solar question

moonlightrunner,

What charge controller are you planning on using?

Recently bought a used truck camper. It will have solar panels on it. Batteries are going to cost more than the panels. I operate on the "thumb rule" of 100W of solar panel for each 100AH of usable battery (or 200ah rated). Just going with Harbor Freight's new 100W panel. Hard to beat the price. $100 less 20% employee discount. The first panel was bought on sale PLUS the 20% discount which brought it down to about $70 or so (can't remember exactly). Unfortunately they only had one in the store and the sale ended before anymore were shipped in. For my use, the solar panels will be powering a small AC refrigerator during the day (on a timer so it shuts down at night). And keeping the batteries up. The truck/camper combo will be a daily driver and used for work shifts that end at midnight (or later) and the next shift is at 7:30AM or when the roads are too icy to risk driving in the wee hours. So the truck/camper will be under parking lot lights most nights. Plus it is to haul the dog around during the day so she's not left home alone. Solar battery chargers (the most accurate description of "solar" power systems) are not a good fit for everyone, despite what many proponents claim. The truck will eventually have 4 (6V 215AH GC-2) batteries plus 4 (100Watt) solar panels. For the stated use, solar will likely be a good fit.

https://www.harborfreight.com/100-watt-monocrystalline-solar-panel-57325.html

I have about 100' of 4ga cable for my solar panels so I can too chase the sun but stay in the shade. Works for me.

I also have portable panels because of the places I camp mostly, which are mostly covered with tree's...I hardly ever camp in the sun..It works and gives me something to do when I am not getting firewood...Chasin' the sun..lol

Solar! I have one 100W panel on the roof and (now) two 100W panels in a suitcase I made myself. It works for me very well. I don't use any AC in the TC.

I used this article for my DIY suitcase with some modifications. For example, I attached the hinges so the front part of the panels face each other when close for more protection. And I set up the wiring differently. The price is right.

https://www.adventurousway.com/blog/diy-portable-solar-panel

I’ll throw in my two cents.

When we camped in the wet side of the Pacific Northwest in Winter in the forest in the rain our solar did nothing. However, just about everywhere else it has allowed us to not use our generator except for ac when boondockking. We have 385 watts on the roof and I’m glad we do.

I have a 21' Class B and have portable solar panels; a 120 watt suitcase and another 60 watt I just got. I have some extension cables for them so I can park in the shade and put the panels in the sun. It works well.

OP is still here ,reading each and every reply!

Buzzcut1 wrote:
cost: when I did my install in 2015 (or there about) 200 watts of solar with hardware and controller ran me $345. I did the install myself

Thankfully the cost of solar has gone down considerably.

My first 100W panel in late 90's early 00's cost ~$700! Not to many years before I bought solar was costing ~$10 a watt. I don't recall the cost of the controller. I did the complete install myself.

As I recall from those early years was that during the summer months while parked in full sun my single 100Ah FLA was fully recharged at least by Noon or 2PM each day.

At the time a EF1000is Yamaha inverter generator cost ~$800. While I would eventually end up getting a Yamaha generator (for the winter months) I have no regrets on investing in solar.

Obviously everybody's MMV.


- Mark0.

cost: when I did my install in 2015 (or there about) 200 watts of solar with hardware and controller ran me $345. I did the install myself