Our travel trailer is parked at a seasonal site over the summer and I am looking at picking up a solar panel to keep the battery topped up while we are away through the week. All that will be on while we are away is the fridge (running on propane) and the CO2/smoke detector. All I am after is a basic solar kit that will keep the battery up so we can keep the fridge up and running. Found a 55W solar kit from Costco for $250...will this suffice??? Tried searching but everything is a bit over-the-top for what I think I need. I have my Honda 3000W generator for when we are there, so I do not need anything fancy. Any input would be appreciated.

Why would you run the fridge on propane? Is it cheaper than the electric, which I assume you pay for (metered)? How often do you go to the seasonal site? Is it worth running the fridge in between?

We go to the site every weekend. Propane is cheap (get it filled for no charge through my work) but the thing is is that it takes quite a while for the fridge to cool off enough to throw in the groceries, ice, beer, etc. This way, we can also leave a few more things in the fridge while we are away rather than packing everything up. Being able to pull up to our site, throw the food in the nice cold fridge, grab a cold beer...just one less thing to mess with especially with 3 kids running around too.Guess I should mention our site does not have electricity...or I would, of course, just run on power.Forgot to mention that I am also considering 2 other options: adding another 12V battery (only downside is the extra weight as my trailer is heavy as it is) or switching over to dual 6v batteries (my father-in-law picked up 2 like new 6v batteries for $80 for the pair). Are there any downsides (beside extra weight) of switching to dual 6v batteries?

Wll your trailer is newer like mine and based on my experience having the trailer just sitting there using propane and running the fridge and parastic loads is going to be about an amp/hour or 24AH per day (its higher than you think)To replace 24AH/day I wouldn't go with anything less than 100W solar which is typcially good for 30 to 40 AH/day. I would also upgrade to twin 6volts in addition to solar so that if you have a couple cloudy days you have enough capacity to maintain.

Harbor freight has a 145 watt 3 panel kit with a cheap charge controller that I got on sale for $140.When we went camping on Memorial Day weekend we were dry camping. It was cold at night and we ran the heat all 3 nights, Used lights and water pump as needed, along with having the stereo playing most of the weekend.I'm not a solar Guru but I can say this got us through a long weekend with no issues at all, though my batteries were pretty weak when we packed up Monday to come home.Maybe this will do what you need it to.

I've run my unoccupied camper for a week with just the fridge and other parasitic loads going. I had 110 watts of solar. The battery was full when I returned. So, 110 watts should be enough. Less may do just fine too.

Solar Panel to keep battery charged while away...

ajb1205
Explorer
Jul 02, 2013
We go to the site every weekend. Propane is cheap (get it filled for no charge through my work) but the thing is is that it takes quite a while for the fridge to cool off enough to throw in the groceries, ice, beer, etc. This way, we can also leave a few more things in the fridge while we are away rather than packing everything up. Being able to pull up to our site, throw the food in the nice cold fridge, grab a cold beer...just one less thing to mess with especially with 3 kids running around too.

Guess I should mention our site does not have electricity...or I would, of course, just run on power.

Forgot to mention that I am also considering 2 other options: adding another 12V battery (only downside is the extra weight as my trailer is heavy as it is) or switching over to dual 6v batteries (my father-in-law picked up 2 like new 6v batteries for $80 for the pair). Are there any downsides (beside extra weight) of switching to dual 6v batteries?
Doug33
Explorer
Jul 02, 2013
Why would you run the fridge on propane? Is it cheaper than the electric, which I assume you pay for (metered)? How often do you go to the seasonal site? Is it worth running the fridge in between?

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Solar Panel to keep battery charged while away...

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