Portable (suitcase) solar "install" question
I've gone back and forth on solar panels on the roof or portable. Well, due to a tight budget, portable is the only way I'm going to get solar for now and it makes sense for me to try it out 1st as we...
Forum Discussion
A friend that camps with me on and off ordered the Solarblvd portable after having his grp 24 get down to 11.2v when running the generator for a hour daily. first we used my trailer as shore power and allowed his 45a dumb converter run all day. Then we did it again until the battery was up to 13.6v, then switched to a Meanwell 30a powersource to take it up to 14.4v for 3 hours, and then equalized it at 15v for the rest of the day. The next morning he saw 12.6v resting.
We both ordered the 160w portable and we set his up, mine is still in the box for demonstration use next year. I also ordered a new Eco-worthy 20 MPPT to be able to show the differences between it and the PWM controller that comes with the portable. The first thing I'll say is my friend has not ran his generator since getting his. The second thing is the POS controller is glued to the back of the panel and can't be moved near the battery. Setting it is a pain and it resets when he unhooks it. The third thing is there is no cords for between the portable and the battery.
My friend is thrilled as he can use the limited amount of power he does and the portable keeps up even with the cheap controller on the panels and the extension cord he is using to connect it. He asked about upgrading and I told him he could buy a inexpensive PWM controller and mount it nearer to the battery. He could buy a third panel which would do more for him than going MPPT with the two panels he has. Even the cheap controller would handle the third panel. As it is he is wondering if he even needs to upgrade the solar or battery at this point. He has a built in generator for the microwave, A/C and boosting the battery early when it's cloudy for too long allowing the solar to take over afterwards.
In his case it is perfect but with the low prices I have seen on 12v panels I wonder if making your own with a few hinges and a set of legs may not be better considering the cheap controller and the fact that it can't be taken off to be put by the battery as well as the lack of cables/fuse. Aside from demonstration purposes at a talk I agreed to give next year mine will be used to keep the trucks battery as well as a small battery I use for a portable water pump up when I sit long term. It is not worth adding it into the house systems even if it does bring my total up to 1345w.
I will try to remember to check the Isc of his tomorrow, the rating does seem low.
We both ordered the 160w portable and we set his up, mine is still in the box for demonstration use next year. I also ordered a new Eco-worthy 20 MPPT to be able to show the differences between it and the PWM controller that comes with the portable. The first thing I'll say is my friend has not ran his generator since getting his. The second thing is the POS controller is glued to the back of the panel and can't be moved near the battery. Setting it is a pain and it resets when he unhooks it. The third thing is there is no cords for between the portable and the battery.
My friend is thrilled as he can use the limited amount of power he does and the portable keeps up even with the cheap controller on the panels and the extension cord he is using to connect it. He asked about upgrading and I told him he could buy a inexpensive PWM controller and mount it nearer to the battery. He could buy a third panel which would do more for him than going MPPT with the two panels he has. Even the cheap controller would handle the third panel. As it is he is wondering if he even needs to upgrade the solar or battery at this point. He has a built in generator for the microwave, A/C and boosting the battery early when it's cloudy for too long allowing the solar to take over afterwards.
In his case it is perfect but with the low prices I have seen on 12v panels I wonder if making your own with a few hinges and a set of legs may not be better considering the cheap controller and the fact that it can't be taken off to be put by the battery as well as the lack of cables/fuse. Aside from demonstration purposes at a talk I agreed to give next year mine will be used to keep the trucks battery as well as a small battery I use for a portable water pump up when I sit long term. It is not worth adding it into the house systems even if it does bring my total up to 1345w.
I will try to remember to check the Isc of his tomorrow, the rating does seem low.
