Add another battery?
New Jayco 18' TT - 2 families were to camp from Friday - Sunday... I took the trailer up on Wed to hold the area before the rest came up on Friday.. Got there about 2:00 in afternoon and it was pretty...
Forum Discussion
As stated,
Extensive modifications, for dry camping. Myself, I hate the sound of the damn fan heater in my Palomino Gazelle G21. Jackets, a down comforter on the queen sized bed keep the chill away, but I'm not used to camping in ID or MT at 5000feet + elevation.
Your GC-2 batteries really need to get topped off while camping, to 15.0V. If you go the 160w folding panels, you'll need a programmable charge controller like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/24V-Solar-Panel-battery-charge-controller-20A-amp-12V-Solar-PV-system-Black-/231089352396
Here is my suggestion. Buy two 120 watt panels from Solar Blvd. Hinge them together with regular Stanley door hinges, that you can remove the hinge pins from. Attach to frames of solar panels with machine screws, after drilling holes in the frame. You are going to need a 20 amp charge controller. Like this.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/24V-Solar-Panel-battery-charge-controller-20A-amp-12V-Solar-PV-system-Black-/231089352396
This will get you 14 to 15 amps charging rate. Run that for 5 or 6 hours in the winter, and it should cover your needs. The other option is if you camp spring , summer and fall seasons, and have a 3 season travel trailer... you could go with a pair of 100 watt panels instead, which is what RJFishing runs, all the time. Don't know how much heat he runs though with the stock unit, he went with propane heaters like I mentioned.
http://www.solarblvd.com/Solar-Panels-&-Systems-12-Volt-Solar-Panels/c1_269/p2714/Two-Solar-Cynergy-120-Watt-12-Volt-Solar-Panels-with-Y-Connector/product_info.html
http://www.ebay.com/itm/24V-Solar-Panel-battery-charge-controller-20A-amp-12V-Solar-PV-system-Black-/231089352396
This charge controller is programmable. It charges at 14.4V in bulk mode. What you need, with those Golf cart batteries, is 15.0V, not 14.4., which is what this unit will provide. The higher voltage also will increase the time that the amps stay high, to top off the battery. You'll want some good fat 10 gauge wire with a short run, no more than 3 feet, to your batteries, from this solar charge controller. To keep the amps up and the voltage up from the charge controller to the battery. On the input side of the charge controller, you'll need some sort of quick disconnect from your panel cord, and what ever distance you run to the solar panels to the charge controller. 10 gauge speaker wire can handle that, from the panels to the charge controller quick disconnect.
I just can't see you getting by with much under 200 watts, with that lap top and the heater. If you rig something up to warm the place up without the stock heater that needs electricity, that runs off your two 20 lb propane tanks, and get rid of the fan... the 160 watt foldable portable will serve you well. Otherwise, you'll need more wattage, more size, more inconvenience and weight.
If you do buy the 160watt version, don't even bother to use the stock charge controller and wires provided, it's too damn skinny, cuts voltage to the battery and cuts amps too. Get the charge controller I showed you up above, 20 amps, and program it to give you 15.0 V... you have to go in there, to b1, in programming, and get it set up as + .6 14.4 + .6 will get you 15.0V, and that's what golf cart batteries demand and need, due to their true deep cycle nature.
Whatchya gonna do when it's cloudy all day to charge up your batteries? Honda Eu1000I and a PD 9245 with a bulk charge Pendant at 14.4V?
Extensive modifications, for dry camping. Myself, I hate the sound of the damn fan heater in my Palomino Gazelle G21. Jackets, a down comforter on the queen sized bed keep the chill away, but I'm not used to camping in ID or MT at 5000feet + elevation.
Your GC-2 batteries really need to get topped off while camping, to 15.0V. If you go the 160w folding panels, you'll need a programmable charge controller like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/24V-Solar-Panel-battery-charge-controller-20A-amp-12V-Solar-PV-system-Black-/231089352396
Here is my suggestion. Buy two 120 watt panels from Solar Blvd. Hinge them together with regular Stanley door hinges, that you can remove the hinge pins from. Attach to frames of solar panels with machine screws, after drilling holes in the frame. You are going to need a 20 amp charge controller. Like this.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/24V-Solar-Panel-battery-charge-controller-20A-amp-12V-Solar-PV-system-Black-/231089352396
This will get you 14 to 15 amps charging rate. Run that for 5 or 6 hours in the winter, and it should cover your needs. The other option is if you camp spring , summer and fall seasons, and have a 3 season travel trailer... you could go with a pair of 100 watt panels instead, which is what RJFishing runs, all the time. Don't know how much heat he runs though with the stock unit, he went with propane heaters like I mentioned.
http://www.solarblvd.com/Solar-Panels-&-Systems-12-Volt-Solar-Panels/c1_269/p2714/Two-Solar-Cynergy-120-Watt-12-Volt-Solar-Panels-with-Y-Connector/product_info.html
http://www.ebay.com/itm/24V-Solar-Panel-battery-charge-controller-20A-amp-12V-Solar-PV-system-Black-/231089352396
This charge controller is programmable. It charges at 14.4V in bulk mode. What you need, with those Golf cart batteries, is 15.0V, not 14.4., which is what this unit will provide. The higher voltage also will increase the time that the amps stay high, to top off the battery. You'll want some good fat 10 gauge wire with a short run, no more than 3 feet, to your batteries, from this solar charge controller. To keep the amps up and the voltage up from the charge controller to the battery. On the input side of the charge controller, you'll need some sort of quick disconnect from your panel cord, and what ever distance you run to the solar panels to the charge controller. 10 gauge speaker wire can handle that, from the panels to the charge controller quick disconnect.
I just can't see you getting by with much under 200 watts, with that lap top and the heater. If you rig something up to warm the place up without the stock heater that needs electricity, that runs off your two 20 lb propane tanks, and get rid of the fan... the 160 watt foldable portable will serve you well. Otherwise, you'll need more wattage, more size, more inconvenience and weight.
If you do buy the 160watt version, don't even bother to use the stock charge controller and wires provided, it's too damn skinny, cuts voltage to the battery and cuts amps too. Get the charge controller I showed you up above, 20 amps, and program it to give you 15.0 V... you have to go in there, to b1, in programming, and get it set up as + .6 14.4 + .6 will get you 15.0V, and that's what golf cart batteries demand and need, due to their true deep cycle nature.
Whatchya gonna do when it's cloudy all day to charge up your batteries? Honda Eu1000I and a PD 9245 with a bulk charge Pendant at 14.4V?
