Solar Kit
Just received my kit. 2 100w panels with a 30a pwm controller. Hoping it will recharge my 2 GC2's. I am alone in the trailer and power use is min. Any thoughts?
Forum Discussion
wbwood wrote:SkiSmuggs wrote:
I got the Renogy 100w suitcase last summer, but didn't get any boondocking to test it with, just in my driveway. My plan is to get a Solar30 30amp controller, dismount the 10w ViewStar and mount the Solar30 near the battery bank. Then set up longer panel to controller cables with a branch connector for adding a 100w panel with homemade stand. That will give me 200 watts with more placement flexibility and the controller placed near the battery bank with heavy cable for minimum loss.
I'm trying to decide on whether to get something like the 100 suitcase which will be simple and easier. Or to get the 200 watt kit and just make stands for them and use them the same way. Something tells me to go the 200 watt route. I can always mount them or get them mounted later on if we decide. We only have room for 2 batteries. We currently have two group 27's. One is 100 ah and the other 95 ah...so a total of 195 ah... We want to be able to do more dry camping. We would have the basic things...detectors, water pump, fridge control panel (fridge on propane), a couple of fantastic fans, light usage will be minimum (we have LED's, but we also have battery operated LED lanterns to use), a little tv watching (12 volt). We don't have an inverter (yet). We did ok for a short weekend. But it was not very hot and we did use the generator for an hour or two a day to recharge..
200 watts is better than 100 watts, no doubt. Part of the decision comes down to storage. I got the suitcase kit because it involved the most convenience and least amount of knowledge. However, I quickly got the knowledge after getting the kit and would now get the 200w kit instead so there is nothing wrong with your instincts.
