Portable Solar Panel

I like the idea of the portable panels. Why couldn't a rack of some sort be made to hold the panel on the front hood of the truck while driving? If not mounted too high, it should not interfere with the driver's sight line too much. Would the wind be too strong on the hood? Just wondering.

Del

The portable units are very handy. We have twin 110watt foldable that we sit on the roof and nested into the roof rack. It is up and out of the way, especially when we are at field days and have a lot of people walking around.
Just have to remember to pull it down before we break camp.

~DJ~ wrote:
I just purchased one also. 100 watt Renogy suitcase from Amazon. $280. Works extremely well but the real test will be with my TC and compressor fridge!!

I purchased the same solar suitcase several years ago and it has been excellent solution for off grid camping. I also have a compressor fridge and on a seven day hunting trip the solar kept the batteries fully charged with no issues. I did adjust the panel several times a day to keep it in full sun and the weather was mostly good/sunny.

The Renogy is a quality product and comes with a nice "suitcase" for storage and protection. Folded up it fits nicely behind the couch in my smallish FWC camper.

We have both 100 watts on the front part of the roof and a 50 watt portable that we move around. Even using the furnace at night we have never ran out of battery power. The portable I cable lock it to the truck step when we are out hiking during the day.

I purchased a Renogy 165(?) W panel a couple of years ago and have not used my generator since (even in Winter); It's a portable panel, so I have to re-direct it a couple of times per day to make sure it's receiving direct sunlight.

What really surprised me was that I was camping for 3 days in overcast skies and the panel was keeping the batteries above 12.6 V (but only just). I did switch the fridge off at night to preserve as much energy as possible. On the 4th day the sun came out and battery voltage went up to 13.7.

I was quite impressed with the solar panel and it's ability to produce electricity even when there is no sunshine.

Would having both roof and portable solar panels would be ideal?
A friend has the suitcase solar unit and he really likes it.

Could always bungee cord it to the roof while traveling!!! But I all ready have 100 on the TC and 150 on the TT. This guy comes out from the shade and can follow the sun!! :C

I thought semiportable might be good. Move from roof as needed.

2lazy4U wrote:
I've had several portable panels and just bought a new Renogy 120W recently. I like the ability to park where you want (in the shade) and still be able to generate energy, something you can't do when it's on the roof.

I have about 30% of my roof covered in solar panels, so basically 30% of it is always in the shade.

I hate the thought of portable solar panels, that will not work at all while driving down the road, and will not work until you unpack and plug them in. I can get about 100 AH from my system daily, and it is also great that it keeps the battery full while in storage.

Also many times the fixed panels are lower cost. This place has a 100 watt panel with aluminum frame for around $120. SunElec.com

Your CO detector, the propane detector and refrigerator (gas type) will get together and use about 35 amp hours daily. This is a little more than the 100 watt panel will make in a day.

Have fun dry camping!

Fred.

2lazy4U wrote:
I've had several portable panels and just bought a new Renogy 120W recently. I like the ability to park where you want (in the shade) and still be able to generate energy, something you can't do when it's on the roof.

That's my thought as well.