Solar. What Can It Do?
We've got dual batteries on our camper and 90% of our trips are with electric sites. The other 10% of our trips are dry camping and we take along our Honda 2000. I've also got a 300W PSW inverter ho...
Forum Discussion
Not sure why I'm having trouble posting to this thread...
Howdy cm11599ps, solar can do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING!!! :W
These types of questions are very difficult to answer as no information has been provided. Some thoughts for you to consider.
If you do not have a quality battery monitor (like Trimetric) you do not actually know the state of charge of your battery bank (unless checking specific gravity). Installing one of these is an excellent first step as it allows you to see/measure your actual power usage. Battery boltage is a very poor indicator of state of charge.
Many CPAP/BiPAP machines are 12 volt - but not all of them. If you haven't already, you might check yours. I have a BiPAP that is directly wired to the house 12 volt system (I do not use the humidifier). This may reduce your power usage to some degree (you would need to measure it to know exactly).
A 100 watt panel will produce approximately 7 amps of power at a battery charging voltage of 13.5 volts - under ideal conditions. Conditions are never ideal so assume 80% of that, at best - 5.5 to 6 amps. This is not a lot but it is more than nothing. Over the course of a day, it slowly adds up - possibly 30 Ah per day (5 amps x 6 hours).
Above all (in my opinion), adequate solar eliminates the noise, smell, and maintenance of your generator. I know... people argue that their little Honda is quiet. I've camped near people running them and I can assure you that they are NOT as quiet as my solar. I love listening to the breeze flow thru the trees, the birds, the stream, etc. - solar allows one to hear those things. Of course, with this point, people always start debating the cost of solar. Mine was inexpensive (details here) and paid for itself very quickly (details here).
Howdy cm11599ps, solar can do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING!!! :W
These types of questions are very difficult to answer as no information has been provided. Some thoughts for you to consider.
If you do not have a quality battery monitor (like Trimetric) you do not actually know the state of charge of your battery bank (unless checking specific gravity). Installing one of these is an excellent first step as it allows you to see/measure your actual power usage. Battery boltage is a very poor indicator of state of charge.
Many CPAP/BiPAP machines are 12 volt - but not all of them. If you haven't already, you might check yours. I have a BiPAP that is directly wired to the house 12 volt system (I do not use the humidifier). This may reduce your power usage to some degree (you would need to measure it to know exactly).
A 100 watt panel will produce approximately 7 amps of power at a battery charging voltage of 13.5 volts - under ideal conditions. Conditions are never ideal so assume 80% of that, at best - 5.5 to 6 amps. This is not a lot but it is more than nothing. Over the course of a day, it slowly adds up - possibly 30 Ah per day (5 amps x 6 hours).
Above all (in my opinion), adequate solar eliminates the noise, smell, and maintenance of your generator. I know... people argue that their little Honda is quiet. I've camped near people running them and I can assure you that they are NOT as quiet as my solar. I love listening to the breeze flow thru the trees, the birds, the stream, etc. - solar allows one to hear those things. Of course, with this point, people always start debating the cost of solar. Mine was inexpensive (details here) and paid for itself very quickly (details here).
