Portable solar panel

[boulderado]

We're not doing much off-the-grid camping, but occasionally we venture off the beaten path and promptly run out of juice with our Interstate class 27 deep cycle 🙂

We're considering making some upgrades to the trailer (including solar panels, a better converter, AGM etc.), but aren't quite ready to commit (wife might want new trailer instead).

So in the meantime I am looking for a portable panel that will keep the battery charged up enough to run the fridge 24/7, water pump and a few halogen bulbs at night. We're mostly out here in the West so plenty of sunshine during summer months.

[red31]

Almot wrote:

100W Renogy suitcases come with low-end controllers and poor SAE connectors (used to be Anderson connectors). As an easy introduction to solar it will probably work.

:?

[Almot]

Count on spending 25-35 AH a day on fridge, lights and pumps. Battery gives back only 80% of what you have put in. So the panel should harvest 10-15% more because some of this energy will go into battery in daytime and then will be taken from battery in the night, with losses. In other words, you need to harvest 35-40 AH.

100W is the bare minimum. In May-June, and if tilted, and if rotated towards the sun couple times a day, and if in the open space, it should harvest 30-35 AH a day in Denboulder area.

Too many "ifs" to my taste.

100W Renogy suitcases come with low-end controllers and poor SAE connectors (used to be Anderson connectors). As an easy introduction to solar it will probably work. You will need to do some assembling/wiring after you've unboxed it.

Upgrading to LED lights is very desirable, in this scenario.

Upgrading to AGM will not add any capacity. The only benefits would be slow self-discharge if you leave them unattended for +3 months, and the ability to handle high loads - that you don't have anyway.

[xyzHollyxyz]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
School of hard knocks...

An ice chest keeps veggies crisper and nicer 3X as long. Wish a Pelican would drop a 70 quart YETI on my roof (sigh)...

I bought the smallest Yeti (the first above the Roadie), and I can barely lift it EMPTY! So, good luck with that 70 Qt. on your roof!! Er, I mean, on the floor, once it falls through your roof! 😉

I plan to keep it in the backseat of the truck, OR chained with an alarm cable under the trailer...yes, I bet that Yeti would definitely develop legs and take a walk.

[wbwood]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
School of hard knocks...

An ice chest keeps veggies crisper and nicer 3X as long. Wish a Pelican would drop a 70 quart YETI on my roof (sigh)...

I would much rather have my rv fridge and freezer.... we stopped carrying coolers years ago...you gotta find a place to store them, usually in the way anyways...gotta go get ice for them...so then you gotta carry it to the vehicle to go get ice or by the time you bring the ice back, it's already starting to melt.And then if you put it outside, you gotta worry about it walking off...by animals or people (had someone take ours from underneath a TT). Fridge on propane and a little battery power for the panel os so much easier....

[MEXICOWANDERER]

School of hard knocks...

An ice chest keeps veggies crisper and nicer 3X as long. Wish a Pelican would drop a 70 quart YETI on my roof (sigh)...

[RJsfishin]

Quote:
Good points. Definitely both will help conserve your batteries
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Here I thought the question was about portable solar panel !
Buy a used suitcase, lots for sale. People hate them after they have them a short while

[4aSong]

SoundGuy wrote:

boulderado wrote:
So in the meantime I am looking for a portable panel that will keep the battery charged up enough to run the fridge 24/7, water pump and a few halogen bulbs at night.

Since conservation is the name of the game when dry camping could you not run LED bulbs instead of halogen? :h

Also, if your fridge has a climate control circuit turning it off when dry camping will further conserve your limited battery reserve.

Good points. Definitely both will help conserve your batteries.

[SoundGuy]

boulderado wrote:
So in the meantime I am looking for a portable panel that will keep the battery charged up enough to run the fridge 24/7, water pump and a few halogen bulbs at night.

Since conservation is the name of the game when dry camping could you not run LED bulbs instead of halogen? :h

Also, if your fridge has a climate control circuit turning it off when dry camping will further conserve your limited battery reserve.

[4aSong]

wbwood wrote:
Renogy 100watt solar suitcase....

X2

[wbwood]

Renogy 100watt solar suitcase....