Portable Solar Solution?

NinerBikes, where did you get your solar panel and controller? How much did it cost?

loggenrock wrote:
I've had the Renogy portable suitcase for a couple seasons, and have been very pleased with it. Here in the East we don't necessarily chose to park under trees, we just have trees everywhere! In order to catch photons I end up moving the panel several times a day - no way could I get that type of solar gain with a roof mount system. I find durability/construction good. I also added extra cable to make it more portable. Our previous 'B' only had a single house battery - I could go 5 days without running the genny as long as I didn't run the heater much (power hog blower...). New rig has dual group 27's, so will be that much better off. One selling point is the case Renogy provides - really protects the panels! ST

Being from the NE I agree. Even in White Mtns NF in NH where I camp quite often you would have to move the portable quite often to find sun through the trees.

I've had the Renogy portable suitcase for a couple seasons, and have been very pleased with it. Here in the East we don't necessarily chose to park under trees, we just have trees everywhere! In order to catch photons I end up moving the panel several times a day - no way could I get that type of solar gain with a roof mount system. I find durability/construction good. I also added extra cable to make it more portable. Our previous 'B' only had a single house battery - I could go 5 days without running the genny as long as I didn't run the heater much (power hog blower...). New rig has dual group 27's, so will be that much better off. One selling point is the case Renogy provides - really protects the panels! ST

profdant139 wrote:
Someone mentioned whether installing solar on the roof would lower the value of the RV. Maybe I am wrong, but I think it would be just the opposite

Wasn't me for sure. I wrote the opposite too. I would imagine a buyer frowning on a solar on the roof of a new rig that is still within one year warranty - especially when install is particularly unsightly, no matter how well it works. But not when it's a used small trailer.

Someone mentioned whether installing solar on the roof would lower the value of the RV. Maybe I am wrong, but I think it would be just the opposite -- a good installation should make the RV more valuable.

(But I have a portable solar unit, so I really don't know!)

45W would extend boondocking by 1 day if you are frugal and the weather is cooperating.
120-150W would let them stay almost indefinitely, as long as it doesn't rain and/or they don't run the furnace too often. Replace furnace with space heater and it gets better yet.

Yes, "real solar" of larger size flat on roof beats portable hands down. I would only consider portable if there were serious problems with shading on the roof.

I went cheap, and got one of those 45w Harbor Freight kits when it was on sale. Yeah, it's big and bulky and doesn't produce a lot of power, but with my 2 6v batteries, I get the extra day boondocking that I need for our annual family campout. Now, =next= FW is going to have some =real= solar on it. :-)

Lyle

Flatfive wrote:
With a portable system, I won't have to pierce the roof and I can orient the panels to morning or afternoon sun. What have you found that works?

#1: Roof mounting is (usually) not a problem. If anything, it won't negatively affect the resale value of trailer that is more than 1 year old.

#2: Yes, you could orient the portable. More over, you'll HAVE to orient the portable because it will be tilted, therefore susceptible to drop in output when sun goes behind the panel. With flat on the roof there is no such problem. 22' trailer should have enough roof space for 300-400W. 300W flat will collect more energy than 150W tilted/oriented portable.

#3: With your stated needs anything over 140W will work. Larger portables will be more logistics pain, setting it up every time. Any portable would imply setting it up, be it big or small. You want panels outside, and yet you want controller covered from elements, which (usually) means placing it inside or in storage compartment. You also want to tie panel down so that wind wouldn't flip it up.

As simple as 150 watts of portable gets.

Golden_HVAC wrote:

You can buy a 140 watt solar panel for $229 at this place a few weeks ago. SunElec.com

I highly recommend SunElec.com for panels. I've purchased from them several times. Most of their panels are B grade. They've got a cosmetic blemish but output normal power and carry a full warranty.

If the panels will be shipped via freight instead of UPS, etc. Arrange to pick them up at the carrier terminal and shipping will cost about half as much.