jimh425 wrote:
I'm sure I'm underpowered compared to the rest of you at only 2 Group 24 12V batteries. I can't fit larger batteries, but I don't really seem to need them. I'm thinking about adding solar, but I generally only need a bit of generator power or driving to top my batteries off. I don't think that I'm that unusual with the advent of running LED lights.
So, back to the question, why do you have 6Vs and what do you use that uses that much 12V power or if you have both 6Vs and solar, so what do you do with all of that power?
You have about 50 - 85 usable amp hours of battery power with your set-up. So if you dry camp for 3 days, the battery will be depleted by 50% or a little more even if you never turn on the furnace, light, or TV. Just the CO meter, propane detector and refrigerator can consume 100 AH in 3 days.
With a solar panel - say 120 - 140 watts, you will not need to upgrade to heavier batteries, as you can replace all the energy that you would consume in one day in just 5-6 hours of full sun. So you will not need to carry a pair of golf cart batteries at 67 pounds each. The pair of 35 pound batteries is plenty for your needs, if you can recharge them daily with a solar panel.
Get a 120 - 140 watt panel - they can be bought for only about $229 now.
SunElec.com Look for a 12 volt panel with a frame, so you can attach it to your roof.
Then buy a PWM controller for about $15 at this website. Wait about 3 weeks for it to arrive, but you will save $50 in the cost by waiting.
AliExpress.com Search for 20 amp PWM solar controller. Then search by lowest price first, and free shipping. There are many vendors out there, with $10 - $15 controllers.
Easy and silent, and you will not need to carry around a 100 pound generator either.
Fred.
