Portable solar for limited current draw
I want to be able to generate enough power to run my laptop and keep a couple of lights inside the RV lit. 1. Will a 100 watt portable solar array do it? Or will I need 200? (Let's assume that I'll...
Forum Discussion
Hi there, I'm not too up on solar and I guess I should pay closer attention to these discussions, there is however, one thing I will suggest. If and when you do get a portable system, I suggest that you make sure your battery clamps and the posts are clean and bright and that you clean the chassis ground point.
I didn't think that it was to important to add this to the routine maintenance for every spring but I found out I was wrong. I was having multiple problems with the batteries receiving and maintaining a charge. When I finally, with a lot of help here found the biggest problem and decided to pull my batteries, I had to replace the latching disconnect relay and I washed and cleaned the battery box and shined up the cable clamps and wire brushed the ground spot and cable terminal. When put back together and before charging the batteries, I had about a .5 volt increase in battery voltage. Everything looked good, but, obviously it wasn't. Now my batteries read 13.7 or so when we stop and set up camp, before replacing that relay and cleaning everything I was getting 12.4 at best.
I now have Cleaning the Batteries and all their Connections on the spring cleaning list.
I didn't think that it was to important to add this to the routine maintenance for every spring but I found out I was wrong. I was having multiple problems with the batteries receiving and maintaining a charge. When I finally, with a lot of help here found the biggest problem and decided to pull my batteries, I had to replace the latching disconnect relay and I washed and cleaned the battery box and shined up the cable clamps and wire brushed the ground spot and cable terminal. When put back together and before charging the batteries, I had about a .5 volt increase in battery voltage. Everything looked good, but, obviously it wasn't. Now my batteries read 13.7 or so when we stop and set up camp, before replacing that relay and cleaning everything I was getting 12.4 at best.
I now have Cleaning the Batteries and all their Connections on the spring cleaning list.
