Portable Solar Panels

[MMEvans]

Hi! We are new to RVing and have a lot to learn! We have a 13 foot KZ Sportsman and we are interested in getting a portable solar panel so we can go places where electricity is not available. Anyone have a suggestion on what size/make we should look for? It is a small trailer and there are just 2 of us.

Thank you!

[Denrclif]

The size of the solar panel will determine how much power it can generate. For a small trailer with just two people, a 100-200 watt solar panel should be sufficient. Also Portable rv solar panel can be heavy, so it is important to choose one that is lightweight and easy to move.

[lane_hog]

Portables are great, but I prefer to store mine on the roof permanently.

Our single panel (right now) is a whopping 130W. It's been more than adequate for our family of 4-5 over the 18 years we've had it, but we also have a very light electrical footprint.

We rarely run the furnace, and aside from inside LED lights/fridge circuit board while running off propane/phone recharging/~2 hours of TV after dark, we simply don't use a lot of power when on 12V and stationary. That's a conscious choice. Others need more than that due to things like a 110v fridge, CPAP, or inability to live without their Keurig...

It doesn't take a whole lot of direct sun to recharge our lead acid batteries -- usually topped by mid-day. And because our storage space is in mostly full sun, our batteries stay topped off all winter.

[ktmrfs]

deltabravo wrote:

RickLight wrote:
Any thoughts on what makes the Xantrex worth 3-5 times the price of a similar Renogy?

The name brand. The fact they are thin, frameless with a built in case.

The cost wouldn't deter me because I have limited space to store them. I could easily stash then in the back seat of the truck along with all the other gear I store back there. A folding frame style panel in a case would never fit.
The seats are always folded up, then I have plastic totes back there. The slim Xantrex panels would fit between to totes and the folder up back seat, which stores vertical against the back of the cab.

I wish mfg selling panels with PWM controllers would list the ACTUAL max watts the panel will supply. These "100W" panels are really only a 60-70W panel max with PWM controller, 13-14V@ 5.5A Only with a MPPT controller will you get 100W.

[deltabravo]

RickLight wrote:
Any thoughts on what makes the Xantrex worth 3-5 times the price of a similar Renogy?

The name brand. The fact they are thin, frameless with a built in case.

The cost wouldn't deter me because I have limited space to store them. I could easily stash then in the back seat of the truck along with all the other gear I store back there. A folding frame style panel in a case would never fit.
The seats are always folded up, then I have plastic totes back there. The slim Xantrex panels would fit between to totes and the folder up back seat, which stores vertical against the back of the cab.

[RickLight]

Any thoughts on what makes the Xantrex worth 3-5 times the price of a similar Renogy?

[deltabravo]

Xantrex specs say 9.81 lbs.

The thing I like is how thin they are when folded up.

[ktmrfs]

Skibane wrote:
^Xantrex's website claims that it's 50% lighter, but the actual weight shown on Amazon's website is only 4 pounds.

Ordinary 100 watt panels are around 14 pounds, so that's a pretty significant weight savings!

take the amazon numbers with a good "grain of salt" posting on weights on amazon often is not correct. sometimes it shipping weight, sometimes it has no relation to item weight.

[Skibane]

^Xantrex's website claims that it's 50% lighter, but the actual weight shown on Amazon's website is only 4 pounds.

Ordinary 100 watt panels are around 14 pounds, so that's a pretty significant weight savings!

[deltabravo]

Xantrex has some nice portable panels.
Part number 783-0100-01

[Skibane]

Incidentally, Renogy's RV Tilt-Mount Solar Panel Brackets work great for setting a panel directly on the ground.

The quality of their metalwork and fasteners is quite good - better than most folks could build from scratch for the same money.

[Blazing_Zippers]

I bought two 100 watt Renogy panels and a 400 watt MPPT controler. I made a suitcase set up out of the panels---the glass sides closed on each other to avoid damage. The two panels weigh about 43 pounds. Then I have a Renogy 40 foot cable that plugs into the trailer and goes to the controller.
I found an old square PVC fence post that I cut in half longways, and lay that in the bed of the truck--to store or carry the panels, I slide the closed panels into the PVC really easily.
I fashioned some folding legs to stand the panels up somewhat when using them.
The system actually works pretty well and I have about $475.00 invested in it.

[Bobbo]

Skibane wrote:

Now, THAT, is genius. I have been looking for a way to weatherproof an MPPT controller for a portable panel. Thank you.

[Skibane]

I found that one 100 watt panel is sufficient for my particular needs. I don't run a microwave oven or have any other large electrical loads.

Being able to move the panel to avoid shade is a HUGE benefit - allows one panel to produce the same amount of power as a dozen roof-mounted panels in partial shade.

My 17' Casita isn't factory-equipped with a solar power connector, so I just fed solar power to the house battery through the 7-pin hitch connector instead:



The panel is connected to this "solar charge box" through approx. 50 feet of wire, allowing the panel to located some distance away from the trailer.

Total cost of the "charge box" with the Renogy charge controller, 7-pin receptacle, wire, etc. is maybe $60.

[MMEvans]

Thank you! All very helpful comments! 🙂