So I missed out of the Amazon Solar deal but..

I question the controller and the mod sine wave.
IMO. two weak links in the package.

Check out the MPPT controllers and PSW inverters. PSW is clean electricity to operate sensitive digital electronics.
My 150 watt PSW was $100. It does what I need.

My previous camper had solar, when I sold the camper, the solar went with it. I had to bring along a Honda 2k anyway . I found it easier to use the genny to charge things as needed.
When fishing, the driving of the camper takes care of charging for me, moving from one spot to the next.
Half the time , it rains whenever I fish. Tree cover is another issue, making solar not too effective.

If I used my camper parked in sunny places all day for days or weeks at a time then I could see using solar. But for me, the only thing drawing on my 12 volt system is my fridge circuit board at 1/4 amp.
Everything else has toggle switches to disable 12v. things.

I found this read to be informative.(scroll down to get into the solar part of it)
It includes upgrades made to his system that he felt was needed once he got into using the system.
http://www.rv-dreams.com/our-rv-electrical.html

"The rule of thumb is to match your battery bank amp hour capacity with the total watts of your solar panel array." ( AM Solar)

anutami

I have a very different roof top configuration, your set up would not fit my available Footprint. SkiPro's mounting system could fit.

I paid $325 for my two 100w panels with no charger. Here are my specs



You can't go wrong with solar, pull the trigger and get em installed. I would worry abount an Inverter later.

I would encourage you to use your maggie rack system and install unistrut cross bars to elimate any drilling in your roof



You can also use them to mout your kayaks.

If you are not running the ac or microwave just leave the honda gen at home :)

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that I have the cables and connectors that came with the 60watt panels that the previous owner had installed then removed but gave to us when we purchased the lance

I like the first kit;
1. Mono VS Poly panels
2. I have no need for an inverter other than a small 600Watt I hook up for DW's hot rollers; under $40 at Wal-Mart.
3. This is a plug-n-play using the highest of quality cable and waterproof connections.

Get the kit, install and THEN buy the cables at the right length you need for the p-n-p set-up.
I bought this type so I could plug in at the roof and at the batteries if I wanted.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005FFWZ4O/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

To install panels to the roof, I used these;
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008LMIHNQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and glued them down to the roof. No holes, no leaks.

As far as the 'practical' application, I can tell you that you'll probably realize about 8.5amps of charging current during the best part of the day if panels are flat mounted to the roof.

So you fall in the Zone of; "Tool in your toolbelt." Sounds like it will be something that will help your enjoyment. Personally I would spend the money on something more specific and not this kit. But, you will end up spending more money putting a custom program together. But, it is nice to have it all together, with one of these kits, and run with it. That is why I posted a parts list, vendors, photos and DIY on my Facebook page for those that just want; "Just tell me what I need so I can go get it." I have a lot of respect for that, too.

b

Actually where this will really help out is at horse shows where we are dry camping out in the open trailer parking areas, Fishing areas where typically the parking areas have no tree cover and of course my desert trips like the one I am planning to Death valley this winter.

I view it as an adjunct to the Honda 2000, something that can stretch system charge so that I don't have to burn as much fuel or make that fuel I do carry last and extra day or so.

So I go out fishing for 5 hours, thats 5 hours of some charge going into the batteries vs no charge going in. At least that's my take.

While you are probably saving money, on the components as a group, you are going to compromise the quality of most of the parts. While you will spend more money to break the parts out and purchase seperately, at least you will get the correct sized cables and length you will need for your application doing it yourself than this kit.

Also, will Solar be workable for your style of camping? Where investing in better batteries, charger and cables meet your needs for the majority of your camping style? For Solar, you will need to camp in the sun and in warm country that will make your camper hotter. Winter use these will be fairly useless as you will need twice the amount of the watts in this kit, to meet the same result in the warmer season they provide, even if you tilt them. Then you have clouds, Pacific Inversion layer, shadows. While Solar is great, and a life changer for me, one needs to decide is this something that will benefit their TC use, another tool in the toolbelt to bring into use when needed or something you might think you need and find out later you might have done better by doing something different or with different parts.

b