TC off the grid, and solar question
when we get the new camper, we might try doing 2-5 nights without electric this fall out at the beach. Sure I will have a generator but I only want to use it if AC is needed. So looking at what ma...
Forum Discussion
A panel usually provides 6 amps of output so a 30 amp controller can handle up to 5 panels. These controllers are made for home use and not for RV's so they are more than enough for a camper.
Batteries will be wired so as to accept 14 volts from the controller. Only one set of wires will be going from the controller to the batteries. As the lowest voltage will be the outputs from the controller it is best to place it as close to the batteries as practical.
Big difference in controllers is that some provide for a remote digital control and monitor (like the IPNremote from Blue Sky) and some require 12ga wires from the panels as they are designed for residential and commercial use where there are many more panels and 20x the output voltage from each string. The Blue Sky controllers are an exception as they will take much larger gauge wires without the need for jumpers.
For a camper that will be used for 3-4 days of boondocking you should be able to get by with 2 batteries and 220 AH at 12 volts of battery bank. That provides 110 AH of draw down before you get them to 50% DOD. If on day 4 you are driving home and the batteries are at 50% and charging that is good enough and you do not need a generator or solar panel(s).
The biggest problem I found with my camper was that the Lance battery charge level monitor was off by 20% so the batteries would show as being at 100% when they really were only at 80% charge level. If I was not adding the Blue Sky IPNremote I would have installed a Trimetric digital charge meter.
Batteries will be wired so as to accept 14 volts from the controller. Only one set of wires will be going from the controller to the batteries. As the lowest voltage will be the outputs from the controller it is best to place it as close to the batteries as practical.
Big difference in controllers is that some provide for a remote digital control and monitor (like the IPNremote from Blue Sky) and some require 12ga wires from the panels as they are designed for residential and commercial use where there are many more panels and 20x the output voltage from each string. The Blue Sky controllers are an exception as they will take much larger gauge wires without the need for jumpers.
For a camper that will be used for 3-4 days of boondocking you should be able to get by with 2 batteries and 220 AH at 12 volts of battery bank. That provides 110 AH of draw down before you get them to 50% DOD. If on day 4 you are driving home and the batteries are at 50% and charging that is good enough and you do not need a generator or solar panel(s).
The biggest problem I found with my camper was that the Lance battery charge level monitor was off by 20% so the batteries would show as being at 100% when they really were only at 80% charge level. If I was not adding the Blue Sky IPNremote I would have installed a Trimetric digital charge meter.
