HELP WITH SOLAR PANELS - ENGERY FOR CAMPER?!

[thcguy12]

So we can't have a generator up at the mountain land (they are just too loud). We can't afford a quiet one.

Was thinking maybe doing some solar for a boost? We have maybe $200-$300 to spend and want a system that will absorb and store energy every day and then we can take advantage of two weeks or stored power for the one weekend we come up.

Is that how it works?
Any systems you suggest in price range?
Is the power absorbed by pannels used to charge your battery OR to actually plug into your camper and power things?

[pianotuna]

Use dicor to seal the holes and cover over the screw heads with it, and don't be stingy about application. There needs to be a mounting bracket. Use sealant under it and around the edges.

A bolt would not be a good choice.

thcguy12 wrote:
If I get solar panels to install on roof do I just screw them into the roof. Won't that cause a leak? Does there need to be a bolt on opposite side or will whatever the roof is made of hold them?

[westend]

I would suggest that you do some more research on how solar charging works and how it is implemented. You have been given excellent links to good information in this thread and your questions show that you are either not reading what's offered or you can't retain information.

Pictured threads of Forum member's solar installations

[JiminDenver]

THC

If lights are all you are in it for, get some of these. we used them before using the system i offered you on RVForum. They last forever on 3 AAA batteries, have a hook to hang them with and a magnet to stick them up. We used four in a 25 ft trailer.

click

[thcguy12]

I should probably know this but I don't since I barely own a screw driver.

If I get solar panels to install on roof do I just screw them into the roof. Won't that cause a leak? Does there need to be a bolt on opposite side or will whatever the roof is made of hold them?

[pianotuna]

Hi,

The 120 volt plugs need to be powered. Here are three ways:

A. Shore power
B. An inverter
C. An inverter generator

I prefer A and B.

thcguy12 wrote:
NOW ANOTHER QUESTION. Do the plugs inside the camper run off the battery or do you have to be plugged in?

[2oldman]

thcguy12 wrote:
NOW ANOTHER QUESTION. Do the plugs inside the camper run off the battery or do you have to be plugged in?

Please read 12v side of life. You were provided this link in another post of yours.

I'm beginning to think you're trolling. Either that or you've had too much thc.

[thcguy12]

I think I might get these since people say I need at least 100W pannel. These are simple plug and play:

http://www.eco-worthy.com/catalog/worthy-100w-foldable-polycrystalline-solar-suitcase-p-347.html

NOW ANOTHER QUESTION. Do the plugs inside the camper run off the battery or do you have to be plugged in?

[All_I_could_aff]

Another thing to keep in mind regarding watching TV or solar, get a modern LED TV... My 13 inch or only pull 65 Watts, my 19 inch only pulls 85 Watts. That will greatly extend your usable TV time

[scrubjaysnest]

Step 1 energy audit or how many Watt Hours, WH, of energy used per day
Step 2 divide WH per day by 5 hours of sun per day. This will give you a starting point for how much solar you need but because of system efficiency, cloudy days or less then 5 full hours of sun per day you will need to increase the amount of solar.
The new rule for solar is 80 to 100 watts of solar per 100AH of battery. Unless you are very conservative in usage it will probably turn out to be closer to 150 watts per 100AH of battery.

Some simple math:
your TV uses 3.6 amps * 120vac = 432 watts
multiply by hours of usage to get WH
A 100AH battery * 12 volt *0.5( you don't want to go below 50%) = 600 watts
This means you can watch the TV for slightly over an hour.
To replace the 600 watts in the battery over a 5 hour period requires a 120 watt panel.
None of the simple math above takes into account system efficiency.

You will be more successful with solar if you do step 1 first.

[frizzen]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

It may work for you but it is pretty pricey for what you get.

parkdep wrote:
This works very well, is easy to use and setup has worked for me Solar Panels

Renogy sells a 100 watt suitcase with controller for about $280 or without for $245. I run two of them into a separate controller and I actually get 240 watts in direct sunlight.

[westend]

thcguy12 wrote:
I mean when we leave we unhook the battery so no random things draining it. We will hook up the mini solar pannel (every review says it works great to keep battery charged up when not in use and can even charge from completely dead).

Maybe but if you run a battery completely dead a couple of times, it will be going to the battery hospice. You don't want to discharge a battery below 50% of it's capability.

Battery University

[pianotuna]

Hi,

It may work for you but it is pretty pricey for what you get.

parkdep wrote:
This works very well, is easy to use and setup has worked for me Solar Panels

[handye9]

It's all about your power consumption. You don't want your battery(s) to fall below 50 percent.

If you're only looking at weekend operation of the parasitic draws, along with a couple hours of lighting, you may get by with a single battery and a small solar panel. If you want to run your furnace, you may need multiple batteries and panels.

A catalytic heater, suitable for indoor use, could cut out the need for the furnace. Changing light bulbs to LEDs, will make a considerable cut in lighting power.

If you set up a battery bank, the batteries should be of same age, type, and state of charge. If you connect a good battery with a not so good battery, the low one will drag down the good one.

Using an inverter to power things like a microwave or power tools, will drain a battery in no time.

Here's a link that may help with calculating your power consumption. It will also show you some things about setting up a battery bank.

[thcguy12]

I mean when we leave we unhook the battery so no random things draining it. We will hook up the mini solar pannel (every review says it works great to keep battery charged up when not in use and can even charge from completely dead).