Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-01-2017, 11:01 AM   #1
2 Rivet Member
 
2011 25' FB International
Gunnison , Colorado
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 20
Blog Entries: 1
Question Portable solar panels

We are wanting to try out some of the portable solar panels we have seen others using with their Airstreams. We'd appreciate info on brands, ease of use, cost and anything else anyone can add that we should be aware of. Thanks in advance. We have a 25’ FB 2011 Intl.
gunnyrose is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2017, 12:16 PM   #2
2 Rivet Member
 
2016 27' Flying Cloud
Newport Beach , California
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 24
My Zamp 200 works great but it is almost 50 lbs. together with 200 w on roof works great
rchawkins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2017, 12:24 PM   #3
Rivet Master
 
dznf0g's Avatar
 
2007 30' Classic
Oswego , Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,656
Images: 5
Zamp 160 watt portable paralleled with a 100W Renogy on the roof. Works well for us.
__________________
-Rich-

"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
dznf0g is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2017, 12:30 PM   #4
Rivet Master
 
AWCHIEF's Avatar
 
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi , Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
Images: 33
Best bang for the buck is Renogy.

https://www.renogy.com/products/sola...olar-suitcase/
__________________
MICHAEL

Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
AWCHIEF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2017, 01:29 PM   #5
Rivet Master
 
Wayne&Sam's Avatar
 
2014 25' Flying Cloud
Cuddebackville , New York
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,333
Images: 21
I have a Renogy 100 that has worked well for us.
__________________
2014 25' Flying Cloud Rear Twin
2019 Ford Expedition Platinum
Wayne&Sam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2017, 01:59 PM   #6
Len and Jeanne
 
Len n Jeanne's Avatar
 
2005 16' International CCD
2015 19' Flying Cloud
Creston Valley , British Columbia
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,793
If you've got a portable solar panel unit, could I ask what you run off it?

We boondock, but if it's in a place where we would want to run the AC, that would happen so seldom that it's not a factor. Generally we're pretty good for a few days out with two six-volt batteries. We do carry a Honda 2000 generator but are happy when we don't have to use it-- or bring it, for that matter. Mostly we would want to continue to run the fridge and stove exhaust fans, ceiling fans, and sometimes the furnace fan.
Len n Jeanne is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2017, 02:01 PM   #7
Len and Jeanne
 
Len n Jeanne's Avatar
 
2005 16' International CCD
2015 19' Flying Cloud
Creston Valley , British Columbia
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,793
Oh, and be able to recharge/plug in small electronics like a laptop and cell phone.
Len n Jeanne is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2017, 10:22 PM   #8
2 Rivet Member
 
2011 25' FB International
Gunnison , Colorado
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 20
Blog Entries: 1
Thanks for all the info. We just want the portable solar panels to keep our batteries topped out. We ordered a Renogy 100W portable folding panel today. We'll post how it works on our trip next week.
gunnyrose is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2017, 02:04 AM   #9
2 Rivet Member
 
2016 25' Flying Cloud
Surrey , BC
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 21
How did the solar kit work out? I too have this question. We will be switching to 6V batteries shortly, but are curious about people's storage and use options for the portable solar, it seems like the most logical step, and avoids holes in the trailer. Do you generally leave them out when you are not on site? During travel where do you put them, how sensitive to movement are they? 2016 25' Flying Cloud FB. Thanks!
Michael_TW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2017, 05:40 AM   #10
Rivet Master
 
dznf0g's Avatar
 
2007 30' Classic
Oswego , Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,656
Images: 5
Quote:
Originally Posted by Len n Jeanne View Post
If you've got a portable solar panel unit, could I ask what you run off it?

We boondock, but if it's in a place where we would want to run the AC, that would happen so seldom that it's not a factor. Generally we're pretty good for a few days out with two six-volt batteries. We do carry a Honda 2000 generator but are happy when we don't have to use it-- or bring it, for that matter. Mostly we would want to continue to run the fridge and stove exhaust fans, ceiling fans, and sometimes the furnace fan.
I don't run anything off the panels. I charge the batteries with the panels and run stuff off the batteries. The items in your last paragraph are doable, but you'll probably need more than a single 100W panel to keep up with that load consistently through less than optimal sun conditions.
__________________
-Rich-

"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
dznf0g is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2017, 06:14 PM   #11
4 Rivet Member
 
2018 19' Flying Cloud
Newport , Washington
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 350
Our friends with a FC19 similar to ours are on their second season with a 120W Eco-Worthy they got off Amazon for about $250. Seems to work really well so we are ordering one.
__________________
Dale & Jane

2018 Flying Cloud 19
2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab Diesel
KelloggKid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2017, 07:49 AM   #12
2 Rivet Member
 
Cherryville , North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 42
My Renogy 200 suitcase came the other day and I have been playing with it in the yard. It did a great job charging up my 2013 25FC with two 12 volt batteries it only took a couple of hours even while running a fan. Today I will setup as I would while boondocking. My goal is to keep the need to run a generator to a minimum. I plan on having the generator available to run the AC for my wife , she doesn't tolerate heat since her accident years ago. Most of our trips tend to be in the fall and spring so that helps temperature wise. I've seen a few post where people set their rigs up to be totally solar but the costs look like over kill to me. I want to be as green as the next guy but cost to benefit is not quite there.
Captnkirk54 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2017, 10:24 AM   #13
3 Rivet Member
 
2005 22' Interstate
san clemente , California
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 237
I have a Renegy suitcase and Goal Zero controller that includes ability to charge ---
12 volt items, USB items, and 120 volt items. I use it to top off my 6 volt house batteries (2for 12 volts), and recharge my Sondors electric bikes. Have used them for about 1 year. Seems to work well.
AEW
unifreck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2017, 11:33 AM   #14
4 Rivet Member
 
dmbecke's Avatar
 
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
Des Peres , Missouri
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 266
I just recently purchased the Renogy 200 watt suitcase but haven't tried it yet
Paid $399 for open box but looks like brand new
dmbecke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2017, 07:28 PM   #15
2 Rivet Member
 
Cherryville , North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 42
Well it's not a long term test but I was able to run the fan, water pump a couple of times for bathroom breaks and washing a couple of dishes at lunch. Based on the battery voltage from the controller looks like I started and ended the day at the same voltage on battery. I know there would be more draw down over night but I am still learning . It helps having the suitcase so I can keep it pointed at the sun during the day. I'm looking forward to our first trip away from a campground setting
Captnkirk54 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-22-2017, 05:24 PM   #16
2 Rivet Member
 
2013 23' International
Aloha , Oregon
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 63
We have 200 watts of solar on the roof, looks like an AM Solar installation, cant tell for sure, we’re the second owners with the solar added by the first owner (thank you whoever you are!) along with group 27 AGMs somehow stuffed into the stock battery box. This provides ample power in most conditions. We don’t use an AC coffee maker, instead heating water on the stove and making coffee one cup at a time with ingenious single serve filters from a Canadian company named MiniMinit. My wife can use her hair dryer on the low setting from the inverter for the 15 minutes each day it takes, and we don’t watch TV, choosing to get away from that form of entertainment while camping. We also have a portable 100w panel from InstaPark called a Mars-100. I bought it from Amazon 5 or more years ago for a ridiculously low price and used it as our primary recharging source when we had a t@b camper. Now I use it as backup primarily when the AS19 is parked in the shade. The portable panel has its own charge controller and I wired up a female 7-way receptacle such that I can just plug it into the trailer 7-way connector. I bought 50 feet of 10-gauge landscape lighting wire to allow putting the panel in the sun. I’m thinking of buying 50 feet of 6-gauge flexible welding wire to replace the landscape wire but I haven’t gotten around to it. As it is, I can still get adequate charge from this setup so replacing the wire hasn’t been a priority. I guess I’d do it if the portable panel was my primary charging source. I did use the 6-gauge welding wire to power the truck’s 7-way receptacle for better en route charging but that’s another story.
PeterDB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2018, 06:39 AM   #17
2 Rivet Member
 
Cherryville , North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 42
Well we took a trip this last April 7 days away from hook ups . The panels keep us charged up most days. I did run the generator a couple of afternoons to power the AC . We also ran it a couple of mornings so the wife could run a hairdryer and we would use our Kerig instead of the percolator. I have 15 ft of cable but I think I need to add a bit more as we where under a few trees and shade was an issue during parts of the day. Our biggest issue off the hookups was water both potable and grey. Where we were had a dump service that came by to dump the tanks but didn’t provide fresh water. Over all it was a good trip.the only downside was some rain followed by mud which turned into a dust that covered everything and took a couple of days to clean up.
Captnkirk54 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2018, 11:20 AM   #18
2 Rivet Member
 
2019 23' International
Seattle , Washington
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 66
can someone tell a newbie how to connect a renogy portable suitcase to the Camp plug on my FC 19'. I understand that the renogy is wired different. I was thinking about a 120 watt suitcase for the AS but don't want to fry the system by doing it wrong. I have a 80 Amp on the roof and want too add 120 to 160 more via portable.

thanks

Brad

ps if you suggest a product i.e. a wire adaptor can you link to it please
Bradley G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2018, 06:17 PM   #19
2016 19ft flying cloud
 
Spokane , Washington
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 165
Just make sure the portable has a controller built in
I use an Eco Worthy 120 watt portable ,all you need to do is wire a plug that will fit your AS solar input

$235 on Amazon
Spinonedad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2018, 10:45 AM   #20
Rivet Master
 
2011 22' Sport
Portland , Oregon
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 657
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bradley G View Post
can someone tell a newbie how to connect a renogy portable suitcase to the Camp plug on my FC 19'. I understand that the renogy is wired different. I was thinking about a 120 watt suitcase for the AS but don't want to fry the system by doing it wrong. I have a 80 Amp on the roof and want too add 120 to 160 more via portable.

thanks

Brad

ps if you suggest a product i.e. a wire adaptor can you link to it please
There are a lot more discussions on this in the Electrical/Generator & Solar forum area. My AS doesn't have a factory solar connector, so I can't weigh in with specifics...but I recall discussions saying that it is just an SAE surface plug/connector...though you will want to check the polarity.
SilverHouseDreams is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Any updated portable solar panels recommendation? Vitaver Electrical - Systems, Generators, Batteries & Solar 15 10-24-2016 04:04 PM
Security for Portable Solar Panels CAV Generators & Solar Power 11 09-01-2016 07:26 AM
Portable Solar Panels Fancypantsas Batteries, Univolts, Converters & Inverters 8 08-09-2016 10:43 AM
Solar panels vs portable generators ashe Electrical - Systems, Generators, Batteries & Solar 19 01-19-2015 07:18 AM
Portable Solar Panels migriffin Sprinter and B-van Forum 31 04-11-2014 06:56 AM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:44 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.