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Vintage465's avatar
Nov 28, 2015

Put the Solar to the test.

So just a bit of back ground. I tried to dig up my original post for a reference but failed to find it. So the long and the short of it is: I bought a 20fq Creek Side and had 300w of solar installed controlled by a Samlex Controller. It feeds to 6v interstate batteries in series. I was able to go to the the Mojave Desert where it was less than 30 degrees at night, run the forced air furnace to keep the trailer @ 60 degrees each night for a week and the lowest voltage I woke up to was 11v(kept it at 65deg. that night). Most mornings I woke up to 12v or better. Then the solar would charge it up during the day and I would go to bed with 12.6v. Went on and on like that for a week. I consider this a win as we can keep the trailer warm enough for out tastes and there is no generator running to charge things up.

25 Replies

  • KRumm wrote:

    This chart is only ball park and isn't correct for many batteries.
    For my Exides 90% is 12.7 for an example and 50% is 12.4 volts.
    Best to check the manufactures website for your specific battery.
  • If that voltage was while the furnace was running, it was probably ok.
    Good going on the 300 watt system,......real similar to mine.
    My unloaded voltage in the morning is seldom less than 12.2, but that's w/ no forced air furnace, and lots of sat tv.

    You could better your voltage by using an alternative to that battery suckin........propane suckin furnace !!
  • 11 V is lower than I would like to take batteries, but otherwise your system seems to be working great. Good deal!