Small Solar - Inexpensive

Yep, forget the solar ! Get more batteries, Nothing better than having 2 dead batteries instead of one !:S

Let me throw this out there,,, A year ago I installed a Kyocera 85 watt panel and controller on my small 22' trailer.
I camp allot at the coast where it is mostly overcast and foggy with some nice days thrown in. We also camp inland with combination of sometimes hook ups sometimes not.
The 85 watt panel has done a great job of keeping my two 6 volt golf cart batteries charged up for use at night.

during the day we only use water pump,and maybe some television if raining.
At night we use the heater a few hours after bed and it only runs for ten minutes at a time the most to take the edge off.
My re fridge runs off propane and the detectors run 24-7 (minimal draw).
We have replaced all interior bulbs with LEDs and even the porch light is LED.
We stay as long as the holding tanks can last (usually 5-6 days).
GC batteries have not been an issue and the panel even on cloudy days will put something back into the system.
Last trip I didn't even bring the generator as we have not needed it to recharge, only thing we use it for is running the microwave and the DW hairdryer (if the bathrooms dont have 110v.
to the OP, if you watch your 12v demand use a 100 watt panel should be sufficient to maintain battery power for your needs (lights and furnace).
Although a second battery will help allot, that 100 watt should be fine!!



Panel is mounted above small window to the rear of trailer, sunny day gave us 5.5 amps/hour back into the system,

wbwood wrote:
we don't know how long his boondocking will last.

Apparently that's being kept under wraps.

People recommend 2nd battery. But we don't know how long his boondocking will last. A 2nd battery will allow him to go longer, but eventually they will need to be charged. Unless he's only going for a couple days.

RJsfishin wrote:
Solar doesn't mean charging from TV, or generator, or packing more batteries.Whew !!!!

Do you remember Steve Martin?

kgarrett9999 wrote:
Sounds like the 100 watt panel/controller will serve my needs.

Yes. Worst case you can add more later.

No solar needed. Buy second battery, wire it in parallel with first one (depends on how old first one is), replace most used lights with LEDs, done!

The OP title was "small, inexpensive solar"

small doesn't mean 300-600 watts
inexpensive doesn't mean 300-600 watts
Solar doesn't mean charging from TV, or generator, or packing more batteries.

Whew !!!!

kgarrett9999 wrote:
I've tried leaving the lights on and seeing how long it lasts, but I keep forgetting to check it and when I do check of course the battery is gone.

Put in LEDs and you'd take a couple weeks to do that.

Here we go again....

Tips: Parking in shade or under cloud cover, no solar benefit.

One 50% discharged RV battery can use almost 20 amperes of panel power to recharge. Ponder this point.

If you decide to go with jumper cables, 4-gauge cables are recommended. Each wire will be the diameter of your pinkie. (I said wire not conductor). Jumper cables should be part of your gear anyway. Cheaper than panels, another battery, or whatever. You're not going to be doing this a lot, right?

Hope this helps...