Solar Panel Size?

[PDXMike]

We have a 16' Bambi 2018 with 2 6V AMG batteries. We'll be heading out later this summer on a 2-week trip with no shore power for about 12 days. I'm looking to get a solar panel that I can move around in the campsites base don where the sun is.

My question: what size? I know nothing about solar panels or necessary capacity.

[SilverHouseDreams]

You really need to look at it from how much DC power you need to replace on a given day, otherwise you could be over buying. Do you have any battery monitor other than the voltage based one? Something like the Victron BMV-712 goes a long way to getting you info as to how much energy you "need" based on actual usage patterns.

Portable panels are primarily sold as 100W or 200W kits, I would strongly suggest looking at Renogy's eBay store for a huge savings. You may also be able to apply it to your federal or state taxes for incentives.

As for sizing the panels, it really depends on "where" you are for how many hours of solar you get a day....and how much energy you need to put back into the batteries. Battery capacity is measured in amp-hours, solar panels in watts (watts = Volts * Amps)...so a 200W solar panel will produce ~14 amps of current (with a good MPPT charge controller), so if you are in a location that gets 5 hours of solar a day then that would produce ~70amp-hours of energy...now will your batteries actually absorb 70Ah of energy within 5-hours? Thats a more complicated question and one of the reasons I switched to Lithium, because with Li the answer is yes.

The cost difference from a single 200W kit or 2 100W kits isn't massive, so you could always start with 100W and double it later if you find it necessary. You also gain some charging from your TV on travel days, so keep that in mind.

[hoagy_007]

We recently purchased 2 Renogy 100 watt suitcase kits, wanted their single 200 watt kit but had been sold out (very popular). But with the 2 100 watt kits we have options to just use 1 depending on our usage or pull out both and set up. Setting up 1 or 2 is a matter of about 15 - 20 min depending how fast you move. We have a 2018 30' FC Bunk which has the Zamp connector at the front of the AS by the battery box. The thing to remember is if you use the Zamp connector you'll need to buy a reverse polarity pigtail for about $9.99 on Amazon to use the port.

For a 200 watt kit you'll need:

2 x 100 watt panels
2 x MC4 branch connectors (to connect the 2 panels)
2 x 20' 10 AWG extension cables (don't want to go longer than 30')
2 Renogy 9" adapter kits (to connect to the solar charger)
2 x 5' extension cables (to connect to the MC4 to SAE adapters)
1 Solar charger, we went with the Voyager waterproof charger
1 SAE to MC4 adapter
1 MC4 to SAE reverse polarity pigtail adapter (Amazon for Zamp plug in)

Real easy to set up, Renogy's site has detailed diagrams on connections.

Hope this helps!

Hoagy

[waninae39]

here is my install of a Heliene 160W panel.
it is 67 cm W x 150cm L x 4 cm D
it is too long to go on the roof

so i did what someone else did in the forum and mounted it on the rear

here is the before and after shot

i used a SS hinge on the top

tomorrow i will install the lift bracket
and wire it to the junction box on the roof

[waninae39]

i finished mounting the lifting items

this is what it looks like now

[Dubaigsry]

Originally Posted by waninae39

i finished mounting the lifting items

this is what it looks like now

I’m interested in whether wind catches the edges of the panel as you drive. Also, how many holes/rivets did you end up having to put in the AS skin to hold the piano hinge?

[waninae39]

wind has never been an issue

8 rivets in total on the skin