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!

[profdant139]

For whatever it's worth, we have a very similar trailer to yours, and we love our 120 watt portable -- it tops up the batteries almost every day. Point it south and leave it there.

Wind is a concern, but we put big rocks into the support struts. After many years of use, no problems.

By the way, our panel is a no-name knock-off of the Renogy. We got lucky -- the panel is great -- but if you want to be sure of high quality, buy a name brand.

If you boondock in heavy shade (which we do), you may want an extra long power cable. Use thick wire -- like 10 gauge -- to avoid voltage drop. Our cable is 50 feet long -- so the trailer is in the shade and the panel is in the sun.

If you are in really deep shade, and you have a spare battery, put the panel and the battery out in a sunny patch, away from your trailer. We've had to do that once or twice a year.

After the spare is charged, just swap out your depleted battery.

[RickLight]

I worked some aircraft cable (wire rope) into the extended wire run. It keeps the kids and idiots honest.

[ktmrfs]

RickLight wrote:

Lwiddis wrote:
Portable solar panels = set up in morning (my roof mounted panels are already working), watch over, move around. Go to town for lunch after putting panels away (my roof mounted panels continue to work). Return from lunch and put panels out. Watch over, move around. Near sunset, put panels away. Repeat every day.

Compared to my roof panels that almost never work, because we camp in shade. And having a trailer means going out for the day doesn't involve repacking anything.

But seriously,
I have an AcoPower 120W soft style. 10lbs and easy to store. I don't expect it to fill my batteries, just extend my time without a generator.

yes, the big advantage of portable panels. Park in your favorite spot,put the panels in the ideal solar location. I also have roof panels, they usually work part of the day at a sub optimum (e.g. flat) orientation but most of the time are in shade, whilst the portable panels are out aimed south and a appropriate angle gatheting all the sunshine they can.

could they grow legs? yes, but seriously in our family history dating back to the 1950's none of our family has ever had anything disappear whilst camping.

[RickLight]

Lwiddis wrote:
Portable solar panels = set up in morning (my roof mounted panels are already working), watch over, move around. Go to town for lunch after putting panels away (my roof mounted panels continue to work). Return from lunch and put panels out. Watch over, move around. Near sunset, put panels away. Repeat every day.

Compared to my roof panels that almost never work, because we camp in shade. And having a trailer means going out for the day doesn't involve repacking anything.

But seriously,
I have an AcoPower 120W soft style. 10lbs and easy to store. I don't expect it to fill my batteries, just extend my time without a generator.

[pianotuna]

Size is particular worrisome in windy conditions.

[ktmrfs]

Gdetrailer wrote:
Might also want to take into consideration the physical size, weight of the panels for storing, moving and setting up..

Higher wattage panels are pretty large to handle and get heavy quick, can make finding a storage space and moving them around a challenge.

Laying them flat on the ground or partially open standing up, while it may work, may not be ideal for max harvest of energy leading to needing even more panels..

our 160w portable panels are about as large and heavy as I want to lug around or have a place to store. so, yes size does matter!

One advantage of portable panels is the ability to aim them for max solar gain, which in most cases means NOT laying them flat on the ground as mentioned, A good starting point is to face the panel south and angle them at about the latitude you are at, an easy way to aim them is to take a round tube (empty TP tube) put stand it on the panel and aim the panel for no shadow from the tube.

[Gdetrailer]

Might also want to take into consideration the physical size, weight of the panels for storing, moving and setting up..

Higher wattage panels are pretty large to handle and get heavy quick, can make finding a storage space and moving them around a challenge.

Laying them flat on the ground or partially open standing up, while it may work, may not be ideal for max harvest of energy leading to needing even more panels..

[Lwiddis]

Portable solar panels = set up in morning (my roof mounted panels are already working), watch over, move around. Go to town for lunch after putting panels away (my roof mounted panels continue to work). Return from lunch and put panels out. Watch over, move around. Near sunset, put panels away. Repeat every day.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

Start with an energy audit.

[ktmrfs]

renogy makes some nice folding portable panels, go for what you can store and afford, and all the portable panels I've seen have a PWM controller ON the panel you must keep the cable from the panel to the trailer as short as possible or charging current will drop like a rock. If you want a run longer than the cable with the panel remove the controller from the panel and mount it in the RV and run #12 or #10 wire from the panel to the controller.

I have 3 renogy 160W portable panels and a MPPT controller, give us all the solar we need.

[time2roll]

200 watts minimum. Connect the controller close to the battery. Avoid all shade.

[valhalla360]

Go thru and estimate how long each electrical device will be expected to run. Then look on the label and find how many watts it draws while running (make sure to dig around and find everything that will be running).

Multiply watts by duration and total up to get watt-hours.

A solar panel that isn't shaded will generally produce 4-5 times it's rated wattage in watt-hours (ie: 100w panel will generate around 400w-hr).

Assuming you will be boondocking mulitple days in a row, you will need sufficient panels to replace your daily usage.

You also need a battery bank of sufficient size. If you will be using 600w-hr over the night and your battery bank only holds 300w-hr, doesn't matter what size solar array you have.

PS: Lead-Acid batteries shouldn't be drawn below 50%, so start assuming only have the rating is available for use.

[wildtoad]

Might want to advise as to what you would expect the solar to support.

[IAMICHABOD]

I use the Renolgy 100 Watt suitcase,comes with a nice case,easy to store.

I made up easy plugins for it,easy to use and move around and keeps the batteries topped of nicely.