My Solar Charging Set Up

[TucsonJim]

You stated you have AGM batteries. When you say the two 100w panels keep them charged up; how many batteries do you have? Are they 12v or 6v?
Thanks

On that rig, I had two six volt AGM batteries. I still need to plan my layout for this new trailer.

Jim

[J&G garage]

Jim, what was the amp/hr rating of the AGMs you had? Did they weigh in the 65 to 70 lbs range?

[TucsonJim]

Jim, what was the amp/hr rating of the AGMs you had? Did they weigh in the 65 to 70 lbs range?

These were the batteries I had. 190AH (20 Hr rate). Total weight was 140#

https://www.batteriesplus.com/productdetails/sliagc2

A couple of these batteries look promising for a total of 184 AH and 123#.

https://www.batteriesplus.com/produc...ls/sli27magmdc

Jim

[John612]

To all you solar experts looking to add a system.
-Do lithium batteries work with solar? I know they're more expensive, but would really like to keep hitch weight down, and as I understand it, charge much more efficiently than wet cell or AGM.
-12 vs 6 volt - I'm leaning towards 12 volt so I won't go dark if one battery goes kaput.
Appreciate any other thoughts or ideas.
Thanks,
John

[offtohavasu]

To all you solar experts looking to add a system.
-Do lithium batteries work with solar? I know they're more expensive, but would really like to keep hitch weight down, and as I understand it, charge much more efficiently than wet cell or AGM.
-12 vs 6 volt - I'm leaning towards 12 volt so I won't go dark if one battery goes kaput.
Appreciate any other thoughts or ideas.
Thanks,
John

A quick read on someone's project with lithium: http://www.technomadia.com/lithium/

[avetraveler]

Thanks Jim. This is a really awesome, east to understand, layout and definitely something I want to do. I'm an RV newby and have some other basic stuff I need to figure out but will probably have a few questions when I start to go to work on this. I really want to understand the power issue so I can go off grid for several days at a tine when I need to.
Haven't been to Tucson in a while...went up there when I was stationed at Ft Huachuca back in 1977 (yeah, that's been a while).
Thanks again...Mark

[TucsonJim]

Thanks Jim. This is a really awesome, east to understand, layout and definitely something I want to do. I'm an RV newby and have some other basic stuff I need to figure out but will probably have a few questions when I start to go to work on this. I really want to understand the power issue so I can go off grid for several days at a tine when I need to.
Haven't been to Tucson in a while...went up there when I was stationed at Ft Huachuca back in 1977 (yeah, that's been a while).
Thanks again...Mark

Mark - There are many different approaches to solar set ups posted on the forum now. Use the search function and you'll be able to find quite a few different approaches. In fact, I no longer own the trailer I did this solar set up on and have now taken a slightly different approach with my newest rig.

My son was stationed at Ft H back in the '90s, so we're quite familiar with that part of the country.

Jim