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Solar

birder526

birder526

Novice
Hi,

If you are using solar to power your trailer battery/appliances/lights, would you let us know about brand and performance? We'd like to go this route for long-term trailer camping. Your comments are appreciated!

Best,
Diane and Michael
Cape Cod, MA
 
We use a Go Power 120 watt folding panel with a built in controller. It supplies us with all the power we need (when the sun is out)with just the one battery that came with the trailer.

photo68.jpg

Purchased from Defender Marine on line for 500 bucks

Michael
 
Don't have a picture handy but check out zampsolar.com or solardeals.com

That is what I am using. I originally purchased a 60 watt folding panel and discovered that it was not adequate so I contacted Zamp solar and they sold me a used fixed panel another 60 watt for $75.00. Great service.

Just hook them together. If I was to do it again I would go with a 120 watt folding panel from Zamp Solar as they work great and as I stated above great customer service.

Dave
 
First step is to try to figger out what you will be powering. I went with a 30 watt Goal Zero folding panel initially. Nice and small and plenty of juice for lights, TV etc. Then we got a Dometic fridge. At that point I upgraded to a Renogy 100D which is a 100 watt panel. It was $149.00 through Amazon prime. It's a very highly rated panel but it don't fold up. I kept the cardboard box and the padding that it was shipped with and use that for storage.

I still use the 30 watt panel for keeping the battery trickle charged when parked.

If you have the solar package, you don't need a panel with a controller built-in.
 
Hi Ashewolf,

You mentioned: "If you have the solar package, you don't need a panel with a controller built-in." Are you referring to the solar hook-up that Camp-Inn offers as an option?

Thanks,
Diane
 
birder526 said:
Hi Ashewolf,

You mentioned: "If you have the solar package, you don't need a panel with a controller built-in." Are you referring to the solar hook-up that Camp-Inn offers as an option?

Thanks,
Diane
Click to expand...

That is right. I don't have solar, but am always wanting it...
 
Yep birder. If you have the built-in solar option, all you need is a panel with a way to plug-in to the 12 volt connector on the side of the trailer. It's easy and quick to hook up. Panels with controllers are more expensive than just a plain panel.

The only issue with the Renogy panel is it is a one-piece panel that doesn't fold up into a cool carrier. I just pack it back in the cardboard box it came in with the original padding. So far, so good. I shopped pretty long and I'd be a little surprised if you find a better price for a 100 watt panel.
 
I recently bought an 85 watt panel from UL Solar. That and a 60 ft mc4 cable (makes a 30 footer when you cut it in half) cost about $220. Could have bought more watts for less for sure.

I went with the 85 watt panel for the form factor. I think 85 watts is going to be enough to power the dometic and the panel is 6 inches shorter than the 100 watt version. I'm going to make a thin storage box to fit in the back of our tv (VW jetta wagon). The 100 watt panel won't fit.

Just finished five days in Shenandoah NP, including one grey day and had plenty of juice. For this trip we just stored the panel on the bed. Traveled just fine.

Solar sure makes you aware of where the sun is in your campsite ...
 
Hi Ashewolf,
Today, Mark introduced us to his Oz, and showed us a Renogy that did fold. I believe it was around 100 watts. And it had a nifty storage case. We are glad to hear these recommendations in the forum...now we have lots to research!

Hi AlCat,
We'll look at Zamp. Thanks for the suggestion!

Hi RDickson,
Thanks for your info too!

Diane
 
birder, If I had seen a 100 watt renogy that folded with a case, I would have gone that route. I was a little sensitive to price since I had already bought…. and "modified" my 30 watt Goal Zero. Then when I got the Dometic, I realized I needed more juice. I tow with a Tacoma and space isn't a big issue. Yet. We just bought each other kayaks and the assorted accessories that one needs to float in a piece of plastic are impressive.

RDickson, I see you hail from Carrboro. I met my current wife there about 40 years ago. She lived in a big old "student" house and I was delivering them a load of firewood. My buddy and I got invited to stay for a party and the rest is history. We went back the next day and invited them to ride over to Raleigh to the State Fair. There were 14 of us that rode over in my 55 Ford F-250. My future wife sat up front with me and let's just say that shifting gears with 4 hippies in the front seat of a truck was interesting. We were married before the Fair rolled around the next year.

Come see us. We're over in the high country of Ashe County.
 
Looking into Renogy's suitcase 100W kit, they say the following:

Please Note: This is a Positive Ground Charge Controller. If grounding is necessary, it must be completed on the positive line. If the controller is to be used on a vehicle which has battery negative on the chassis, loads connected to the controller must not have an electrical connection to the vehicle body.

I'm not at all clear about this. Can anyone clarify?
 
Positive ground systems are weird and unusual. Modern cars, and Camp-Inn trailers are negative ground so this probably can't be used.

If your trailer has the solar option, you can disconnect this strange controller and connect the panel raw output to the trailer controller.
 
Now that we're 6 months out from getting our TD, here's a question...from where are folks buying their solar panels? Any recommendations for a retailer? Thanks!
 
I ordered and use a 128 watt folding flexible panel. I camped for 10 days off grid with no problems. I ran the fan each night. It's best to do an internet search for the best price.

I usually lay the panel over the peak of an REI Alcove.

My controller and input are Campinn installed.
 
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