westend wrote:
One of the main factors in charging batteries when boondocking is the level of the goal. Most folks charge until the batteries are 80-90% charged in a daily regimen. That is because that last 10% takes a long time. This is where solar charging shines as a user can get to that 80-90% and count on the solar getting the last 10% done.
If you are committing to a year of travel, a single 100+W solar panel and small charge controller will greatly benefit your 12V system. When you park in storage, the solar panel can keep your batteries charged so that their longevity is the best. If you look at the ROI of a small solar system vs. the shortened interval of replacing batteries due to lack of charge, the solar system becomes quite attractive.
Thanks for this... AGM batteries, is there a problem if I go say from 60%-80% all the time and not really "top them off". My thought is I really do not "care" if I reach 100% if I have the battery time I need each day? Thanks again all! Very helpful to get the feel for it. Dont want to jump into solar until I know I can live in a toy hauler with to motorcycles:) C
