travelnutz wrote:
In over half the USA, solar is virtually useless in keeping up/or recharging a battery bank. Night, rain, clouds, shade from trees or the angle as the sun crosses the sky, and zero to very little watts output at much expense.
This is too much of a generalized statement and basically incorrect.
There is no marginal 1/2, solar-effective and solar-noneffective, division about solar harvest across the US. Yes, you will get lower harvest in the North during Winter than in the South in Summer, but the difference isn't great enough to effect an RV'er, appreciably. Yes, if it's night there will be no solar harvest, this is why storage is necessary, i.e. batteries. "Zero to very little watts output at much expense" isn't even close to correct. General rule of thumb calculations and user reference indicate at least 5 hrs. of output at panel rating and, depending on type of cells, significant output during shoulder hours of the day. FWIW, I am still harvesting watts after the sun sets.
