solar

[rccs]

Tim   I don't remember which website I found this on right now, but someone had posted that Harbor Frieght has 45 watt solar units pretty resonable. If I remember right they were around $199.00 for the 45 watt unit. Maybe you could give them a try since they have a store there in Appleton and if they stock them you could see if they look usable for your purpose.

[SpeakEasy]

Thanks,

I think I will go with 2 6V deep cell batteries in series when my present battery needs replacing.  I will use it for now as it has set me back a bit $$

Has anyone mounted solar panels to the top of a folding camper?

I agree with forestcreature about wanting to be able to move the solar panel around. I would think that if you had it on the roof you'd be missing out on a lot of the best sun a lot of the time.

We have ours on a long cable, like forestcreature. I always set my camper up in a spot that I like for reasons other than electric charging. Then I place the solar panel in the best place for the most sunlight. Often I have to look around and think about where the sun path is during the day, and where the sunlight will be in the afternoon. That way I can place it and then go hiking for the day, and when I come back in the afternoon it's in full sun. Sometimes, if I'm at the campsite all day, I'll move it during the day to follow the sun. It may sound like a pain, but it's actually part of the fun.

We also have a light chain attached to our panel. When I'm gone for the day I chain it to a tree and put a padlock on it. That's to discourage any casual theft-minded individuals.

[Goldbender]

Dry camping is the deal.  Get away from the crowds. peace and quite.
If you get new batteries, get 2 - 6v golf carts batts.  Lots of battery bank, just in case you get caught in a rainy day or 3.  the amp hours of 2 -  6 volts golf cart batteries is something like double that of 2 group 24s.

I would not mount my solar panel on top of the roof for the simple reason that I prefer to park in the shade whenever possible then plug in the panel to my 40 foot cord and stick it out in the sun.  Also I will move it to face the sun throughout the day if I happen to be near by.

I use a non breakable (my wife ran over it with her car while I was drying it out in the street)  64 watt panel that gives me a full charge each day. I got it from a company in San Diego with wire and controller for under $500 total.  //www.solarelectricinc.com
us64 $289