Camping Solar Set ups

[Romer]

I have solar on my Kimberley Karavan and that is awesome letting me keep my Lithium batteries charged for days at a time

Some times I go with my Roof Top tent and have debated on a small solar setup. I do have dual batteries and when moving every few days that has kept the fridge running 24 hrs with no issues

I am curious what some members have for small setups and what they can do with them. How small do they pack as well.

This thread is about collecting what folks have already and a good place to ask questions.

 

[DaveInDenver]

I assembled a pair of 50 watt panels into a suitcase that feeds a controller (I use a Morningstar Sun Saver 15 MPPT) that I can plug into a panel either under the hood or in the back wall of the bed.

It made the most sense for me because of the way the 'Nest works mounting a panel fast to it renders it useless when deployed. Plus doing it this way allowed me to tweak tilt and aim, so my panel can follow the sun all day and any time of year.

This was Mk1, just one panel. Which I found was OK for maintaining but over the course of a day wasn't quite enough if I needed to put significant charge back in. I only run the fridge, which consumes about 1.5 A-hr, so about 36 A-hr per day (although I actually only see about 24ish as it rarely runs all night except on the White Rim in August).

A 50W panel was giving me generally only about 25 to 30 A-hr per day. The Mk2 100W suitcase on most days gets me back to float from overnight draw by lunch.

 

[Romer]

Dave, I have an Anderson connector tied to my battery setup to connect the trailer while driving. Can I plug that MPPT controller in there and will it charge the battery with what you described? I actually have an MPPT controller I pulled out of the camper as I wanted one with Blue tooth so I could see how the panels were doing

 

[fyffer]

As result of a previous incident had to modify an existing set up (Marco). Running a new 100 W renogy solar panel (cables) permanently mounted (semi hidden) beneath my roof rack. To a new waterproof (renogy) PWM controller under the Hood to dual batteries. Batteries are always fully charged even when not driving (2-3 weeks). Traveling running a big fridge, several accessories inside, a newer 1200W pure sine wave converter (rarely used) except USB port (As I am a smoker and anticipate a future B/C- pap of sort).

For my camper I do have a MPPT controller connected to a 1700ah LiPo Renogy battery, thats hooked up with an automatic transfer switch 3000W renogy inverter. That really is not working worth a ..it. (sucks more power than it provides).

But the rig itself is exceptional, thanks Marco.
Could send PIC's if wanted.

Mike

 

[Inukshuk]

Couple cheap folding panels 100W panels that I hook up as needed either to Dometic PLB40's (40AH Li-ion) or the truck battery.
One is https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FH85FW9/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_89S07360JZ1QPD0FSSPX?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 I grabbed for $65.00 on a crazy sale. Very convenient to carry and use.
Second is older style hard panels that don't pack nearly as well but were equally cheap. I have used them through the truck group 31 battery. But only once, when I was at one spot for a week.
Never needed solar when it was just a 50 QT ARB running, but the 75 qt dual zone Dometic needs more power.
I have found that by day I charge a PLB40 and run the fridge direct off the truck (i.e. not through the PLB40. Then at night I draw down the PLB40 running the fridge.

 

[Shuksan]

I have had a few setups over the past few years as I our camping has adjusted with kids.

I have a jackery 300 and the 100 W folding panel a number of us got for a steal at $65. I mostly use this setup when solo camping or just out with a kid to run a heated blanket in the RTT, charge headlamps, etc.

When we bought a travel trailer last year, the factory solar/batter setup was insufficient. Installed 4 x 100 W panels on roof (series/parallel setup) to a victron mppt to charge a 200 Ah LiFePO4. Turned off converter as it isn't necessary to keep us topped off. Battery comes inside for the winter. Maybe went a little overboard, but it was fun and we have enough juice for whatever we want. Not wired into the trailer's AC systems, but we really don't use those (AC and microwave). Will probably add a small inverter for charging laptops.

Planning to put a 50/100W flex panel on my hardshell RTT as a permanent battery tender for the land cruiser. Not necessarily for camping, just to keep battery happy.

 

[ChewBaca]

I have a goal zero yeti 1000 that I picked up from Costco several years ago. I first used a 100 watt solar panel from Amazon to charge the yeti but the panel was too big to lug around all the time so I recently purchased a refurbished fold up 100 watt panel that is working so far. I wasn't sure what size of yeti to get when I first made my purchase, maybe its too much for my needs but so far does a great job with my fridge, heating blanket, coffee maker, charge station while I'm out.

 

[AimCOTaco]

Ken,
I laminated a thin renogy 100W panel to my RTT with just some silicone sealant in a few spots. This is fantastic for keeping up my house battery vs the fridge in summer and also maintains my set when parked outside for extended periods.
If I'm not running the RTT I can connect a folding set (the Rockpals shown above) of 100W panel and connect to the same controller.

As a systems engineer, you should really check out the Victron controllers and related gear (it's more yacht tech / less Grampas RV, IMO)... mine tracks the history which gives me lots of data about my use efficiency and the overall condition of my batteries. (I'm using the SmartSolar 100/20 bluetooth and SmartBattery sensor with Bluetooth)




Controller app screen shot.


I've been on a few week long trips with this set up and it's been great. I plan my parking to get morning sun exposure most of the time, it's nice to see the output when in the tent and have the battery voltage available on the phone around camp.

 

[Stuckinthe80s]

Thanks for starting this @Romer as it is and will be nice to see everyone's setup. I remember the deal on the folding panels and wish I could have gotten in on that.

I'm planning on something modular and transportable as it will be moved between my 80 and my camping trailer as necessary. Hopefully @RayRay27 posts his setup as I recall it being a lot like what I plan on doing.

 

[RayRay27]

I have a simple system I put together myself. I have a 100w zamp panel with a solar controller that came with my camper when I bought it.

I then built a battery station using a group 24 deep cycle marine battery from orileys and a camper battery box. I installed a 12v DC socket and dual USB plug in with a rocker switch and volt meter.

I then installed a 400w inverter that I had laying around from harbor freight on top along with a small solar panel to trickle charge it. On the back of the battery box I installed a connection to directly plug in the solar panel.

Then when I'm not using it I leave it on the battery tender until I need to use it.

This type of set up may not work for a lot of people because it's kind of awkward and heavy to transport around but when I looked at the cost of some of the battery stations on the market I was able to build this for around 170 bucks. Plus I can change the battery out once it's done, something that you can't do with most of the stations you buy now.

It fits all of my needs right now. I can charge all sorts or devices and run a tv and DVD player if I wanted to off the inverter on top with the panel plugged in.

 

[floating_lc]

I'm no craftsman, but I managed to cobble together a small system contained in the back of my fj80 - 165ah 12v battery, Renergy controller, Renergy 100w flex panel mounted to my RTT, and a cheap 1600watt inverter I extended the faceplate on. I can work full time remotely (laptop), run my fridge, lights, etc with zero issues using this system as long as it is sunny most days. As a backup, I have a small inverter mounted up front powered by duel front battery setup (3 batteries on this rig is a bit much but nice)

 

[thatpilotguy]

I have a RedArc BCDC1250D DC to DC charger that is solar ready. Into this I plug a RedArc 112W Amorphous Cell Solar Blanket. This keeps my second battery charged for the fridge and utility lights.

Simple, clean, and effective, and the blanket folds up nicely for storage.