Portable solar for limited current draw
I want to be able to generate enough power to run my laptop and keep a couple of lights inside the RV lit. 1. Will a 100 watt portable solar array do it? Or will I need 200? (Let's assume that I'll...
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Almot, sleeping in a kayak is amazing! I have to get out and walk around every hour.
We never used a generator either but lack of charging power and ignorance of battery state of charge measurement did result in our first RV batteries only lasting a year. I fully understand many RVers will need more than 100 watts. But I am sure 100 will be adequate for quite a bit of laptop use. The portable panel would also be useful charging on hikes and at powerless jobsites but every RV should have at least one panel on the roof or walls.
Ther you go ohhell - start easy with one panel or go all out with 2 or 3.
If the former, do keep additional panel(s) in mind when locating the first one and get a charge controller good for at least 10 amps.
I see at least one instance in this thread of posters confusing the units of electric current (amp) and energy (amp-hour) which is like cancer, spreading confusion to new people. I'm sure the "DC side of life" website can sort that out.
We never used a generator either but lack of charging power and ignorance of battery state of charge measurement did result in our first RV batteries only lasting a year. I fully understand many RVers will need more than 100 watts. But I am sure 100 will be adequate for quite a bit of laptop use. The portable panel would also be useful charging on hikes and at powerless jobsites but every RV should have at least one panel on the roof or walls.
Ther you go ohhell - start easy with one panel or go all out with 2 or 3.
If the former, do keep additional panel(s) in mind when locating the first one and get a charge controller good for at least 10 amps.
I see at least one instance in this thread of posters confusing the units of electric current (amp) and energy (amp-hour) which is like cancer, spreading confusion to new people. I'm sure the "DC side of life" website can sort that out.
