We generally camp without hookups but have two golf cart batteries (220 amp-hours capacity total) and are frugal with our use of power. We also usually only camp for a few days, so our batteries have been fine and we didn’t feel a need for solar. However, we have planned to start camping for longer periods so have been giving solar some thought.
A while back I looked at a thread showing Grape 100 watt panels available from HD for $100 each with free shipping. I also read that solar panel prices may going up due to politics. So I went ahead and ordered two 100 watt Grape solar panels. I got a call from HD a few days later and picked them up. It was that easy.
I have read some threads about installing solar panels on the roof. This usually seemed to be on newer Airstream’s and the cost seemed very high partly I suppose since it always seemed to be incredibly complicated. Being complicated and high cost is not for me. I decided on a portable system. Plus I want the Airstream in the shade and the panels in the sun.
I looked at AirMiles thread and he had an MPPT solar controller from Victron which he liked and could send the information to your phone via Bluetooth so I ordered the MPPT 75/15 Bluetooth solar controller from Amazon for $125. I needed some other stuff like panel adjustable supports, 60 ft of #10 wire, mp-4 connectors and a tool to install the connectors onto the wire. This stuff was about $150. So my material cost was about $500 for my 200 watt portable system. I probably could have purchased two 100 watt suitcases or a 200 watt suitcase system for not much more but I wanted the flexibility of selecting the mppt controller and the length of the cable. Installation of the mppt controller was pretty simple as my two golf cart batteries are in the rear. I made a bracket for the solar controller and wired the connections to the battery with a 30 amp fuse and the connections for the solar wires just below the belly pan (see photos).
I carry the two panels standing up in the covered bed of my Tundra and they ride fine there. On two of our last three trips we were camped in full shade, so didn’t even try solar. The other location had some sun so we used the solar panels and they worked fine. I am a solar newbie and don’t really understand the information yet, but I got 900 watt hours of solar energy from my 200 watt panels on a sunny day and that seems pretty good.
Having solar will give us much more ability to use more power for uses that we were didn’t even think about before. Examples are more fan use to combat hot weather or bugs, our new 350 watt rice cooker, our 65 qt Dometic compressor fridge in the Tundra, recharging my blower, etc.
Dan
). If you have the room to carry it and don’t mind the setup, I think that portable solar is the way to go… park in the shade and put your panels in the sun.
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