Solar Requirements - Confirmation
I'm taking a 3 month mountain biking trip through British Columbia this summer. Most of the time will be spent camping at National/Provincial parks without access to electric. When I really break it d...
Forum Discussion
westend wrote:
The definition of the trip and the durations of stay seem to indicate a battery upgrade, at the least, is necessary.
Since I know how well solar works, I'd advise 2 x 100W modules and a Grape brand controller. If continual shade is going to be present when camping, 400w of solar would be advisable. You want polycrystalline modules, not monocrystalline. Again, THe Grape 40 amp controller is the best bang for the buck.
Forum member BFL13 could probably point you to a vendor in BC where panels would be the least expensive. In the States, FL, AR, and CA are locations of the cheapest vendors. Shipping, even within the US is a killer. You van find solar panel kits at Solar Blvdwith free shipping.
The generator guys will be on point with generator charging of the batteries. Your WFCO converter is not well regarded. It has some inherent functional flaws and even if it worked perfectly, it is not the best choice for charging 2 X 6V batteries. That is best accomplished with 14.8 V or higher charge voltage. The Progressive Industries converters will accommodate that 14.8V. Another wrinkle is that if you do get solar, the controller can be set to offer that higher voltage. You won't get the initial amp level of a powered charger, but the panels can finish a charge and offer less generator run time.
MY gear: 1 x 235W polycrystalline module, Morningstar MPPT-15 controller, 300AH battery capacity in two banks. I run a 120V fridge and all my entertainment devices from a Xantrex 1000W inverter. I don't have any parasitic draws like alarms, monitors, circuit boards, and such (although I can shut off my batteries with a switch). I use the usual water pump, fans, and such. I like sound so my stereo receiver is usually on. If I can get a good wi-fi signal, my laptop is on. I'd be considered almost a moderate consumer of RV power. Using microwaves, coffee makers, and hair curlers puts you up a category.
You folks seem like extremely light users of RV power. If you travel to different destinations frequently, just the battery upgrade may be enough. Your vehicle will charge back in some power while on the road. You can also turn it towards the RV, deploy jumper cables, and charge the RV battery.
A small generator and a small standalone charger would be real handy to have on board.
Thank you for detailed post. Appreciated.
