Solar generator and truck camping

[jaycocreek]

I got to try out a Jackery 1000 solar generator(22 pounds) and solar panels to see how they would work for a truck camper..Actually,I am pretty impressed..The ability to use the pure sinewave inverter built in with my microwave(700 watts) or a 5-cup coffee maker(650 watts) and the 3-quart Insta-Pot(700 watts) without messing with a gas generator on the go, is nice..I did have to dig out my 2200 watt generator out of the back seat to charge my AGM battery I forgot to charge before I left..I guess I forgot what a pain they can be sometimes, especially with a hurt back from picking up a big Spruce round wrong to make a step for the dog..LOL

Pulled over for to heat up some taco's for lunch with the solar generator..





My C-Pap 12 volt cord either went caput or my C-Pap machine is going out as it would not work on 12 volt and the wife panicked..So I plugged it into one of the three AC receptacles and saw my Phillips C-Pap only draws 22 watts(compared to 14 watts on DC) without the humidifier on..Problem solved and happy wife with the Jackery 1000..I plugged in the Engel fridge/freezer I have and it draws 36 watts and just one 100 watt Jackery solar panel keeps the refer going all day and ads juice to the lithium battery to boot..
finally there and set up.






Being brand new to solar, I had no idea what to expect..First time setting it up it put out 81 watts to the battery through a MPPT controller..The wind blew it down, so laying flat, like if it was mounted on the roof, put out only 45 watts..On average one 100 watt panel puts in about 55-60 watts to the built in MPPT controller,two panels puts in 125-130 watts,depending on the sun..

Chasing the sun..LOL







It's hard not to be in the shade in the forest and camps I use, so I was real hesitant as to how solar would work or if at all..Our camp only got 5 hours of sunlight on a good day, but one 100 watt solar panel recharged the Jackery solar station from 79% to 100% in less than that..There wasn't enough extension cables to use the other 100 watt panel..I have a total of 28 feet of cable from the panel to the MPPT controller built into it.

As far as I could go..



The 12 volt cigarette lighter charger puts in about 50 watts charging and the 120 volt AC charger does 160 while the solar depends..I found on AC it charges about 15% an hour/10% on solar..

All in all,this is pretty cool,maybe not for everyone,but some like myself in a TC..One can use it for his truck camper or the house when the power goes out,to make coffee/run the C-pap/the fan on a wood stove/instapot etc..It is nice in a TC just to pull over and use the microwave for lunch or brew up a cup of coffee without messing with a gen set then get back on the road..

The trip was fun until I wrenched my back and the puppy fell off the bed..LOL

[jimh406]

I couldn’t make it with only one battery even with all of my lights being LED unless it was summer. I guess I’d do a remote mount of a second/third battery to make sure I could run the furnace for a few days

I think the Jackery concept is fine, but I can’t think of any reason why I’d use one except for a minimal power outage which we don’t really have in my area. You still need a way to charge it. Amazon has the 500W with 50 dollars off for Prime members (450), at least.

Still, there is a reason that there are multiple solutions. We aren’t all the same. 😉

[theoldwizard1]

Freep wrote:
... I realized I can build my own portable solar generator for a lot cheaper than a manufactured solution.

Concur !

The Jackery is a very nice, pre-packaged system but (IMHO) it is over-priced, especially compared to a DIY solution.

Anyone thinking about building their own "solar generator" really needs to look into the 200AH - 280Ah LiFePO4 individual cells. Great bang for the buck.

[Lwiddis]

Plus $370 or so for the solar panels.

[jaycocreek]

Lwiddis wrote:
What's wrong with normal RV batteries recharged by portable solar panels and a $100 controller? And what good is a micro system? Either your RV batteries (or "generator") are recharged or they aren't. If they aren't recharged you need more panels, a sunny day, a better location etc.

My TC only has one battery and room for only one battery in the provided space..If you burp wrong,the battery drains(in humor) and yes,a portable solar setup would work if I was always camped in the sun but just one battery is hard to keep charged using it all the time..

Now if my TC had two batteries and room for two group 31's,things would not run down as quickly as just one group 27..This is where the Jackery comes into play for some people..Granted 1000 bucks is alot but it is a Lithium battery and does have a pure sine wave inverter with three outlets and a mppt controller..At 22 pounds total weight,my wife has no problem carrying around..

Another plus is when the power goes out at the house which happenes all to frequently lately.I can still have my coffee and heat up some stuff in the microwave to eat/run the TV or the router box for internet and ofcourse,lights..

I realize this is not for everyone,but it does come in handy for some,like me and my needs truck camping or in power outages..

After using solar now in the areas I hunt and fish in,solar panels on the roof just would not be worth my time or money..This setup does because it is mobile and you can chase the sun..:B:B

[Lwiddis]

The Jackery 1000 solar generator is a thousand bucks!

[Lwiddis]

What's wrong with normal RV batteries recharged by portable solar panels and a $100 controller? And what good is a micro system? Either your RV batteries (or "generator") are recharged or they aren't. If they aren't recharged you need more panels, a sunny day, a better location etc.

[Freep]

jaycocreek wrote:


I have read and read on solar but my worries are where I camp and can I get enough solar to do any good..This portable solar is answering alot of questions and the panels are 23& efficient..

I do like this setup so far..

A portable solution will be my next project for the same reasons you cite. That site(specifically the solar generators and micro systems forum) is where I realized I can build my own portable solar generator for a lot cheaper than a manufactured solution. Hopefully at one point I will be able to plug my little solar generator into the camper at the end of the day and top off the camper battery if needed. I will also use it to charge laptops in our mobile office.

Keep chasing the sun.

[jaycocreek]

noteven wrote:
I'm thinking maybe a DC-DC charger would be a good addition to my camper rig to provide efficient charging from the truck alternator as well.

Some models also have solar controller function.

Funny you mention that..After this last trip I do believe, I am also in the need for another charger for my AGM battery..The Noco charger was recommended by another TC owner..He uses a Noco 23 amp charger and says it charges his 100 AH Lithium battery in 2 hrs off his Yamaha 2000..

But decent steps are my first move.:B

[noteven]

I'm thinking maybe a DC-DC charger would be a good addition to my camper rig to provide efficient charging from the truck alternator as well.

Some models also have solar controller function.

[jaycocreek]

noteven wrote:
That's a nice rig jaycocreek

The u toob channel Hobotech often features presentations and testing of various portable power stations and panels.

Thanks..I have watched a bunch of HoboTechs video's,especially about solar/solar extensions/MC-4 or Anderson connections to whatever..LOL

He seems to be a pretty smart guy..

[ppine]

Glad it works for you. Using resistance heat from electricity seems like a strange way to power a camper. I like propane for heating things up. I don't use a micro wave even at home.

[jaycocreek]

Freep wrote:
Let me recommend DIYsolarforum.com I've learned a ton from that site.

I've been building up the solar and battery capabilities of my Lance. I don't have an inverter installed yet, but that's next when we get back to civilization.

I have read and read on solar but my worries are where I camp and can I get enough solar to do any good..This portable solar is answering alot of questions and the panels are 23& efficient..

I do like this setup so far..

[noteven]

That's a nice rig jaycocreek

The u toob channel Hobotech often features presentations and testing of various portable power stations and panels.

[Freep]

Let me recommend DIYsolarforum.com I've learned a ton from that site.

I've been building up the solar and battery capabilities of my Lance. I don't have an inverter installed yet, but that's next when we get back to civilization.