Max-4 wrote:
Ok, so when you guys are talking about a pair of 6v golf cart batteries you are not talking about having them charged by solar power? These 6v golfcart batteries are charged using a generator or something and can power this 12v fridge and led lights for a few days?
I am looking at adding a $1000 option for the factory 190w solar panel and upgrading to two group 27 batteries.
If I am going to stick with the larger 12v fridge and not go with the smaller 3 way propane. What is my options for running this while boondocking and NOT using solar? Is this what you were talking about with the 6v golfcart batteries, how are these charged?
Am I better off to not spend $1000 extra and not have Forest River drill holes in my roof from the factory? I am all about maintaining and keeping this trailer leak free for as long as possible.
Are the portable solar panels a better option than a roof mounted one?
I am also a little confused at the responses that say buy a few 6v golf cart batteries from what I'm seeing they are $300 a piece and with the money left over buy a generator with an invertor to top them off??? A generator is anywhere from $1000 to $2000 here no problem. So I'm $1500 to $2000 into that option vs a $850 solar package from the factory? Thanks
yes my four 6V batteries are charged by solar evey day. I would skip the 190 watt solar panel and get something after and do it, I put an 325 watt system on my camper for under 600 cdn. mind you if you cant do the work then you might not have a choice. I would ask them if you bring your own equipment how much they would charge to install it. I know most dealers deal with go power and 99.9% of thoes are just PWM controlers, you want to make sure you get a MPPT controler and a 24V solar panel. my 325 watt system I put on the camper which is a 24v MPPT setup puts out more charging AH in a day than the 12V 480 watt PWM setup I have on my 5th wheel. it is getting upgraded.
the Problem with generators is now you are packing the generator, extra gass and so on.. but the biggest issue is up here places are realy restricting when you can use them.. most of the places I have been two have two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening, so not realy made for charging batteries but rather runing your microwave when making dinner or the coffee pot and such.. a properly sized battery bank is key and if you go solar that has to be sized right.
for myself I do 80% of my camping with no power so it would be a no prainer for me for a few reasons, a 8CUFT fridge will carry enough food for over a week and they just sip propane. but there are several people who do boondock with the 12V fridges and I think the keey there is your capacity of the battery bank. if your going to boon dock for 2 to 3 days size it for 5 to 6 days of usage so you dont deep discharge it all the time. the best thing would be to do a energy audit and see how many AH your going to use in one day then you know how big of a battery bank to get. if you get it big enough you dont need solar or a genny, but you have to be able to charge it up when you get home. the solar you are talking about would extend time so you can get away with say a 3 to 4 day battery bank and probably get 5 to 6 days depending on the amount of sun. a large solar set up could make it so your batteries juat have to be sized for a few days of no sun, but hardly get used when there is sun. or you can get a generator and make noise in the forest...
Steve
