Enough power?
I currently have a 55W solar panel on the camper. Was out boondocking for a week and after a few showers and running the heater a few times in the morning, I see this panel can't quite keep up, as in ...
Forum Discussion
If I am reading the OP's posts correctly, two deep cycle batteries ONLY last a week with a few lights, the water pump, and some furnace operation in the morning.
I've had three campers, all of them would last a week under those conditions on one battery and no solar charging.
Our Alpenlite, with two deep cycle batteries, once lasted 3-1/2 days in sub freezing weather with the furnace running all day long. It easily would have lasted over a week of light duty operation.
I think you have current draws happening that you don't know about.
Another possibility you might investigate is your charging system on your truck. After a week of camping, when you do drive again, the alternator on your truck should bring the batteries up to full charge. If the batteries are still depleted after driving a bit, your charging system is inadequate and the solar panel probably won't catch up.
Quite frankly, in 12 years of RVing and extensive year round boondocking, our experience has been that we run out of fresh water or gray tank capacity long before the batteries are discharged.
Buy a meter. FIND OUT what is going on. Until then, we're all just guessing....
I've had three campers, all of them would last a week under those conditions on one battery and no solar charging.
Our Alpenlite, with two deep cycle batteries, once lasted 3-1/2 days in sub freezing weather with the furnace running all day long. It easily would have lasted over a week of light duty operation.
I think you have current draws happening that you don't know about.
Another possibility you might investigate is your charging system on your truck. After a week of camping, when you do drive again, the alternator on your truck should bring the batteries up to full charge. If the batteries are still depleted after driving a bit, your charging system is inadequate and the solar panel probably won't catch up.
Quite frankly, in 12 years of RVing and extensive year round boondocking, our experience has been that we run out of fresh water or gray tank capacity long before the batteries are discharged.
Buy a meter. FIND OUT what is going on. Until then, we're all just guessing....
