Going solar

AnEv942 wrote:
We have a single 135 watt panel-installed 2006. At full out put is 7.63 amps. (watts/volts=amps FYI typical panel 17volts min). Normal thru out the day is 3-6 amps. We use ours to recharge our 2 gr31 batteries which it does very well and keeps up with our minimal useage. Lights (led), water pump, refer control board etc. We have a cheap 400 watt inverter to power TV w/player-sometimes the Direct box, maybe 2 1/2 hours in the evening. Charging laptops, etc every couple of days if needed are done during the day when solar is best.
During the day we generally arent using camper & batteries will be @12.7, if they havnt reached float, by late afternoon. Typically though, going in & out, winter days etc we still will see starting the evening with batteries at 12.6. 12.4 by bedtime though down to 12.2 not uncommon.
The whole point is though if I threw a microwave into the mix- or a few hours of TV during the day or any other high use our system would be woefully inadequate, incapable of recharging the batteries. We are pretty close to adding at least another 100 watt panel-which would put us over our 'break even'.

When you said adding another 2 batteries I assume 3 total? I would question if a single 100 watt panel (5-6 amps at best) could recharge 3 batteries fully (in a day) with any real usage of power. If diverting power to run microwave less likely. Depends on how you use camper. If over a few days might work-3 batteries more reserve, w/ panel putting some back, but its going to be marginal with batteries slowly depleting.