Forum Discussion

Dakota98's avatar
Dakota98
Explorer
Dec 14, 2014

Solar as battery maintenance during storage - opinions

Having suffered a neck injury, it has become difficult to lift anything 25 lbs or more & attempting to remove my batteries from the tongue of my TT is difficult at best. Currently, I keep them in the garage with a trickle charger, but am considering solar in the future so that they can stay on the tongue year round. I have 2-GC batts on the coach & it is off site & no power is available. I have no hands on knowledge of solar, but it seems to be my best alternative under the circumstances.

This is what I'm considering. Any suggestions and /or opinions on this set-up & equipment to be used would be appreciated. I would like to keep cost to a minimum. I do have a disconnect switch & there will not be any load on the batteries.

Solartec S01PC-15 - Panel

Sunforce 60031 - Controller

36 Replies

Show More
  • mena661's avatar
    mena661
    Explorer
    Dec 15, 2014
    Dakota98 wrote:
    My goal is maintenance only during storage. I am not concerned with power when I'm dry camping. Those needs are already met with my generator & would like to avoid installing any permanent panel on the TT roof or carrying a portable panel & setting it up each time. I am only wanting to avoid removing the batteries while in storage, but yet, keeping them charged. I understand the controller is overkill for what I want to do & can handle larger panels, but it seems to have very good reviews.
    Sounds like you got a plan. Good to go.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Dec 15, 2014
    If you go with 15w panel you can skip the controller on a pair of GC2.
  • Dakota98's avatar
    Dakota98
    Explorer
    Dec 15, 2014
    My goal is maintenance only during storage. I am not concerned with power when I'm dry camping. Those needs are already met with my generator & would like to avoid installing any permanent panel on the TT roof or carrying a portable panel & setting it up each time. I am only wanting to avoid removing the batteries while in storage, but yet, keeping them charged. I understand the controller is overkill for what I want to do & can handle larger panels, but it seems to have very good reviews.
  • rexlion's avatar
    rexlion
    Explorer
    Dec 15, 2014
    A 10A controller is enough for 150 watts, maybe 200 watts of solar.

    About 2 years ago I bought a 75W panel and a Morningstar SG-4 controller from solarblvd.com for about $125 total. I rigged the setup to plug into the trailer's 12v pigtail (that goes to the tug) and left the panel unmounted. My controller is outside, too, but it is made for that.

    For storage off site, a mounted panel and indoor-mount controller probably makes more sense to deter theft. Shop around a bit, you can get far more solar than that 15W and it will be money well spent. It will help you on those trips when you find a great place to spend a day or two but there's no shore power.
  • BFL13's avatar
    BFL13
    Explorer II
    Dec 15, 2014
    Yes, you can get a solar battery maintainer that will do the job, but for almost the same money you can get "some solar" that will do that plus help while camping if you ever camp off grid.

    You can get portable (or installed on roof for more money for the installation cost), but then you might have problems with shifting the portable with the neck problem, don't know.

    IMO do anything to avoid the rip-off hardware store low watt "solar" at $5 per watt compared with getting a real solar set from a real solar dealer at $2 per watt or less.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Dec 14, 2014
    Go with a 100 watt panel as a minimum to be worth the effort.
    Yes it is a bit more money but 15w is too small IMO.

About Technical Issues

Having RV issues? Connect with others who have been in your shoes.24,288 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 09, 2022