Jump to content


Photo
- - - - -

Anyone got solar?


  • Please log in to reply
6 replies to this topic

#1 cvc

cvc

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 35 posts

Posted 07 January 2007 - 06:26 PM

What wattage is your panel? Do you have a single 12 volt battery, two 12 volt batteries, or two 6 volt batteries? Does the system meet your demands? If you had it to do over, what would you change?

If you don't have solar, how do you replinish the battery(s) when camping or in storage?

Thanks for your input,
cvc
  • 0

#2 OutbacKamper

OutbacKamper

    Senior Member

  • Members
  • 198 posts
  • LocationKelowna, BC, Canada

Posted 08 January 2007 - 01:26 AM

Previous thread on this subject:
http://www.wanderthe...hread.php?t=153

Cheers
Mark
  • 0

#3 benburnett

benburnett

    Senior Member

  • Members
  • 771 posts

Posted 08 January 2007 - 05:11 AM

The one thing mentioned in that thread is the watt usage of a refer. If you have a 3 way that is not a concern as it will run on propane while you are camping.

Good info though. Will look into the differnt size panels tomorrow for you and get the different prices for them.

Sincerely,

Ben
www.allterraincampers.com
  • 0

#4 smileyd

smileyd

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 82 posts

Posted 08 January 2007 - 06:20 PM

We are gonna bring a really quiet generator to replenish our battery.

Dont forget about the converter/inverter
  • 0

#5 captainkettel

captainkettel

    Senior Member

  • Members
  • 185 posts

Posted 08 January 2007 - 07:44 PM

Only problem with running a propane fridge is I believe your rig has to be pretty much level or it doesn't work worth a darn. Unless the design has changed in the past couple of years. Also you can run a 12V fridge while your traveling and I know it's not recommended to use propane while your traveling...
  • 0

#6 jimjxsn

jimjxsn

    Senior Member

  • Members
  • 598 posts
  • LocationRoxborough Park or Buena Vista CO

Posted 08 January 2007 - 10:46 PM

If you don't have solar, how do you replinish the battery(s) when camping or in storage?


You could mount the camper battery in the truck as a second battery and it would be fully charged whenever you load the camper. The problem I had with the trailers is that whenever I got the trailers out of storage the battery was dead.
  • 0

#7 homemade

homemade

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 45 posts

Posted 10 January 2007 - 09:34 PM

For what it might be worth, probably not much:

I usually charge/maintain my batteries (I use for trolling motor and kids use with inverter to play video games when camping, nothing much more) at home with a small inexpensive 1.5amp slow charger, it turns itself off when the battery is fully charged and back on again when the charge drops, so the battery charge is mantained without overcharging or boiling off the battery. I think it cost <$30 from a local BiMart store.

I don't have any plans to add a solar panel to my camper but I have looked into them for home use (I have driveway gates that are powered by low voltage motors [GTO PRO] that run off 12v battery kept charged by transformer run from house with low voltage burried cable that rodents chewed thru - I checked into panels for that application). Surprisingly Costco online sells a variety of solar panels including a set of two 80 watt panels with charge control and inverter for about $900 as well as more and less expensive units that are advertised for RV or home use.
  • 0




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users