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Branson_N_Tucso's avatar
Branson_N_Tucso
Explorer II
Jun 10, 2021

Need a educational lesson on solar Panel

Need a lesson on solar panel.
Have a Fleetwood DP that has 4 6 volt house batteries in series and two 12 volt chassie batteries. The MH is not plug into shore power while sitting. I purchased on Amazon a 12 volt, 100 watt panel. Knowing very little about this subject, will this system be able to maintain my batteries. Nothing else on the MH will be on.

Thanks for the lession.
  • jdc1's avatar
    jdc1
    Explorer II
    100 watts at 12 volts = 8.333 amps. Just be sure the batteries are fully charged before you park it. I would get something you can add on to....a larger controller that would handle a few hundred watts.
  • A 100 watt panel will do fine for just maintaining your batteries. You most likely will have a problem doing both the chassis and house batteries at the same time because typically there is a battery isolator in the system. You could jumper around the isolator while in storage. You will also need a charge controller. A cheap PWM type would work fine.
  • You will need at least 200W to maintain your batteries. I’ve learned quite a bit from this guy, DIY Solar with Will Prouse.
    He has a lot of beginner videos that will give you a lot of info to start. Start from the beginning of his videos and go from there.

    Personally I think at least 400W is the way to go with a good MPPT charge controller.
  • This tutorial is fairly good.

    https://roadslesstraveled.us/rv-solar-power-basic-concepts-components-and-installation-tutorial/
  • A panel is not a solar system. Panels equaling at least one solar watt per battery amp, a controller from a known manufacturer and rated to at least the number amps put out at max by the panels, and adequately large wiring with your batteries is a solar system.