Solar Panel ... This a good one to start with for my needs?

EDIT

I have scrapped the 30 watt thing below and updated my post of what I'm thinking about now on page 2 ... here is what I posted and am thinking about ......

Okay ... now I'm thinking about something like this ...

100 Watt Fold-N-Go portable Solar Panel With Controller Built In

Not wanting to mount since I'm always in highly wooded area and something a little more portable to capture the sun is better.

I read at least 100 watts and this has the wattage plus the fold-able storage convenience and has the charge controller and everything built in.

Looks basically Plug N Play and that's what I would like.

Any thoughts???

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Solar Panel I'm Thinking Of Getting

As some may know I have been looking into option to keep my 2 batteries running during a long weekend of boondocking with the heater running all night and light etc. etc.

I will be bring the father in laws Honda as back up but my goal is to make it through a weekend without it.

Am am finding any way possible to get two 6v instead of 12v and to do so I will be cutting my LP door to fit in the larger battery box I think.

Now that I got the 2 6v batteries that will be running series I am starting to look for a solar panel that under 100 bucks to start off with that I can take on my trips and lay out in the sun (won't be mounting anything probably) near the trailer ... nice to be able to place it where the sun is I think instead of it being mounted since we camp in Heavy Heavy covered areas.

Reading some good reviews on this solar panel and I think I may give it a go.

Anyone use this brand or panel at all?

Just wanting something that can give me a descent extra recharge throughout the day to keep the batteries going for a good solid 3 days 2 nights.

Looking forward to some feedback on this and your thoughts on this panel for how I will be using it.

Thanks so much. :)

18 Replies

JiminDenver
Explorer II
May 17, 2013
Falcon

Kinda pricy but 100w will probably be enough considering your low usage, the LEDs and the 6v batteries for a weekend.

Mixed reviews

I am concerned about the controller being in the kit. My panels can put off some serious heat even after a short time in the sun. I'm not talking the kind of heat a little fan can dissipate either. My controller has a temp sensor like the kit too. When it gets hot, it clips the amps by more than half.

as a kit, if the controller dies is the kit toast?

15 feet isn't much cord. I have 25 ft and that's shorter than you think when trying to avoid the shadows of the trailer and awning. Also my 25 ft of cords is on the panel to controller side, not the controller to battery side. The longer the run from the controller to the batter, the bigger those wires need to be.

Those would be initial concerns but that said if it functions, it would probably do well for you. Personally I'd look for the components separately and get more for less money. It took minutes to tighten the screws on the controller for the battery and panel leads but now my set up is near as plug and play as the kit. Put the clamps on the battery and click the panel cords to their connectors and I'm done.
falconman515
Explorer
May 17, 2013
Okay ... now I'm thinking about something like this ...

100 Watt Fold-N-Go portable Solar Panel With Controller Built In

Not wanting to mount since I'm always in highly wooded area and something a little more portable to capture the sun is better.

I read at least 100 watts and this has the wattage plus the fold-able storage convenience and has the charge controller and everything built in.

Looks basically Plug N Play and that's what I would like.

Any thoughts???
falconman515
Explorer
Mar 16, 2013
smkettner wrote:
Conserving will also go a long way and the best mod to conserve IMO is LED lighting.
Less money than the panel and should save 30 to 50% of total usage.

LED mod is already done.
Jetta03
Explorer
Mar 16, 2013
falconman515 wrote:
Jetta03 wrote:
For your usage though 3 days 2 nights your 2 6volts may do the job on their own.

Ya I hope so ... that's why I'm looking at modifying my LP door to fit the extra 2" on the 6v boxes just to get the extra juice to hopefully last a weekend.

I just thought maybe a smaller basic solar panel could add a little extra to the batteries to maybe be safe ... heck even if it only adds 10% more power each day ... it's 10% I didn't have before.

Started looking and thought the OP link solar panel for $100 would be an option for my minimal use.

I wish I knew my usage but this trailer is new to me and I have never taken it out before at all! I may know better after the first couple trips ... just trying to prepare before the first trip so I don't run out of power in the middle of the night the last night or something.

I think your 2 6volts will have about 200 ah capacity, give or take. 10% recharge would be putting back 20ah per day. That 30 watt panel puts out 1.6 amps max. Say 8hrs in perfect conditions and you get about 12.8 ah charge, or closer to 5% of your capacity...in perfect conditions. Perhaps not enough to make much of a difference.
jake2250
Explorer
Mar 16, 2013
Falconman, that panel will do its job,, it will put back into the batteries. But the price per Watt is where its at as for performance. If you want to buy it to contribute then it will.
I bought an 80 watt panel and asked if it will be enough for boon docking. I got all sides of the issue, I learned ALLOT..
Bottom Line, that 80 watt panel did what it was supposed to,, 5 amps at full sun,, some days I returned thirty amp hours some days not,, but it always put power back when the sun was shining.
I bought another 80 and have 160 watts and am happy..
It all depends on your needs,, the 6vs will do a good job for weekend camping, and the panel will add some.. but you already know that. what you want to get out of it is the real question.. kinda like a bad cut,,, a band aid will work,, but you may need stitches depending on how bad it is....
westend
Explorer
Mar 16, 2013
Pianotuna posted this calculator in another thread:Solar spreadsheet calculator. I downloaded it and found it pretty helpful.
time2roll
Nomad
Mar 16, 2013
Conserving will also go a long way and the best mod to conserve IMO is LED lighting.
Less money than the panel and should save 30 to 50% of total usage.
KD4UPL
Explorer II
Mar 16, 2013
That panel is over $3 per watt! There are much better deals out there. You can buy panels in the 200 to 250 watt range for $1 a watt.
In my opinion spending $100 on that little panel is a waste of money. It's too small and too much money for it's size. A 100 to 150 watt panel would be more cost effective and more useful.
falconman515
Explorer
Mar 16, 2013
Jetta03 wrote:
For your usage though 3 days 2 nights your 2 6volts may do the job on their own.

Ya I hope so ... that's why I'm looking at modifying my LP door to fit the extra 2" on the 6v boxes just to get the extra juice to hopefully last a weekend.

I just thought maybe a smaller basic solar panel could add a little extra to the batteries to maybe be safe ... heck even if it only adds 10% more power each day ... it's 10% I didn't have before.

Started looking and thought the OP link solar panel for $100 would be an option for my minimal use.

I wish I knew my usage but this trailer is new to me and I have never taken it out before at all! I may know better after the first couple trips ... just trying to prepare before the first trip so I don't run out of power in the middle of the night the last night or something.
time2roll
Nomad
Mar 15, 2013
60w $87, twice the power for less money

Frankly I recommend the pair of 120w for $307. Get 100' of MC4 cable and you are plug and play.

Keep shopping there are other deals around.