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Joined: 22 Sep 2011
Location: Chapel Hill,NC
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    Posted: 17 Apr 2018 at 11:05pm
We also use the Renogy 100 watt suitcase panel with great success. One of the great aspects of the suitcase is that you can park the pod in the shade and move the panel around to get the best available sun. 
There are several other things to think about before you decide.  You said you like to boondock, then solar can be very effective. We have been out as long as 2 continuos weeks using only solar. However, that type of camping also requires some additional changes. We don’t use the hot water heater, we heat water on the stove. We use solar lamps and use the led built in lamps as little as possible. We are very stingy with overall power usage. We also have  two six volt golf cart bateries that will hold more charge over a longer period of time when it is cloudy. We can usually totally recharge our batteries in about 4hours of good sun. The key is to know that these types of batteries can be discharged to a lower level (we try not to go below 65%) than “standard”rv type batteries. 
So, learn and think more about your power usage and how you can conserve and learn more about batteries prior to going solar. It can work great, but it can also not live up to your expectations.
That being said, we love our system and totally depend on it.
Travel safe 
Vann

Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Apr 2018 at 9:43pm
We got a Renogy 100w solar suitcase and have been quite happy with it.  There are a lot of variables involved in making choices about solar and staying charged while boondocking.  We also have a 2400 watt generator because we camp in the Smokies a lot and there just isn't a lot of sun at ground level.  At the Outer Banks our solar suitcase is all we need except for few minutes to run a coffee maker or the microwave.  A couple of days of cloudy weather could botch that equation though.  So a lot depends on where you camp and how much power you want to use.  (No amount of solar you can haul around with you is going to run the air conditioner!)

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Apr 2018 at 9:31pm
Since we do a lot of off grid camping we want to buy a solar panel.  Our 179 has a plug for the panel.  Has anyone puschased, used a solar panel and would like to share their experiences?  
Joanne and Tom
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