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fjacky's avatar
fjacky
Explorer
Dec 29, 2013

Solar power, not sure what all is needed

I have some property and we love camping on it. (we have zero power) The only solar power I would like/need is enough to run a couple LED lights at night, charge an iphone, and plug my Wilson Universal Cell Phone Booster in during the day... I would also like to plug my koolatron cooler into it too at some point. (for beer, lol)

I was thinking of doing the 2 golf cart batteries with solar panels. Just not exactly sure of panel sizing and other odds and ends I'd need. (inverters/regulators etc)

Can you help? :)

20 Replies

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  • fjacky's avatar
    fjacky
    Explorer
    Dec 30, 2013
    Gulfcoast wrote:
    If you have a Honda inverter generator... I'd be happy and use it. You could barely hear it run at the camp. Solar is not cheap, I'd get 200 watts to start... but when you get a cabin and keep adding toys you will need more watts.


    I have a low end generator. It's a united power 1300w... brand new for $160. It barely runs my 1/3hp sump pump... would that charge the 2 golf cart batteries? would I need some sort of smart charger that would plug into the generator that I would then plug the golf batteries into?
  • Gulfcoast's avatar
    Gulfcoast
    Explorer
    Dec 30, 2013
    If you have a Honda inverter generator... I'd be happy and use it. You could barely hear it run at the camp. Solar is not cheap, I'd get 200 watts to start... but when you get a cabin and keep adding toys you will need more watts.
  • fjacky's avatar
    fjacky
    Explorer
    Dec 30, 2013
    BFL13 wrote:
    You must give more scenario. How long at a time do you stay out there? What do you have now to recharge the two 6s? Do you leave it all there unattended when going home? Is that ok for theft worries? Do you take the batteries home and how often? (for chances to recharge to 100% on shore power) Is this a cabin or an RV or an RV acting as a cabin?


    We do approx 8-10 trips a year up there, ranging from 2 days - 5 days

    I don't have the batteries yet. Only generator (just getting started)

    Not worried about theft, but can bring batteries home to keep charged if it's the way to go.

    As of now it's a hybrid camper, but will soon be getting a cabin.
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Dec 29, 2013
    Here is a simple flow chart.

    Budget-->Energy Audit-->Battery bank size-->number of watts-->PWM or MPPT.
    One rule of thumb is between 60 and 150 watts of panels per 100 amp-hours of storage. The smaller the battery bank the high the wattage needed (per 100 amp-hours). Here is a link to the rather special spreadsheet which includes an energy audit, that N8GS has created to help size solar battery charging systems!
    Solar Spread Sheet N8GS

    For a nice explanation of solar, try this link: Golden rules of solar
  • BFL13's avatar
    BFL13
    Explorer II
    Dec 29, 2013
    You must give more scenario. How long at a time do you stay out there? What do you have now to recharge the two 6s? Do you leave it all there unattended when going home? Is that ok for theft worries? Do you take the batteries home and how often? (for chances to recharge to 100% on shore power) Is this a cabin or an RV or an RV acting as a cabin?
  • Crazy_Cooter's avatar
    Crazy_Cooter
    Explorer
    Dec 29, 2013
    If I was to make a recommendation for your vague description of loads and duration.... I would think 250+Ah battery bank (Larger Golf Cart), 250W+ solar panels, and a good MPPT charge controller would do the job nicely with minimal if no generator run time during sunny periods.

    I assume like us....once you find how nice it is to have trouble free quiet power, you will find others things to consume energy, so plan for the future now.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Dec 29, 2013
    Panels, charge controller nd btteries. For my portable setup i have 250 watts of panels, four golf cart batteries. With this setup i can run TV, sat receiver and the rest of my RV for days at a time even in cloudy conditions. To me that is about minimum for most situations.
  • janechucknicode's avatar
    janechucknicode
    Explorer
    Dec 29, 2013
    Ihad 50 watts that worked out for me in Alaska .But a1,000 watt generator helps great too.
    Good luck with your choice s
    Chuck

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