Shadow Cruiser S185 FBR Solar Install/Upgrade
We've owned our Shadow Cruiser S185 FBR for about 2 years now. It is a small travel trailer (~18.5') but is light enough to be towed by my Toyota 4Runner and big enough to fit my family. With that ...
Forum Discussion
Another update awhile later.
The roof panel (shattered) still works. I was gone all winter so I couldn't pull the batteries but the roof panel kept them charger (thankfully the snow melted). Then this summer I couldn't keep it plugged in and just the roof panel did plenty to recharge it each day with the fridge running.
Just traveled quite a ways with the RV and did a few trips before then. I really like having the portable panel since I still like to park in the shade. I do this the upgraded controller does a better job keeping the batteries "healthy" than m old cheap controller did. Additionally, the wife really understands "percent battery" versus the 4 "dot lights" which go on/off with the pump draw.
While I still believe the system is over engineered, I have never used a generator and never run out of juice in multiple days of boondocking. Most of the time I'd be back to full batteries before lunch and even on multiple cloudy days never had an issue.
The roof panel (shattered) still works. I was gone all winter so I couldn't pull the batteries but the roof panel kept them charger (thankfully the snow melted). Then this summer I couldn't keep it plugged in and just the roof panel did plenty to recharge it each day with the fridge running.
Just traveled quite a ways with the RV and did a few trips before then. I really like having the portable panel since I still like to park in the shade. I do this the upgraded controller does a better job keeping the batteries "healthy" than m old cheap controller did. Additionally, the wife really understands "percent battery" versus the 4 "dot lights" which go on/off with the pump draw.
While I still believe the system is over engineered, I have never used a generator and never run out of juice in multiple days of boondocking. Most of the time I'd be back to full batteries before lunch and even on multiple cloudy days never had an issue.
