Solar Kit

DAS26miles wrote:
Going to do a test at Death Valley soon and will see if I really need an additional 50 or 60 watts. May get by with only needing 30 watts and Renogy has a 30watt panel with 15ft cable and alligator clips at the ends for only $65. That may be the cheap way out. No need to get a 20 or 30 amp controller and the existing wiring is adequate. Yes, I can buy all kinds of things to make it more efficient. We will see???
I am surprised that the Renogy 30 watt panel doesn't need a controller and hooks directly to the batteries.

If you only use the parasitic draw and an LED light or two, it should be fine. If not, you can use it for maintaining a lawn tractor battery. For solar to be beneficial, you need to be able to replace what is used and the bigger your battery bank, the more solar needed to replenish. I forget the exact rule, but very roughly, about 1 watt of solar for every AH of your battery bank. My bank is 220AH so about 200 watts of solar will get me by, more if I were to boondock for long periods to make up for clouds, rain, etc. So if you have a Grp 24 battery with 80AH, then 100 watts should be plenty. I don't think 30 watts will be of much benefit, but I am looking forward to your findings.
I see now that the 30 watt panel is in addition to the 100w so disregard much of this post.

Was it ever established whether or not the Renogy solar30 was as good as (or better than) than the EP Solar solar30?

"I am surprised that the Renogy 30 watt panel doesn't need a controller and hooks directly to the batteries."

Such a small panel, with such a low current output, cannot sustain high voltages on a full 12v battery. So, the battery just takes what amps it can from the panel with no fear of excessive voltage rise; thus a voltage controller is not needed.

DAS,

You are using the wrong panel amperage. Imp is for mppt. You need to consider the panel's Isc when choosing a pwm controller. In your case, 2.84a (vs. 2.7a) X 3 = 8.52a x 1.25 = 10.65a

DAS26miles wrote:
Can the suitcase panel's 15awg cable bypass the existing controller and be attached to the added panel. From the added panel run 10awg to a new Solar30 controller at the MH Then 2feet of 10awg fused at 10amps to the batteries? I would add Anderson SB50 connectors for ease in setup and takedown. I believe this should cut the voltage drop, right?

Yes, it can be done that way. just use the input side of the existing charge controller as nothing more than a connector or a bus.

Going to do a test at Death Valley soon and will see if I really need an additional 50 or 60 watts. May get by with only needing 30 watts and Renogy has a 30watt panel with 15ft cable and alligator clips at the ends for only $65. That may be the cheap way out. No need to get a 20 or 30 amp controller and the existing wiring is adequate. Yes, I can buy all kinds of things to make it more efficient. We will see???
I am surprised that the Renogy 30 watt panel doesn't need a controller and hooks directly to the batteries.

Buy your MC4 connectors and branch connect. from amazon. Much cheaper then Renogy. I found 8 ga. wire on e-bay for the panel to controller hook up.

Mine is buried in the snow along with the fiver, but there should be no reason, you can't hook up the suitcase panels just like any other and replace all wiring if needed. You can even buy the Renogy 100w suitcase without a controller which goes to back up what I said.

Can the suitcase panel's 15awg cable bypass the existing controller and be attached to the added panel. From the added panel run 10awg to a new Solar30 controller at the MH Then 2feet of 10awg fused at 10amps to the batteries? I would add Anderson SB50 connectors for ease in setup and takedown. I believe this should cut the voltage drop, right?

wbwood wrote:

jandjbaums wrote:
I went with 2 Renogy 100w poly panels for my portable setup. also have the MS 45 controller, and the 2030 monitor for future expantion.

How is working out? What kind of battery bank?

Hav'nt had it out in the field yet (around the house chores). But it seems to get the batteries up to 100% in the 3 hrs of sun that can get to it with a minimal load on it. I just have 2 Costco GC 2, what ever the amp hrs are on them.