Solar panels
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Topic: Solar panels
Posted By: Camile
Subject: Solar panels
Date Posted: 02 Nov 2017 at 4:15pm
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I was wondering who had experience with solar panels. What they liked, what they didn’t. And how well they provide power for just the small things. Thx!
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Replies:
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 03 Nov 2017 at 3:42pm
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We did some dry camping on this recent trip also and am interested in some solar panels for our pod. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 03 Nov 2017 at 4:01pm
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solar panels don't power things. they recharge your batteries.
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Posted By: sailor323
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2017 at 7:52am
| We have 2 140 watt panels on the roof. They do a fine job of keeping the batteries charged. They do have their limitations. |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2017 at 3:01pm
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Limitations such as............. How many days can you dry camp in a row with the panels recharging the batteries? Hypothetically, saying it is summer type weather and sunny ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: sailor323
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2017 at 3:32pm
| I figure we could camp indefinitely without plugging in. Limitations are that we can't use A/C or the microwave. Also, even a tiny bit of shade or cloudiness drastically affects panel output. We have a similar installation on our sailboat and have gone for weeks without plugging into shore power. |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2017 at 3:57pm
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Excellent info!! Thanks! ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2017 at 4:32pm
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We have a Renogy 100 watt portable solar panel. It keeps our two 6 volt batteries fully charged if we can get about 4 hours of direct sunlight. the battery usage and discharge level makes a difference in the amount of time that is needed to fully recharge the batteries. Less sun will equal less charge, as well as less discharge takes less time to recharge. We like the portable setup because we can park the pod in a shady campsite and still have the solar panel in the sun. we have a 25' cord for the panel. We will move the panels to follow the sun in the early morning or late afternoon when we are in camp. when we leave camp. we point the panels to where we think will be maximum sun in the 11am-3pm time frame using a simple compass, knowing that the sun basically travels east to west. Not difficult to do or use. The only drawback that we see is the necessity to carry the panel with us, take about 5 minutes to set it up and occasionally relocate it . As mentioned earlier, we cannot use the microwave or AC. this is usually not an issue with us as we prefer to boondock anyway. If you are interested in using solar, I would suggest that you try to read and get as much info as possible before starting. it is not difficult, but there are a lot of different individual components or systems available at widely differing costs. Knowing the basics will help create a system that will do what you want and not cost a fortune. search this site for several informative articles from other owners who have installed solar panels for their pods. Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
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Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2017 at 4:42pm
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Thanks Vann. What your doing sounds like what we are thinking. We can live without the A/C and the microwave. We will be using the pod lights/fan on battery, probably a 12v coffee maker and our cpap machine. We want to be able to charge the batteries each day via the solar panel(s). ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2017 at 4:59pm
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Unless you're only going to use your stuff between ~~ 9 AM and ~~ 3 PM (times will be dependent on latitude and season), it's best to think of solar as a daytime battery charger. The amount of power will be more than adequate for many things, but probably not the microwave or air conditioner. Each of those devices consume > 1000 watts, and would mean a drain on a 12V battery that could easily exceed 100 amps. Batteries won't last long with that kind of drain. And just using a 100 watt solar panel (for example), you can probably get around 600 watt-hours of power for a good day (100 watts for 6 hours). Note that solar panels rarely put out what they're rated for, but are usually good for 80% of their rating, so the aforementioned 100 watt panel is going to be reliably able to produce 80 watts. This is because they won't always be aimed directly at the sun, and because there will often be clouds, and other things that reduce total output. So if you can fit your daily power usage into 600 watt-hours, a 100 watt panel might be fine. If you need closer to 1000 watt-hours, you're going to need a 160 watt panel or so. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 07 Nov 2017 at 5:27pm
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Good to know. Looks like we are going to get 2 of the 100w panels and give it a try! We did some boondocking as part of this last trip and enjoyed it. So we are going to give it a try on our next trip to the outer banks and points south. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: sailor323
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2017 at 6:20pm
| Just a little additional info. Most panels are rated in watts. Appliances are rated in watts. Batteries, on the other hand are rated in amp hours. To convert watts to amps (at 12volts), divide watts by 12 to get amps. This is useful because you need to know to try to keep track of how much of your battery bank you are using. If you go with 2 6v batteries, you will have a total capacity of bout225 amp hours (265 if you go to a slightly higher capacity battery) or useable capacity of half that. So, for example, y.our fantastic fan draws 2.8 to about 4.5 amps depending on speed. Over a 10 hour period, it uses 28 to 45 amp hours. Your 12 v coffee maker probably will use about 13 amps; probably OK for short periods 15 minutes will use about 3+ amps (though I really like our French press) |
Posted By: rumman
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2017 at 6:59pm
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All I do is boondocking and I have a 160 Watt solar panel installed on the roof which is juicing two 6 volt batteries and they are four years old. I am always charged up everyday so that I can fire up the furnace every night and use the TV daily. It will not run the microwave or the AC but that okay I live and camp where its not too hot so that's fine I also carry a 2000 watt Yamaha generator/inverter which was also a great investment. The generator is used for just in case circumstances. The solar panel and 6 volt batteries are the best investment that I ever made, I would not be without that set up in the future. Good luck in whatever set up you choose. ------------- 2014 RPod 179 towed by 2016 Chev Colorado (V6). |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2017 at 8:11pm
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Guys, I really appreciate the info!
Really looking forward to giving it a try! Thanks ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |