for $190 and is very easy to set up. It's as easy as setting up a folding table.

    You may want to contact them to see how much it would cost to ship to Canada.

    http://www.solarblvd.com/
  • KMP44's avatar
    KMP44
    Explorer
    Apr 10, 2014
    I'm going to get someting like this kit. Not sure what shipping to Canada would be... But this has two 100 watt panels. I plan to mount one on the roof and keep the second one as a portable panel. We frequently camp in shaded sites, so I need a portable panel. For maintaining the batteries in storage and when we camp in full sun, the permanent panel should do the job for our 2 gr 27 12V batteries. Usually only dry camp for 4-5 days and can make it on just battery if we are conservative.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/271210405169?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
  • KMP44's avatar
    KMP44
    Explorer
    Apr 10, 2014
    gemsworld wrote:
    I just purchased a complete folding 120W solar kit from Solar Blvd for $190 and is very easy to set up. It's as easy as setting up a folding table.

    You may want to contact them to see how much it would cost to ship to Canada.

    http://www.solarblvd.com/


    My link above didn't seem to work, but find solarblvd on e-Bay. Same kits, less $$. The 200 watt kit is $299
  • PeterWilderness's avatar
    PeterWilderness
    Explorer
    Apr 10, 2014
    pianotuna wrote:
    Hi Peter,

    90 watts is too little to adequately service a 232 amp-hour battery, except while the RV is in storage.

    In perfect solar conditions 140 watts on an MPPT controller would be barely enough.

    Kits are often outrageously over priced. The Overland is no exception.

    Costs for materials are less than $2.00 per watt, lock stock and barrel. Panels can be had for as little as $0.74 cents per watt.


    Thanks Don.

    I'm finding installed prices quite high around here (interior of BC). i.e. "a Sharp 250 watt solar panel and 20 amp mppt charge control with advanced remote display. This system installed is $995.00 + 5% gst". Had quotes for an installed 160 Watt, 30 amp controller, at about $900 installed. Guess I'll look at sourcing the raw material myself and do the install as well.

    Peter

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