Portable solar panels

RV2600RB

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2024
Messages
536
Location
Desert Southwest
We are looking at dry camping vs. RV parks, campground, etc. due to the decreasing camper etiquette being displayed.
My questions are:
How much portable solar power do you have?
What is your battery capacity (Ah)?
What do you run on the battery(s), inverter, fridge, heater blower or?

We will carry a 1k generator just in case as well.

I welcome your input as to which system/battery(s) you use BUT, please do not make this a Ford vs Chevy thing. I'll make my own decision on what solar and batteries I wish to use.
If it gets to that point, I'll ask the mods to close the thread.

I look forward to your input.

Rich
 
We are looking at dry camping vs. RV parks, campground, etc. due to the decreasing camper etiquette being displayed.
My questions are:
How much portable solar power do you have?
What is your battery capacity (Ah)?
What do you run on the battery(s), inverter, fridge, heater blower or?

We will carry a 1k generator just in case as well.

I welcome your input as to which system/battery(s) you use BUT, please do not make this a Ford vs Chevy thing. I'll make my own decision on what solar and batteries I wish to use.
If it gets to that point, I'll ask the mods to close the thread.

I look forward to your input.

Rich

Hey Rich, yes camping in an isolated spot can be pleasant. As far as solar and batteries are concerned, the first thing you need to ask is what my power budget looks like. What are you going to power from this system? Where will you be camping? If it's in the woods like we do, you'll want to rely on a big battery bank and portable panels that can be moved around to "follow" the sun. We have 800 Ah of LiFePo4 batteries and two portable solar suitcases to supplement our stock roof panel. That holds us for 4 plus days with little solar and no generator.
 
Hey Rich, yes camping in an isolated spot can be pleasant. As far as solar and batteries are concerned, the first thing you need to ask is what my power budget looks like. What are you going to power from this system? Where will you be camping? If it's in the woods like we do, you'll want to rely on a big battery bank and portable panels that can be moved around to "follow" the sun. We have 800 Ah of LiFePo4 batteries and two portable solar suitcases to supplement our stock roof panel. That holds us for 4 plus days with little solar and no generator.

Where do you keep all of this at?
 
20230628_155922.jpg
Boondocking is what we like best .
We have 2 renogy 200watt solar suitcases 1236ah of lithium 1200 watts solar total .
We run everything hair dryer ,15k ac ,waffle maker, coffee maker. Just can't run it all at once.
 
Boondocking is what we like best .
We have 2 renogy 200watt solar suitcases 1236ah of lithium 1200 watts solar total .
We run everything hair dryer ,15k ac ,waffle maker, coffee maker. Just can't run it all at once.
I'm curious how long you can run the 15,000 BTU AC.
 
An appropriately sized inverter will run anything you want but like having shore power, you can't run it all at once. Regarding A/C, assume one 15K unit will draw 1,700 watts/hour (it fluctuates depending on how hot/humid it is). So, let's say you had a system like ours (see signature) and you just run A/C and nothing else. 13,400 watts of battery storage could run the A/C about 8 hours. That's if the A/C ran non-stop for 8 hours. And it assumes you have no solar to offset the draw. Our experience after a year of camping with this setup and several boondocking outings has been that after 7 nights of camping, we have about 30% in the batteries, we run everything we want when we want, with the exception of A/C which we reserve for the hottest part of the day when we are typically coming back into the RV. So, the A/C goes on around 5:30PM and runs until the next morning. Overnight, after it cools down it still runs but not very much usually. We have found that we typically run it 5 out of 7 nights. By far, the A/C is the heaviest draw. If we do not need the A/C due to cooler weather camping, we easily go 7 nights running the furnace all day/night, and all other appliances, 12V fridge, etc., and at the end of the week have more than 50% left in the batteries - or more if optimal sunshine. Hope that gives you some idea of what to expect.
 
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We are looking at dry camping vs. RV parks, campground, etc. due to the decreasing camper etiquette being displayed.
My questions are:
How much portable solar power do you have?
What is your battery capacity (Ah)?
What do you run on the battery(s), inverter, fridge, heater blower or?

We will carry a 1k generator just in case as well.

I welcome your input as to which system/battery(s) you use BUT, please do not make this a Ford vs Chevy thing. I'll make my own decision on what solar and batteries I wish to use.
If it gets to that point, I'll ask the mods to close the thread.

I look forward to your input.

Rich

Here is a thread that thoroughly discusses Solar and Batteries:

MyGrandrv.com Affordable Solar How To Design and Install an Affordable Solar System
 
Thanks for the link. Being you have a fifth wheel you have more space than I do in my travel trailer.

Some have stored batteries under the bed. I'm remembering one poster that removed the front wall, took out the insulation, and was able to put the batteries in there. I suppose it depends on how much storage you need. I'm guessing you have the 12-volt frig that uses about 100 Ah per day. What are the other regular power needs that you have? Do you have an inverter?
 
Some have stored batteries under the bed. I'm remembering one poster that removed the front wall, took out the insulation, and was able to put the batteries in there. I suppose it depends on how much storage you need. I'm guessing you have the 12-volt frig that uses about 100 Ah per day. What are the other regular power needs that you have? Do you have an inverter?

Yes, I have a 16cf 12v refrigerator. I do not have an inverter, but it is inverter ready. I currently have 370 watts of solar with a single AGM battery. As others mentioned electricity is not easy for me. But I am a carpenter that could build anything out of wood. I have not taken my first trip yet in this trailer, but it is coming up in less than four weeks. I am reading these posts in case I want to do some non-power camping. I also like to plan ahead in case I need to depend on my solar system for power.
 
Yes, I have a 16cf 12v refrigerator. I do not have an inverter, but it is inverter ready. I currently have 370 watts of solar with a single AGM battery. As others mentioned electricity is not easy for me. But I am a carpenter that could build anything out of wood. I have not taken my first trip yet in this trailer, but it is coming up in less than four weeks. I am reading these posts in case I want to do some non-power camping. I also like to plan ahead in case I need to depend on my solar system for power.

If all you're going to be running is the frig, a few lights, and the water pump, then probably a single 200 Ah LiFePo4 battery would do the job. It's funny, I'm not very comfortable with wood, electricity is easier.
 
The first thing I want to do is get my trailer weighed. This would let me know what I can or cannot do. My current battery is outside on the tongue. I was thinking of a waterproof tool box for the additional batteries on the tongue. My main purpose is to have power for everything in case I had to stay somewhere with no power.
 
The first thing I want to do is get my trailer weighed. This would let me know what I can or cannot do. My current battery is outside on the tongue. I was thinking of a waterproof tool box for the additional batteries on the tongue. My main purpose is to have power for everything in case I had to stay somewhere with no power.

That sounds like a good plan. You may find that a single 200 Ah LiFePo4 battery won't weigh much more than your current AGM. Just be sure to get a secure storage box if you're putting it on the tongue.
 
I use two 100W panels for my 315Ah bank.

We can go almost indefinitely in SW summer sun. In clouds and colder days the furnace can drain us in 4 days.
 

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