Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattirs
I've been using 2 100w Suoaki flexable panels for 5 months now, so far so good. My controller is Midnite's Brat very water resistant pmw 30amp. I have a liberal arts degee and the set still charges my batteries with good sun to float level by noon. Love that each panel is only 5lbs. Use it as a portable system, storing the panels on the bed when traveling or not needed.
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I plan on using mine as additional portables, as well. I like being able to place the panels in various locations, like a few days ago I was camped in the forest under the shade of a large Maple tree and the panel was 30ft away in the sun charging up my batteries.
Also, inverters are very innifiecient, the stock 1000w inverter that came with my airstream will eat more power than anything I'd plug into it. What you want to do is try to do as much with
12v as you can (get
12v plugs for anything that makes em). So don't go plugging your cell phone or your tablet or even your laptop into the inverter, it wastes too much power. Instead, charge them via USB or a cigarette lighter plug.
You can make a cheap version of that yeti. Just buy a
12v battery of your choice, put it in a battery box and wire in an inverter, a 12v socket and a charge controller. Will save you lots of money. Renogy is also making their own version of that yeti box:
http://wp.renogy.com/lycanpowerbox.html
One thing to keep in mind is that solar tech is where cell phone tech was in the early 2000s. Back then, every new phone was a giant upgrade and a huge breakthru but nowadays it's hard for them to come up with really exciting new phones cause the tech has stabilized. Same with solar. 3 years from now, any batteries or panels you bought today will be dinosaurs! But eventually, it will stabilize and major upgrades or breakthrus will be less frequent.
That's why I'm in no rush to put more holes in the trailer.
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