Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Anyone using a solar power on their campers?‏

Would like to setup a solar panel, etc to charge a 12v battery in my camper shell, anyone have a system setup?

PM me

GTC

yep use a solar panel to charge the rv battery on mine. bought it from Cabelas.

I've had them on two Lance campers and also installed a 15W panel and system on my 5th wheel last year. I like to have the continuous charging option. However, it can't keep up if you use the DC hard while off the grid. But it will keep the batts good for 3-4 days before charging from the truck. The more the wattage, the better the batts will stay charged.

Solar and wind are the only source of power for our home and we camp in here. Does that count?

I have used a 120 watt Kyocera panel on my RV's for about 15 years now, works great keeping 2 large batteries charged.

Using solar power requires two attitudes. One, you will buy enough panel(s) to do what you want to do. Two, you must study energy conservation and practice what you learn. No more leaving the lights on, etc. Unless you spend quite a bit of money, your wife is not going to be able to cook on the microwave, and your TV time will be curtailed quite a bit.

That could end 30 years of marriage

Well then get a 1000 watt, $129.00 gen set for the TV part. Cabela's, harbor freight etc. 2 stroke, not loud for the unit.

"buy enough panel(s) to do what you want to do."

GOOD words there,...and FORGET the "Harbor Freight" crap.

There's GOOD sources, for good gear,....and it's worth spending a few extra $$ therefor

GTC

Scott,
Don't wanna hijack old willys thread, but curious.

What you running for wind, (and solar)?

12 volt system and/or 115 V inverter?

I'm seriously thing of going this route to get off the grid as much as possible, and maybe even sell some back to the gouging bastids

Dave

YES!!! One reason I go camping is to get away from that kind of stuff. Now, if others would leave their @#$%^& generators at home.

I'd like to add to the ????

I'm building a cabin that will be unoccupied most of the year.......I'd like to leave a battery there and was wondering if I could leave it connected to a small, inexpensive solar panel to keep it "topped off" while we aren't there?? Would this require a controller to prevent overcharging??

they have controlers and regulators incorperated in the inverters that will keep the batrteries charged and shut down when batteries are charged. we have family cabin that uses 6 52 watt pannels and 8 6v batteries. working good for 10 years until duumbchet brother touched it.turned off panels and ran batteries down when it was winterized, batteries done for.

Have a Northstar camper with solar to charge dual batteries and run the 12v refer. Works great.

Apparently, unlike others, I have nothing but difficulties with propane refrigerators and so am very happy with the 12 v refer in the camper. Always works, can leave it on. Never a dim light. Don't need the truck to be connected up to keep the camper "with power."

tf

Yep. That is what exactly what we have.

Yeah, I am sick and damn tired of the generator idiots, they turn them on at 5:30 in the morning and dont kill them till 11:00 at night, and buy the cheapest noisiest genset they can find. If you cant cook without the microwave, stay the hell home!!

AMEN ON THAT!