Solar Power

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   I'd be interested to learn about experiences anyone has had with solar power for camping. We have not tried it yet at all. There is a 55W solar panel kit by Coleman that sells for about $300, and I'm wondering whether it would be of any practical use for keeping the rPod's battery charged in sites without electical hookups. Here's a description from the Walmart ad: 
http://www.walmart.com/ip/15063160?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=&wl3=21486607510&wl4=&wl5=pla&veh=sem

I'm not intending to use it for running air conditioning or anything like that; but I wonder if it would replenish the battery enough to appreciably extend the use of the rPod's interior lights, furnace fan, and water pump.

Any insight?

Sam

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sammycamper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Oct 2012 Location: Minnesota Online Status: Offline Posts: 111	Topic: Solar Power Posted: 10 Feb 2013 at 12:20pm
	I'd be interested to learn about experiences anyone has had with solar power for camping. We have not tried it yet at all. There is a 55W solar panel kit by Coleman that sells for about $300, and I'm wondering whether it would be of any practical use for keeping the rPod's battery charged in sites without electical hookups. Here's a description from the Walmart ad: http://www.walmart.com/ip/15063160?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=&wl3=21486607510&wl4=&wl5=pla&veh=sem I'm not intending to use it for running air conditioning or anything like that; but I wonder if it would replenish the battery enough to appreciably extend the use of the rPod's interior lights, furnace fan, and water pump. Any insight? Sam
	2012 rPod 173 2008 Trailblazer 4WD V6

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059	Posted: 10 Feb 2013 at 8:08pm
	A few thoughts on solar and camping. First, if you often camp in the shade it may not work for you. It only takes a little bit of shade on a panel to drop its output heavily and not much more to drop its output almost to zero. You can get around this by making the PV panel mobile but then you have to deal with voltage drop over distance, and security of the panel itself. Unless you sit there with it, it could easily walk. If you are willing to build your own, you can get a lot more bang for your buck with a larger panel and charge controller for a similar price. I highly recommend the forum wind-sun.com if you want to explore this (I'm a member there). If the longest you plan on being out there is a week, you can get by with two batteries for a lot less money and hassle. Even if you'll be out longer maybe once a year you can use the "poor man's generator" and hook the batteries to your TV with high-quality jumper cables every other day and run it for an hour to keep them full enough to work well.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

sammycamper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Oct 2012 Location: Minnesota Online Status: Offline Posts: 111	Posted: 10 Feb 2013 at 11:29pm
	Thanks, Techntrek. You confirmed what I suspected, even though that may not be what I wanted to hear. It would just be a lot more expense and trouble than it would be worth. You've probably saved me at least a couple hundred bucks and a bunch of aggravation. Sam
	2012 rPod 173 2008 Trailblazer 4WD V6

Snowbound Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2011 Location: Edmonton, AB Online Status: Offline Posts: 270	Posted: 11 Feb 2013 at 2:47am
	Sammycamper, we bought a really small solar panel around $25 at our local auto supply store. When we use it I just balance it on top of the propane tank. It does a reasonable job of keeping the electric charged up and was cheap enough that if it goes missing it is not a big deal. Size is about 15 inches x 6inches or thereabouts.
	Tom and Bette in our 177 "The Gastropod"

Paulipod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 04 Apr 2012 Location: Dallas, Oregon Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Posted: 18 Feb 2013 at 1:44pm
	FYI..Take a look at Harbor Freight. Same set up above minus converter way better price... This should be enough to keep battery up if good sunlight throughout the day. But I would agree with other posts unless dry camping more than 3 or so days. Three of the panels are kinda of heavy.
	2012 Rpod 176 HRE 2005 Trailblazer EXT 2004 2007 Daughters Ageless Wife oh and a awesome dog

furpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128	Posted: 20 Feb 2013 at 9:37am
	BTW, in your scenario, it's the furnace fan that is the killer. Just lights, water pump, fridge brain, cO monitor, and some fantastic fan use, we can go 6 days on two batteries. We did change out to all LED's for our lights. We use a iPad and iPhone with some rechargeable iHome speakers for most of our music when camping.

Paulipod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 04 Apr 2012 Location: Dallas, Oregon Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Posted: 20 Feb 2013 at 10:37am
	We have two batteries and once we upgrade to led, I can't wait to try a weeklong boondock trip. Ya those iHome speakers are perfect for using phone/tablet on picnic bench and keeping sound localized (neighbor friendly) instead of turning up audio in the pod.
	2012 Rpod 176 HRE 2005 Trailblazer EXT 2004 2007 Daughters Ageless Wife oh and a awesome dog