Hello All,Just came back from a 4 day dry camping trip. I'll try to post a report when we get pics downloaded. It was a great time in a wonderful cg.Our power level stated it was in the "good" range, but DH was worried about enough power to raise the jacks. As it turned out, he was right. They would raise an inch and then stop. We do not have a genny. Thank goodness for the boat! He runs 2 batteries in it for the trolling motor and they had enough charge left to raise the jacks.Our friends use solar panels that they got from a home/garden store for $100. Not sure about watts. Besides reading the old threads regarding solar...where should I start? Our unit is solar ready, whatever that means.We have a luggage rack on our roof. DH would like to affix the panel to it somehow in a way that it can bevel toward the sun. Is this feasible?Anyway, I guess solar is in our future. Will it keep the batteries fully charged? We try to be frugal with our power, so I was surprised that this happened, as we have 2 grp 27 batteries.Any insight or experience is appreciated. Will start reading everything I can, so that I can have a good starting point.

Solar takes sun....what if you camp for a week and it rains or is overcast. I would carry a small portable generator for charging the batteries.We used a 1000 watt Honda and it would charge the batteries plus run some lights and a TV/DVD player.See this post http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27167365.cfm

Solar basicsmy solar panel install200w on TC on luggage rack100w solar on TC

Here are some kits to compare(free shipping)Most "kits" on the market have junk you do not need and often priced at $10+ per watt. Make sure you just get what you need.Basic install is: Solar panel -> Controller -> BatteryAll existing stuff stays the same. Solar prep usually means you have a wire or conduit from rooftop to battery compartment.

Solar on my TC is one mod that I would never be without. 100 watt panel was installed at the factory, with controller. I later added another 120 watt panel. I carry 2 Group 31 AGMs. We dry camp alot and I could not be without my solar. If and when the weather would not cooperate, we have on board Onan genny. If your TC is solar pre wired, that means you have wiring from one point on the roof down to where the manufacturer would recommend installing the controller. Your manufacturer can tell you how to access it. If it was me I would not be that concerned with installing "tilt" panels, although some do and they seem to like them. I never wanted to hassle myself in climbing up on the roof to tilt them and then have to lower them before leaving. Both my panels are mounted flat on the roof of the cabover. Sometimes I will try to park in a postition where the panels will grab most of the rays. If I can't, I dont worry about it.

I have solar (130 watts) and a Honda 2000. If I were to only have one, it would be without hesitation the Honda 2000. The cost is about the same in my setup, about $1000. I installed my solar and saved the labor cost. The Honda only required gas, plug it in and go, rain or shine daylight or dark. The Honda always gives me 15 amps. The solar requires sun, and in my opinion tilting panels and tracking the sun really is not very practical. While it looks great in theory, practical application with a TC requires lots of drama with little gain over simply flat mounting of the panels.Wayne

now researching solar power | Good Sam Community

25 Replies

Reddog1
Explorer II
Aug 16, 2013
I have solar (130 watts) and a Honda 2000. If I were to only have one, it would be without hesitation the Honda 2000. The cost is about the same in my setup, about $1000. I installed my solar and saved the labor cost.

The Honda only required gas, plug it in and go, rain or shine daylight or dark. The Honda always gives me 15 amps.

The solar requires sun, and in my opinion tilting panels and tracking the sun really is not very practical. While it looks great in theory, practical application with a TC requires lots of drama with little gain over simply flat mounting of the panels.

Wayne
kerry4951
Explorer
Aug 16, 2013
Solar on my TC is one mod that I would never be without. 100 watt panel was installed at the factory, with controller. I later added another 120 watt panel. I carry 2 Group 31 AGMs. We dry camp alot and I could not be without my solar. If and when the weather would not cooperate, we have on board Onan genny. If your TC is solar pre wired, that means you have wiring from one point on the roof down to where the manufacturer would recommend installing the controller. Your manufacturer can tell you how to access it. If it was me I would not be that concerned with installing "tilt" panels, although some do and they seem to like them. I never wanted to hassle myself in climbing up on the roof to tilt them and then have to lower them before leaving. Both my panels are mounted flat on the roof of the cabover. Sometimes I will try to park in a postition where the panels will grab most of the rays. If I can't, I dont worry about it.
time2roll
Nomad
Aug 16, 2013
Here are some kits to compare(free shipping)

Most "kits" on the market have junk you do not need and often priced at $10+ per watt. Make sure you just get what you need.

Basic install is: Solar panel -> Controller -> Battery
All existing stuff stays the same. Solar prep usually means you have a wire or conduit from rooftop to battery compartment.
2oldman
Explorer II
Aug 16, 2013
Solar basics
my solar panel install

200w on TC on luggage rack
100w solar on TC
the_bear_II
Explorer
Aug 16, 2013
Solar takes sun....what if you camp for a week and it rains or is overcast. I would carry a small portable generator for charging the batteries.

We used a 1000 watt Honda and it would charge the batteries plus run some lights and a TV/DVD player.

See this post
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27167365.cfm

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now researching solar power

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