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03-03-2018, 04:09 PM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member 
Currently Looking...
Memphis
, Tennessee
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 10
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Portable solar kit
Hi. Is anyone using a portable solar kit? What brand? Any tips on purchasing one? Thanks for your help.
Debbie
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03-03-2018, 06:26 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master 
2007 25' International CCD FB
Northridge
, California
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 514
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Zamp 120 love it easy to use just clamp on battery. Fold away in storage case. P
LilNomad
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03-03-2018, 06:26 PM
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#3
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Registered User
2016 25' Flying Cloud
Fairfield
, California
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 903
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Mine is a homebrew, details when I get home
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03-03-2018, 06:26 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2007 25' International CCD FB
Northridge
, California
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 514
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oops.. meets all my power needs.
LilNomad
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03-03-2018, 06:39 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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For the best bang for the buck check out Renogy. I am a happy customer.
__________________
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."
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03-03-2018, 06:43 PM
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#6
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4 Rivet Member 
Byron Center
, Michigan
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 275
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If you have a newer trailer, the trailer has a plug right by the batteries for a Zamp unit. Super easy to use. The 100 watt units are easy to handle. The 200 watt units get a little unwieldy solo. Not impossible, but bigger to move, store and manage. Zamp seems to be the preferred brand, but there are others out there.
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03-03-2018, 08:16 PM
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#7
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3 Rivet Member 
2017 25' Flying Cloud
Raleigh
, NC
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 112
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Search Ebay for Renogy Solar Suitcase, the factory often has some good deals direct. We have 200, as someone said earlier, works great but it is a little heavy.
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03-03-2018, 09:28 PM
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#8
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4 Rivet Member
2018 28' International
Renton
, Washington
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 291
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We have a 90 watt Overland (Washington company) and we’re happy with it but wish we had more watts for winter.
__________________
Walt
2018 28 International Serenity
2013 F150 Ecoboost
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03-04-2018, 07:52 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master 
2019 30' Classic
Canfield
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,240
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If you do a little research, you can have a lot better portable system if you do it yourself. I'll include pictures here with what I came up with. I have 3 - 100 watt flexible panels with 75 feet of cable that will plug into the front to the trailer's solar connector. Most solar controllers (including the ones that come with a lot of portable systems, are not waterproof. I used the weather tight box, with two .15 amp fans, to house my controller. I also used a MPPT controller for more efficiency. Now all this is not necessary, but I've got only $600 in the project and it produces way more power than the Zamp portable.
You do learn a lot about solar building your own, which is a good thing.
__________________
x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\101970\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\/x\x/x\x/x
2017 Airstream International Signature 27FB Twin
2019 Airstream Classic 30 Twin
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03-04-2018, 08:25 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2017 27' Flying Cloud
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 753
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I have the 200 watt Zamp portable unit and am very happy with it. That said, I think it is overpriced.
Don't forget you get a solar credit on your US income taxes of 30%.
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03-04-2018, 09:37 AM
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#11
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1 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Memphis
, Tennessee
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 10
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Thank you all for your input! I pick up my 2018 19 foot Tommy Bahama next week. It does have an SAE connector for a portable solar panel. I am leaning towards the 100 watt Renogy suit case. I am upgrading from a 1959 FAN trailer. I will be on this forum often. I have concerns over the electric awning. I hope it is not troublesome. There are conflicting instructions on how to manually close it.
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03-04-2018, 09:41 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2019 30' Classic
Canfield
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,240
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Congratulations on the new rig!!!
__________________
x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\101970\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\/x\x/x\x/x
2017 Airstream International Signature 27FB Twin
2019 Airstream Classic 30 Twin
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03-09-2018, 01:24 PM
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#13
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Silver Sojourn
2007 27' Classic FB
Excelsior
, Minnesota
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 23
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Here's a cool portable idea.
FLEXIBLE SOLAR PANEL WINDOW AWNING Battery Charging System [DIY Project IDEA]
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