Solar Kit

I am also considering buying the Renogy 100W portable kit. I am planning a trip this spring to Arizona and Utah, so this is a good time to try out solar. But I live in Michigan and mostly camp in the woods, so I am not ready to go all-in for solar. I don't want to put holes in my roof for just this trip.

Two 50 W panels is more expensive than one 100W, but, as DAS26miles mentioned, it is a lot easier to carry if you aren't going to mount it permanently.

My goal is only to reduce generator run time. 100W of panels certainly won't eliminate it. I figure that the only times I will get a full charge on the battery is if I run the generator in the morning until the current starts to taper, then let the solar finish it off. Good to do every few days, but I won't do it every day.

My batteries will be a pair of GC2s. We have a small TT and seem to use about 40-50 amp hours per day, as long as we don't need to run the furnace a lot.

The ViewStar controller that comes with the kit looks good since it has settings for charge and float voltage, but it has little room for expansion. The 15 ft of #15 wire between the controller and the battery is obviously a problem, so if I decide to drill holes, the first move is to put the controller closer to the battery.

I'd be interested in any other comments about this kind of setup.

The 50 watt panels are 2.7 amps each for 5.4amps adding another panel will bring it to 8.1 amps 1.9 amps under the 10amps of the controller. BTW midday yesterday I was getting 5.5amps leaving the controller and 5.4 at the batteries.
In reading Renogy suitcase owners manual, it says charge controller Max PV input power-120 watts (12V). So I guess the answer is no on the 10amp controller. It's not much more to get one with another 10 amp controller. Obviously not like the one I have.

The ViewStar is a good controller. Be a shame to dump that. You could keep that 10amp one and get any $15 controller on eBay to run another 50w panel.

150w should net you 150/130 x 8.2 amps = 9.5a aimed at a high sun. That does not leave enough margin for a 10a controller. The usual advice is to allow 1.25 more amps for the controller size.

You could get another (single) 100w panel and have two 100w sets and get another controller (an RJ Special for $15 on eBay) for the second 100w panel.

That should keep you busy for a while as a new solar addict :) Or if you have the urge to buy more solar, just lie down until the feeling goes away!

whatever works for you. If you put even a portable on the roof make sure to have an air space under it.

DAS26miles wrote:
This is addicting! Can I add another panel to the 2 already in the kit? The controller is 10amp and each of the 2 50watt panels I in my 100watt suitcase kit put out 2.7amps each or 5.5 for the 2 I have. Here is the panel- Renogy 50 watt panel

The Renogy suitcase kit gives it's max current (Isc) as 6.17 amps. Adding another 50 watt panel would still be under 10 amps, but not with much margin.

I understand what you guys are saying, but I can't go with larger panels because of space. Can I adapt what I have to add another 50watt panel with my 10amp controller or do I need to buy one with another 10amp controller. I could place the loose one on the roof and keep the suitcase kit on the ground.

BFL13 wrote:

DAS26miles wrote:
This is addicting! Can I add another panel to the 2 already in the kit? The controller is 10amp and each of the 2 50watt panels I in my 100watt suitcase kit put out 2.7amps each or 5.5 for the 2 I have. Here is the panel- Renogy 50 watt panel

smaller wattage panels cost more per watt than bigger wattage panels. If you are going to expand, then don't nibble at it. Go way bigger and get it over with.

You can also run two solar sets each with its own controller on one battery bank. So you could keep the one you have as is, not wasting the controller for it, and get a totally different bigger set, and use that at the same time. Lots of ways to do it.

X2 what he said. My system was 319.00

I am very limited space wise. The suitcase 100watt kit from Renogy fits under my dinette seat and I have room for another one the exact same size. Since I can't buy bigger my options are if I decide to expand, to buy another of the same panel and another controller or combine the new panel in parallel with the existing 10amp 100watt kit.

DAS26miles wrote:
This is addicting! Can I add another panel to the 2 already in the kit? The controller is 10amp and each of the 2 50watt panels I in my 100watt suitcase kit put out 2.7amps each or 5.5 for the 2 I have. Here is the panel- Renogy 50 watt panel

smaller wattage panels cost more per watt than bigger wattage panels. If you are going to expand, then don't nibble at it. Go way bigger and get it over with.

You can also run two solar sets each with its own controller on one battery bank. So you could keep the one you have as is, not wasting the controller for it, and get a totally different bigger set, and use that at the same time. Lots of ways to do it.

This is addicting! Can I add another panel to the 2 already in the kit? The controller is 10amp and each of the 2 50watt panels I in my 100watt suitcase kit put out 2.7amps each or 5.5 for the 2 I have. Here is the panel- Renogy 50 watt panel