Solar Panels: How many watts?

red31 wrote:

BFL13 wrote:

red31 wrote:
corrective equalization requires current, 60w/100ah maybe on the low side.

Assumes solar is the only charging method he has. For a weekend warrior it is valid to lose capacity every day with solar just slowing down how much you lose, then charge to full on shore power at home.

How much solar you need is all about scenario.

understood, what beside solar would they need to buy?

Well a wfco won't equalize, solar can so no need for additional charger.

Solar equalizing is a special technique that requires a controller that can do 16.2 volts (for Trojan specs) in a controlled manner. You can also do it by-passing the controller and go direct, but have to watch it carefully and it might go too high before the equalizing is done, so you have to stop.

Also you are still camping, so you have to split the bank to ensure the batts being equalized are full before you start--that means take them off line and use the other part of the bank. Put the solar on the disconnected batts and get them to full at 14.8v then go to equalize at 16.2v needs to be enough sun that day to get it all done.

I have been through all that and it is a lot of bother and no certainty of getting it done in the spotty weather we have.

So, that means having a charger that can do it when you are on shore power and not using the batteries - not while camping-- and you need one that can do 16.2 volts on command. (example is PowerMax LK that is adjustable from 13-16.5 volts-there are others that could do it)

It is not easy to organize all that, so most folks will accept buying batteries more often instead, and consider that worth the extra money, since batteries are fairly cheap compared with a lot of other things to do with RVing.