After a few years of medical hiatus, moving camper to a semi-permanent spot on our property. Looking for reasonable setup to keep our 4x 6v golf cart batteries topped up.Usage will be 1-3 days about 3-4 times per month. We will have a generator available if we take it. Topping off batteries after we leave or if we are away for a month or two is the goal. It is on top of high hill in SW Pennsylvania, so looking at solar.Don't want to get the wrong "trickle charger" that kills the batteries prematurely. Also don't want to be required to stay extra (few hours?) to run generator after a stay, or require a "service trip" just to charge up batteries.We would run off generator and/or 2k inverter from batteries during out stay, likely run coffee maker, microwave, etc in am and eve, which also runs our 4 stage charger. Winter usage as well, so propane fridge and RV furnace that uses the energy gobbling fan. Likely an internet link and remote camera setup for security will run 24/72005 Cougar 33BHSThanks in advance.

Well Doc, The only real thing to consider is how much you want to spend. The problem is that the 1~3 Days 3~4 times a month looks a lot like continues to the house bank. If the 3 days comes right after the other 3 days, that is really tough for the sun to make up. Were I in your place, I would start with as much PV on the roof as you can justify. Then shop the market for charge controllers. Those will be your not-so-secret weapon here. There are two basic types: Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) and the industry-standard Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). All of these are better than they were when I was working this market. If I was to try to recommend, the model would be obsolete by now. There are many that will do a good job of changing without damaging the bank. Matt

Thanks for the info. To clarify, I am not looking to run off the batteries, just finish topping off whatever we don't charge with the generator, and to keep them properly charged unattended.Does that help?

For the effort I recommend looking at 200 to 600 watts mounted on the roof. Large home panels are best value and require an MPPT controller. May never start the generator again.

I use the following 30-watt Renogy panel when my 5th wheel is in storage during our 5-month off season. Keeps our 4 6-volt batteries topped up.:https://smile.amazon.com/Renogy-12-Volt-monocrystalline-Solar-Panel/dp/B07MZL3PSD/ref=sr_1_2?a=aps&crid=2ZOCD6UDMJSHI&keywords=renogy+30w&qid=1667764454&sprefix=renogy+30&sr=8-2&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.18ed3cb5-28d5-4975-8bc7-93deae8f9840And I use this charge controller with it:https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B004Q820UK/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&aaxitk=87975b49f0613849f129e63777bfaf4e&content-id=amzn1.sym.53aae2ac-0129-49a5-9c09-6530a9e11786%3Aamzn1.sym.53aae2ac-0129-49a5-9c09-6530a9e11786&hsa_cr_id=5773970610501&pd_rd_plhdr=t&pd_rd_r=b4298c85-1ad1-4321-8b70-5b0c037dd929&pd_rd_w=q9tZZ&pd_rd_wg=snbqr&qid=1667764695&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_0_img&sr=1-1-a094db1c-5033-42c6-82a2-587d01f975e8It should do the job for the extended periods you mentioned; however, you may need a larger panel to bring the batteries to full charge between outings. This will depend upon how low the charge goes during usage and how many days you have before the next usage.Good luck

time2roll wrote:For the effort I recommend looking at 200 to 600 watts mounted on the roof. Large home panels are best value and require an MPPT controller. May never start the generator again.X2

Solar charger for 4 6v golf cart batteries LONG TERM?

Grit_dog
Navigator
Nov 09, 2022
But road building sounds like a different topic than battery charging and I’ll caution that aside from maybe a few folks such as myself, internet road building instructions are probably not going to be very informative and not a good place to learn how to build a road in general.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Nov 09, 2022
DiskDoctr wrote:
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
An ideal "topping off" solar charger...

Does this fit the bill?

Renogy (BT model)

I am planning the wifi backhaul to the house for monitoring video, thermostat/temp, etc. Maybe even battery state?

This will allow us to pre-heat the camper before we arrive in winter. Winter usage is expected if I can get this road done before arctic weather moves in. Just picked up a fitting for the backhoe today.

oh yeah-

WHAT is MAXIMUM INCLINE/SLOPE of a road for a camper, as a general rule?

Good to research what your power and charging needs will be. And the plan for solar in your scenario sounds plausible.
But if I’m reading right, you don’t have a road to the site yet.
Without knowing anything about or getting into details, the path in sounds like it may be steep. Idk how long the road will be but dozer = cutting grade for road. Backhoe = digging trenches and loading/moving material with the front bucket. Unless you’re VERY good on a backhoe….
Max grade you can pull the camper up is also subjective. And there are far more considerations than just the average or max grade.
But as an upper limit, if you’ve solved any break over (dragging hitch or tail of camper) issues as well as turning radius (if it’s that steep you may need a switchbacks?) then the max grade is what you can pull a camper your size and weight in 4wd.
Again totally subjective.
I’ve had no issues, not even close to being an issue, hauling my 4place enclosed snomachine trailer up 20% grades. 2wd when dry, 4wd when wet and front axle only chained up when ice or greasy snow. Assuming you’re not going to ever take the camper up or down it when it’s winter road conditions or muddy, I wouldn’t be concerned until 20% + grade.
And you always have 4lo, and tire chains as options (even in dry conditions) for greater grade-ability to get the camper in or out.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Nov 09, 2022
DiskDoctr wrote:
Thank you.

After placing our camper, it will be staying in the same place long term.

We will travel to and from it by 4x4 and/or ATV. It is in middle of nearly 100 acres.

Sounds like a wonderful location!
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Nov 09, 2022
It looks like an expensive unit. E:

I'd allow some fooling around time after putting it to work to make sure you and it are on the same page. The temperature compensation sending unit will have to see where the batteries are. Sometimes solar heating will heat the structure where the meter is.

I wouldn't want to see my flooded batteries lower than say 12.90 when the temperature is below freezing. You're in PA not North Dakota so absurdly low temperatures should be uncommon.
DiskDoctr
Explorer
Nov 08, 2022
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
An ideal "topping off" solar charger...

Does this fit the bill?

Renogy (BT model)

I am planning the wifi backhaul to the house for monitoring video, thermostat/temp, etc. Maybe even battery state?

This will allow us to pre-heat the camper before we arrive in winter. Winter usage is expected if I can get this road done before arctic weather moves in. Just picked up a fitting for the backhoe today.

oh yeah-

WHAT is MAXIMUM INCLINE/SLOPE of a road for a camper, as a general rule?
DiskDoctr
Explorer
Nov 08, 2022
jaycocreek wrote:
Solar is awful dependent on where you live and the weather..I have 400 watts on the roof and 200ah of lithium batteries and it won't keep up right now in this weather..5-6 days maybe then it's generator time...Roughly 5-600 watt hours going out daily..The 2k inverter uses 13 watts times four is 300 watts plus daily of I left it on 24/7..

I need my generators even with 4-600 watts of solar where I live in the winter..The summer is just the opposite with all the sun..

So you have about 2x my battery capacity (SLA only down to 50%).

We've dry camped for a week with less than an hour in the am and an hour in the pm on generator to run A/C, microwave, coffee maker, high amp battery charger, etc.

That was for comfort, not dead batteries. They were also new, now about 4yrs old

The inverter I have is PROsine 1800 hardwired: https://www.bestconverter.com/PROsine-1800-Sine-Wave-Inverter-Hardwire_p_251.html

1800w with 2900w surge. It can start and run the A/C. Not sure how long, that was an accident when the genny ran out of fuel once. Lol.

It's only 1.5w on standby. So low that when we were using it, I just left it turned on.

Thanks.
DiskDoctr
Explorer
Nov 08, 2022
Gulfcoast wrote:
It must be really cold where you are if you furnace will actually run 20 hours a day.

Haha! Yeah, estimating worst case while we're there, we want to be warm. On top of the hill with only a little windbreak on about 30%.

Actually considering anchors, just in case. We do get 60-80mph gusts during some storms.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Nov 08, 2022
An ideal "topping off" solar charger should include
The ability to prevent under charged batteries from freezing the following night
Temperature compensated voltage adjustment
A mechanical switch to eliminate the tiniest leakage
Redundant capacity to maintain a full charge even with the longest stretch of anticipated hundred percent cloud cover
A five star customer rating for performance and longevity.
jaycocreek
Explorer II
Nov 08, 2022
Solar is awful dependent on where you live and the weather..I have 400 watts on the roof and 200ah of lithium batteries and it won't keep up right now in this weather..5-6 days maybe then it's generator time...Roughly 5-600 watt hours going out daily..The 2k inverter uses 13 watts times four is 300 watts plus daily of I left it on 24/7..

I need my generators even with 4-600 watts of solar where I live in the winter..The summer is just the opposite with all the sun..
Gulfcoast
Explorer
Nov 08, 2022
It must be really cold where you are if you furnace will actually run 20 hours a day.

Forum Discussion

Solar charger for 4 6v golf cart batteries LONG TERM?

About Technical Issues

Related Content

Solar charger but still dead batteries

Solar trickle charger help

Solar Trickle charger

Battery Charger Recommendation

Solar battery charger question and generator question