Solar Kit
Just received my kit. 2 100w panels with a 30a pwm controller. Hoping it will recharge my 2 GC2's. I am alone in the trailer and power use is min. Any thoughts?
Forum Discussion
Update on my solar suitcase kit. I found that the 2 panels 50 watts put out max 5.5 amps at the house batteries. Of course this is without any load from the motorhome to take away the amps charging the batteries. I purchased an additional 30 watt panel. It came with cable and separate section with alligator clamps. I cutoff the alligator clamps and attached the short cable to the panel input connectors at the controller. Now I can easily attach or detach the cable as needed for additional panel use.
I ran my house batteries down 15 amps on my Xantrex battery monitor. I Disconnected all power from the batteries and attached the 100 watt suitcase kit. I let it run for a few minutes and it got up to 5.5 amps at the batteries per my Xantrex battery monitor and my clamp-on amp meter. I then attached the 30 watt panel and the amps jumped up to 7.5 amps, also verified on the battery monitor and clamp-on meter. I let it run and came back to check on it. The voltage climbed to 14.6 volts on the controller for panels and batteries. I checked at the batteries and got the same amps, but the volts were 13.7 volts.
I let it run some more and the controller amps dropped down to 5.5 amps and the volts remained at 14.6. I disconnected the 30 watt panel, and the amps stayed the same 5.5 amps. Interesting, the second panel does nothing to add once the amps dropped down to the 100 watt suitcase max output. Also, the voltage did drop by .2 volts.
The new 30 watt panel along with the suitcase kit fit nicely under the dinette seat out of the way. I think I made a good choice.
I ran my house batteries down 15 amps on my Xantrex battery monitor. I Disconnected all power from the batteries and attached the 100 watt suitcase kit. I let it run for a few minutes and it got up to 5.5 amps at the batteries per my Xantrex battery monitor and my clamp-on amp meter. I then attached the 30 watt panel and the amps jumped up to 7.5 amps, also verified on the battery monitor and clamp-on meter. I let it run and came back to check on it. The voltage climbed to 14.6 volts on the controller for panels and batteries. I checked at the batteries and got the same amps, but the volts were 13.7 volts.
I let it run some more and the controller amps dropped down to 5.5 amps and the volts remained at 14.6. I disconnected the 30 watt panel, and the amps stayed the same 5.5 amps. Interesting, the second panel does nothing to add once the amps dropped down to the 100 watt suitcase max output. Also, the voltage did drop by .2 volts.
The new 30 watt panel along with the suitcase kit fit nicely under the dinette seat out of the way. I think I made a good choice.
