Any other solar power people out there?

Message Share Topic Printable Version Google Delicious Digg StumbleUpon Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks reddit Facebook MySpace Newsvine Furl Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic

   I just took the plunge and bought a Powerfilm 13 watt rollable solar panel for trickle charging the two marine batteries either at home or while dry camping.  I haven't received it yet, but I will report back on how well it works with charging a (disconnected from shore power) pod.  I'm busy with grad school right now, but I plan on posting some pictures and a write-up about my observations in regard to how well solar power works to maintain the batteries.  Unfortunately I will not be able to charge a Macbook pro on this panel (because the power fluctuates with the weather and the Mac needs consistent power to charge), but I can charge my cell phone, ipods, and ipad with it.  I can also trickle charge the truck battery through the cig lighter plug.  This thing is cooler than bees knees.   

Author	Message Share Topic Printable Version Google Delicious Digg StumbleUpon Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks reddit Facebook MySpace Newsvine Furl Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic
secretbard Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 12 Apr 2011 Location: Budd Lake, NJ Online Status: Offline Posts: 195	Topic: Any other solar power people out there? Posted: 29 Apr 2012 at 1:12am
	I just took the plunge and bought a Powerfilm 13 watt rollable solar panel for trickle charging the two marine batteries either at home or while dry camping. I haven't received it yet, but I will report back on how well it works with charging a (disconnected from shore power) pod. I'm busy with grad school right now, but I plan on posting some pictures and a write-up about my observations in regard to how well solar power works to maintain the batteries. Unfortunately I will not be able to charge a Macbook pro on this panel (because the power fluctuates with the weather and the Mac needs consistent power to charge), but I can charge my cell phone, ipods, and ipad with it. I can also trickle charge the truck battery through the cig lighter plug. This thing is cooler than bees knees.
	2010 Rpod 172 :) 2004 Chevy Trailblazer

Alex&Marie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 25 Feb 2012 Location: Virginia Online Status: Offline Posts: 63	Posted: 29 Apr 2012 at 4:37am
	is this the item you mean.? it looks pretty usable! I wonder if it could mount on the roof of the pod, either permanently of just while you are dry camping somewhere. what are your plans?
	Alex and Marie 2012 R-pod 177 2006 Toyota Tundra

secretbard Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 12 Apr 2011 Location: Budd Lake, NJ Online Status: Offline Posts: 195	Posted: 29 Apr 2012 at 4:51am
	Yes, that is the one. It is completely water proof, so you could permanently mount it to the sloped rpod roof, although, for me, I am going to drape it over the roof and hold it down with some bungies to secure it. I plan on using it mainly for when I dry camp to see if it can maintain the batteries in between hookups. I don't think the power output will charge the batteries quickly, but it may buy me a day or two before having to charge the batteries with the generator. I also plan on taking it with me if I do any backwoods hiking so that I can keep the ipod and ipad charged. Well, I don't actually have the ipad yet, but I'm looking for a good deal as well as the ability to load my own books, music and apps on it. Right now, you can only download what you need via the internet. I suppose I could figure out how to do that via email to myself or something. Anyway, the Powerfilm is one of the few I've found that has everything I want and need. I wanted something portable, something I could leave outside in any weather, and something that uses a 12 volt female connection as it's power hookup while also generating .90 amps and up to 15.4 volts. It was also one of the better rated rollable solar panels and it was on sale at Amazon. I couldn't afford a 28 watt unit, so I had to settle somewhere in the middle.
	2010 Rpod 172 :) 2004 Chevy Trailblazer

TIDALWAVE Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 21 Nov 2009 Location: MINNESOTA Online Status: Offline Posts: 315	Posted: 29 Apr 2012 at 1:18pm
	I use a flexible solar panel. I put 3M semi-permanent hooks on the Pod Roof. I didn't feel that I could adequately secure the panel permanently on the roof. I can remove it when traveling or when the Pod is in covered storage. I feed the solar power to my dual batteries (the panel has a regulator to prevent over charging). I then tap into the 12V circuits available from the Pod. I don't have to worry about fluctuating current/voltage by routing the solar power first into the batteries.
	TIDALWAVE

BlueAudi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 25 Jan 2012 Location: WA/TX Online Status: Offline Posts: 15	Posted: 30 Apr 2012 at 3:05pm
	We were thinking about getting one of these. Any problems/suggestions? We are not electrical wizards and are a little intimidated by wiring and such. Does the panel come with idiot-proof instructions? Will there be any modifications we will have to make in order to hook up to our 2 deep cycle, marine batteries? They keep going dead while our r-pod is in storage...
	2012 RP-177, 'Poddy Mouth' '07 FJ Cruiser

TIDALWAVE Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 21 Nov 2009 Location: MINNESOTA Online Status: Offline Posts: 315	Posted: 01 May 2012 at 8:43am
	One of my dual batteries sits in a 'power box'. The plastic box has both a female covered socket, and two thumb-screw posts sticking out of the box. My solar panel came with interchangeable 'plugs'. One set can be attached to the screw posts. It only takes a second to attach or remove the wires. The box also has LED lights which monitor the voltage level of the battery.
	TIDALWAVE

BlueAudi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 25 Jan 2012 Location: WA/TX Online Status: Offline Posts: 15	Posted: 01 May 2012 at 10:08am
	Sounds simple enough. Thanks for the insight, Tidalwave!
	2012 RP-177, 'Poddy Mouth' '07 FJ Cruiser

BlueAudi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 25 Jan 2012 Location: WA/TX Online Status: Offline Posts: 15	Posted: 01 May 2012 at 11:21am
	Ok, I have another question: We just have 2 deep-cycle marine batteries that sit in plastic housing just behind the propane tank. Will we need the daisy-chain wiring so both batteries use the trickle charger? Also, along the same lines, would you recommend the charge controller? We are looking at the Powerfilm 13watt charger as well, but the recommended items are the RA-6 daisy chain and the RA-9 charge controller. I just want to avoid a situation where I get the charger and it doesn't work to it's full potential because I didn't get all of the correct parts. But I also don't want to end up with un-needed parts to stuff in a drawer somewhere... Again, thanks for all of the help and patience.
	2012 RP-177, 'Poddy Mouth' '07 FJ Cruiser

secretbard Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 12 Apr 2011 Location: Budd Lake, NJ Online Status: Offline Posts: 195	Posted: 01 May 2012 at 5:14pm
	The Daisy chain cord is only for connecting two or more solar panels to each other, so you won't need that. The panel comes with an extension cord with eyelets to hook to the battery directly, but you want to hook the controller up to the solar panel first. Amazon carries all of these cords and such too.
	2010 Rpod 172 :) 2004 Chevy Trailblazer

TIDALWAVE Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 21 Nov 2009 Location: MINNESOTA Online Status: Offline Posts: 315	Posted: 01 May 2012 at 5:24pm
	Your dual batteries are wired in parallel, otherwise they would be putting out 24VDC!. The simplest connection is clip the positive 'charger' feed to the 'red (+)' post on one battery and the negative feed to the 'black (-)' post on the OTHER battery. Your Pod OEM charger is set up the same way if you have dual batteries. Most experts suggest that the batteries have the same capacity (type 24 is the usual size in our Pods), and they also suggest that the batteries should be the same brand.
	TIDALWAVE