Suitcase Solar Set Up

[Extreme]

Has anyone used a Suitcase solar charger for your batteries?
I am currently looking at the Renogy 200 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Foldable Solar Suitcase for my 2 Battleborn 100amp 12v Lithium batteries.
What kind of success have you had?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ynot4me2]

One advantage with the suit case style is you can easily move it into the sun.

 

[AZMike]

One advantage with the suit case style is you can easily move it into the sun.

Yes. I just attach mine to the battery with alligator clips.

 

[Extreme]

Is your battery a Lithium? How fast will it charge the battery from 50% to full?

 

[Extreme]

How long would it take to charge your battery?

 

[Extreme]

If my 2 batteries are connected in parallel, where do you attach the Solar panels Red hot clip and the Black clip to the batteries?
I'm assuming the Red lead is on one battery and the Black lead is on the other.
As you can tell from this dumb question I have never done this before.
Thanks in advance.

 

[MoonShadow_1911]

If my 2 batteries are connected in parallel, where do you attach the Solar panels Red hot clip and the Black clip to the batteries?
I'm assuming the Red lead is on one battery and the Black lead is on the other.
As you can tell from this dumb question I have never done this before.
Thanks in advance.

Red goes on the farthest battery from the load, black goes on the battery closest to the load.

Sent from my phone using Tapatalk

 

[Extreme]

What is meant by "load"?

 

[MoonShadow_1911]

What is meant by "load"?

The trailer. You have two batteries in parallel. Battery two's positive is connected to battery one's positive, battery one's positive is connected to the coach. The battery two's positive connection is where you want to put the positive side of the charging input (regardless of what it is, charger, solar, generator, etc.).

Same thing on the negative side. Battery two's negative in connected to battery one's negative, battery one's negative is connected to the coach. The battery one's negative connection is where you want to put the negative side of the charging unit.

Make sense?

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[EsquireRV]

Connect the Positive (Red) to one battery and the Negative (Black) to the other.

 

[AZMike]

Is your battery a Lithium? How fast will it charge the battery from 50% to full?

I do not have lithium. It never does really charge to full, as I have a rather small suitcase panel and don't charge it very long. Besides, I since purchased an inverter/generator.

 

[MoonShadow_1911]

Connect the Positive (Red) to one battery and the Negative (Black) to the other.
View attachment 33232

Alright, fine! Defeat a Word Smith with a picture! Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words... [emoji16]

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[orbiker]

I purchased a 120w Go Power suitcase in 2016. It came with Andersen connectors. It even comes with 1 that attaches to the batteries.

I made the connector come out below the propane tank compartment, so the connection is very easy.

Make sure the solar controller on your panel is set to charge the lithium batteries. KEN

 

[Extreme]

Picture is worth a MILLION words. Thanks!

 

[orbiker]

Picture is worth a MILLION words. Thanks!

If we knew what RV you have, we might be able to give you more help. See the bottom of most of the member's posts and look at their signatures. This is created in my settings. KEN

 

[Extreme]

Just added more information on the Settings. Hope it helps. Thanks.

 

[Extreme]

The 4 lines of text at the bottom of your post. I checked into Settings and can't find where that information should go.

 

[orbiker]

The 4 lines of text at the bottom of your post. I checked into Settings and can't find where that information should go.

Setting at top right
Scroll down and view on left of screen
to edit signature

Don't forget to save. KEN

 

[RickLight]

My 120W portable panel does 5-6 amps in mostly full sun. It's never gotten near filling my 315ah LFP bank.

Even if yours does 10A for 12 hours solid that's only 120AH. So it may take days fill your bank from empty unless in the SW in August and you aren't using power.

 

[Xlsmle]

I have used a 100 watt Renolgy lightweight suitcase solar panel for a year. As soon as i get set up in my camp i hookit up to a controller and to my 10 amp input on my imagine xls 22 mle. It keeps my 2 lead acid interstate batteries charged for as long as im boondocking. In my case, i use the fridge and water heater on propane. I minimize my usage of battery draining stuff such as water pump. When i need the microwave or wifes hairdryer we use a honda 2200i inverter generator. For the tv we have a small solar generator we use and charge it with another 100 watt suitcase solar panel the next day after a night of use. Works great for us.