Last week I had posted about options for powering a trailer off the grid. I plan of buying a used 20-30 foot camper trailer and would leave a trailer at my hunting camp, with no electric. I’m looking at different options like generator, gas, and battery/solar. I really want to AVOID a generator if possible. Basically, here is how I plan to use the trailer…2 days a week max. During the day, I won’t need power. During the night, I would want to power up a few lights, water pump for quick shower (hot water would be gas likely ?) Night time I may need heat sometimes . May use the TV a little at night. Would not be ever be using the refig, stove, microwave, etc. I like the idea of these solar kits. Based on what my usage above, how many watts would I need ? I found this 30 watt kit… http://www.mrsolar.com/page/MSOS/PROD/RV/MSRV-30#.UeRsFI0qYrfIs there something better? How many batteries and what type would I need? I’m thinking I can get away with just solar/battery and gas since I would use very little. I’m new to all this trailer stuff, appreciate any insight.

When we camp off the power grid for extended times it looks like we consume around 250-300WATTS per day of battery power..Our game plane is to run all of the 120VAC items we want to run from an INVERTER and all of the 12VDC items we want to run direct connected to the battery bank. The big drain occurs between 8PM and 11PM and with our 255AH battery bank we will see it drop down to its approximately 50% state of charge around 8AM each morning. This is when we run our 2KW Honda Generator to recharge the battery bank back up to its 90% charge state in a three hour run time using smart-mode charging technology. Once we get them back to 90% then we can do this all over again the next day/night run off the batteries.We actually run just about everything we do at a regular electric site except no air conditioner or high wattage microwave use.Using the solar panel during the day would charge the batteries up just fine. I'm thinking for what you are wanting to do 120WATT solar panel setup would probably be enough. Using the small 30Watt solar panels guys is wasting your money... You have to store the solar energy in batteries to be able to use them at night so why not just have a battery bank big enough to do what you want to do and then re-charge your battery bank to their 90% charge state using solar panels all day long. I still would want to have a generator along with me however- You will not always be able to use solar panels - might be cloudy for three or four days in a roll...I would think getting all setup using batteries is the first priority to be "successful" and then supplement the re-charging of the batteries using solar panels during the times when the sun is out strong. You may eventually get enough re-charge to skip many days of generator use.Batteries and Generator will always work for you. You don't need a very big generator - just big enough to run your on-board converter unit and let that re-charge your batteries. We are super successful doing this with our setup... Having solar panels is icing on the cake...Just some of my food for thoughts on this based on our camping off the power grid experiences...Its all in the planning...Roy Ken

http://www.mrsolar.com/page/MSOS/PROD/RV/MSRV-30#.UeRsFI0qYrf$180 for 30 watts = $6 per watt :(Here are some kits at $3 per watt or less:http://www.solarblvd.com/12-Volt-Solar-Kits :)And yes I think you will be far better served with 120 to 240 watts.Single group 27 might be plenty. Easy to add a second if needed.

Just a guess based on your intended use (2 days/3 nights max per week, couple hours of TV a night, minimal lighting or LED lights) with trailer parked in relatively good sun. I would start with twin 6volt GC2 batteries, 100 to 125 Watt solar panel, a 15 or 30 amp PWM controller and 300 MSW inverter plus necessary wire and materials. See how that goes and could add another 100Watt solar later if not quite enoughless than $500 all in cost with self install.A 30watt system is not much more than a battery maintainer (in fact 30 watt solar is what I use as a battery maintainer on my boat)

Hi,Forget about the 30 watt kit. It is VERY pricey.How many amp-hours is the battery bank?

ok, so I need at least 140watt kit. Probably 200 + watt would be best. Can you guys post a link to a complete kit? So all I need is the buy the kit and few deep cycle batteries?

Power off the grid - Solar? | Good Sam Community

time2roll
Nomad
Jul 15, 2013
http://www.mrsolar.com/page/MSOS/PROD/RV/MSRV-30#.UeRsFI0qYrf

$180 for 30 watts = $6 per watt :(

Here are some kits at $3 per watt or less:

http://www.solarblvd.com/12-Volt-Solar-Kits :)

And yes I think you will be far better served with 120 to 240 watts.
Single group 27 might be plenty. Easy to add a second if needed.
RoyB
Explorer II
Jul 15, 2013
When we camp off the power grid for extended times it looks like we consume around 250-300WATTS per day of battery power..

Our game plane is to run all of the 120VAC items we want to run from an INVERTER and all of the 12VDC items we want to run direct connected to the battery bank. The big drain occurs between 8PM and 11PM and with our 255AH battery bank we will see it drop down to its approximately 50% state of charge around 8AM each morning. This is when we run our 2KW Honda Generator to recharge the battery bank back up to its 90% charge state in a three hour run time using smart-mode charging technology. Once we get them back to 90% then we can do this all over again the next day/night run off the batteries.

We actually run just about everything we do at a regular electric site except no air conditioner or high wattage microwave use.

Using the solar panel during the day would charge the batteries up just fine. I'm thinking for what you are wanting to do 120WATT solar panel setup would probably be enough. Using the small 30Watt solar panels guys is wasting your money... You have to store the solar energy in batteries to be able to use them at night so why not just have a battery bank big enough to do what you want to do and then re-charge your battery bank to their 90% charge state using solar panels all day long. I still would want to have a generator along with me however- You will not always be able to use solar panels - might be cloudy for three or four days in a roll...

I would think getting all setup using batteries is the first priority to be "successful" and then supplement the re-charging of the batteries using solar panels during the times when the sun is out strong. You may eventually get enough re-charge to skip many days of generator use.

Batteries and Generator will always work for you. You don't need a very big generator - just big enough to run your on-board converter unit and let that re-charge your batteries. We are super successful doing this with our setup... Having solar panels is icing on the cake...

Just some of my food for thoughts on this based on our camping off the power grid experiences...

Its all in the planning...
Roy Ken

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