I do more boondock style camping then anything else.My 2 - 6V batteries do a good job keeping me powered up for the few things I need powered whilst camping....but I have a 7 day trip planned with my Dad in Northern Quebec and thought that a little Solar power help would be justified.I bought the Coleman 40W kit on sale at Canadian Tire for $113.00 and some wiring accessories on Amazon.My plan is to mount the controller in the forward basement compartment. From there it is about a 4 foot run to the batteries.I bought a weatherproof, marine, female 12V accessory plug that I will install just forward of the compartment door.I also purchased a 10 foot long cable with the correct SAE plug on one end and the male 12V accessory plug on the other.Plan is to set up the panel in the sunny spot....plug it in and let it assist in prolonging my battery charge.I am now waiting for:1) the trailer to be moved from winter stowage back into my driveway2) Warmer weather3) My Amazon order to show upI also bought an SAE polarity adapter as I'm not clear on how the 12V extension is wired. The Coleman wiring is quite clear.

40W will only whet your taste for solar. Stateside, Home Depot sells 100W Grape modules, on sale, for $100.

Forty solar watts will provide about two and a quarter amps per hour. Then times a possible five good sun hours a day is eleven and a quarter amps to the batteries. Not adequate at all for most RV trips IMO.An energy audit of your expected electric use is where you start, then multiply that by 1.5. That number determines the size of the battery/batteries...amp hours. And the amp hours of the batteries determines the solar watts necessary...and that determines the necessary charge controller. Do some reading.

I use a 100w portable panel to move around the campsite, to follow the sun. 100w is barely enough and my use is very light. I offset it using my genny on rainy days.40w is not a lot of solar. Here is a good project to use for additional 'how to' info. http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/23419900/

westend wrote:40W will only whet your taste for solar. Stateside, Home Depot sells 100W Grape modules, on sale, for $100.You are probably right.However...I haven't actually NEEDED any external power help up to now.....so this will be a bonus.Kinda like this years profit sharing check from work....a small bonus. :)However....the included controller will support an additional 40 W panel if I decide that more is required.

OK...80 watts is still a....toy. Your batteries need a full recharge every day for maximum life.

Solar Panel Project | Good Sam Community

deltabravo
Nomad
Oct 02, 2018
More: Solar repairs
deltabravo
Nomad
Oct 02, 2018
My Solar
FLY_4_FUN
Explorer
Sep 26, 2018
I like when projects work for people...and their distinct needs. My dad had a 75W panel on his 35' 5er and dry camped for days with just lights/pump in the California and Arizona deserts. He conserved, and didn't even have LED's but made it work for a small budget. I put solar on my rig just to keep batts up in storage with fridge running, and the occasional dry camping trip to supplement my Honda 2000. Glad ur system is doing its job, solar is a real bonus for rv's.

Daryll
_1nobby
Explorer
Sep 26, 2018
Yeti plus wrote:
Hey #1nobby,
CTC has that panel on sale again this week, even less than you paid.
If you wanted to double your panel power, it is only $90. That is far less than what I paid and even less than your $113.

40W On sale again this week....$79.99!

And the 150W is $249.99
_1nobby
Explorer
Sep 16, 2018
trail-explorer wrote:
doesn't matter, it's still 2.25 amps.
Per day
per minute
per second

You're right.
Doesn't matter.

2 - 40W panels are suiting the purpose that they were intended for.
time2roll
Nomad
Sep 12, 2018
Very nice :B
trail-explorer
Explorer
Sep 12, 2018
Lwiddis wrote:
Forty solar watts will provide about two and a quarter amps per hour.

Time doesn't matter, it's still 2.25 amps.
Per day
per minute
per second
GrandpaKip
Explorer II
Sep 11, 2018
Very nice...the panels and the view.
_1nobby
Explorer
Sep 11, 2018
After 7 days of boondocking in Northern Quebec I can safely say that my Solar Panel Project has proven to be a success.

I mounted a 12V accessory plug receptacle near a basement door.

I mounted the solar controller inside the basement with a 4 foot run to the 2 - 6V batteries.

I am using 2 - 40W panels with an octopus connector to a 20 foot SAE extension to a 12 - foot SAE to 12V accessory plug extension.

Those panels fully recharged the batteries over the course of a day.

Now, full disclosure, I don't have an inverter nor am I a power pig. Just normal usage of lights and waterpump with the heater thrown in a couple of evenings and mornings.

But I am impressed with the outcome. A nice addition to the PortaNobby.

PS.....this was my view in the morning....:)
_1nobby
Explorer
Apr 07, 2018
Yeti plus wrote:
Hey #1nobby,
CTC has that panel on sale again this week, even less than you paid.
If you wanted to double your panel power, it is only $90. That is far less than what I paid and even less than your $113.

I can't remember if that $113 was tax in, or not.

Anyways.....CTC always has the 40W on sale. For some reason the larger ones not so much.
Thanks for keeping your eyes open.

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