Using solar to charge battery

[dvierling2000]

Has anyone used a solar panel to charge their battery?
If so, what kind do you use?
Where can I get it?

[wavery]

Has anyone used a solar panel to charge their battery?
If so, what kind do you use?
Where can I get it?

There has been a lot of discussions on this subject. You might glean some info here:
http://www.arveeclub.com/search.php?searchid=227100

[kwatson51]

Has anyone used a solar panel to charge their battery?
If so, what kind do you use?
Where can I get it?

Hi,
We used our solar panel the first time last weekend.
You can read more at:
http://www.arveeclub.com/showthread.php?t=63630

Ours was given to us. It's a smallish unit, about 10"x16" or so.
Its hooked up through a device that prevents back-flow from the battery.
On the back, there is a label with "BP Solar" on it with all the specs. (yes, the same BP as the oil company).

I think my buddy that gave it to us got it off eBay for about $70 or so. That has been a couple of years ago.

We were in an RV store this morning, and they had solar units for about $300, but they were quite large like by buddy's new one (about 2' x 4')

My little one did a fine job of keeping the battery topped off -- with 2 of us for 3 nights and 4 for the next 2 nights. Sure beats lugging a generator around!
You can get an inverter for your battery if you MUST run your TV or electric coffee maker. We do without them just fine (but do miss the convenience).

Best wishes on your endeavors.

[JimS]

I'm in the process of putting together a system right now.  I have already pruchased a Kyocera KC - 130TM 130 watt panel, Blue Sky Solar Boost 2000E controller with the battery temp. sensor, and plenty of 6 and 10 gage wire.  I plan to add a couple of Trojan T - 105 6V batteries and mount them in a marine grade battery box on the front of my cargo deck (Starcraft 11-RT). I am not going to mount the panel on the roof but instead keep it to where I can move it around to follow the sun.  The biggest problem I have is where to mount the marine grade plug (probably a trolling motor type plug) on the outside of the camper.  Routing the wire is the problem here - will have to drill through the floor and snake around the frame.  I purchased the bulk of the system from RV Solar Electric.  I got the "Jumbo" system and upgraded the controller.  Once installed, I will give a review.  In late August, I'm going to Glacier NP for 2 weeks and stay at a rather primitive campground.  I will be using the heater at night.  I hope the solar panel will keep the batteries up.

[wavery]

kwatson51

The reality of that solar panel is that it is designed to maintain a battery at a charged state. It is not a battery charging solar panel. If it puts out 1A in full sunlight, I would be surprised. That would give you about 5A a day if it were a clear sunny day and you moved it about once an hour to face directly at the sun. That's enough power to run your furnace for about 30 minutes.

However better than nothing, it is impossible to judge whether or not it is really effecting your battery usage.

BTW, you can increase the output of that panel by not using the controller. However, you will need to remember to unplug it at dark and plug it back in around sun-up for best performance.

That controller is only intended to be used when the panel is left on a battery that is in storage. That's what that panel is mainly designed for. It's designed to keep up with the natural discharge of a battery in storage so that the battery doesn't go dead. Some auto manufacturers use them on vehicles in storage because it causes a lot of disruption when a battery is dead when someone goes to move the car.
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JimS

That will make a nice set-up. You will be happy with that as long as you can get a clear view of a cloudless sky.

10G wire may be a little overkill for 10A. However, it will give you the ability to go 100' without experiencing much resistance.

I love the temp sensitive controllers because that is the best way to regulate your batteries. Under certain conditions, you could take your batteries to 15v without boiling them. It's important to get every single watt that you can, while you can. You never know whether you will have a good day of sun tomorrow.

You might want to consider the new AGM batteries. They are smaller, lighter, charge faster and can be mounted in any position, even upside down.

Are you going to add an inverter? If you are able to keep up with demand, a 2000w inverter may be nice with that set-up

[JimS]

wavery,
I'm hoping it will work the way I want.  If you look at the tiny avatar picture, that is where I will be for 2 weeks.  Lots of trees and a low sun angle.  Also, the weather can be iffy that time of year.  That is the reason I kind of went overkill on the panel and the wiring.  Most seem to get by with an 85 watt panel.  I don't think I can.  I will use 10G wire from the SP to the controller and then 6G welding cable from it to the batteries - if I can figure out how to hook such thick cable up to standard screw connectors.  The reason for the heavy wire is that I'm trying for less than 0.4V drop.  I will be making a stand of some sorts to prop up the SP to keep it off the ground and pointed at the sun.  As for an inverter, I have a 400 watt unit that does nothing more than charge my camera batteries when needed.  The house batteries will only run the heater at night, water pump and lights - which will be replaced with LED's.  After years of tent camping, I can get along quite nicely without electricity.  But now that I have a PUP and a one year old son,......  Since Glacier NP is frequently cloudy and can be cool in late August and early Sept., I'm hoping the one SP with about 7.5A, and the MPPT capability of the SB 200E will be adequate.  I have looked at the AGM's and the Lifeline equivalent to the T -105 is around $250 + each.  I'm already breaking the bank with this!
BTW, thank you for the suggestion about not mounting it to the roof and keeping the SP mobile.  That is exactly what I'm going to do.