Posted 2006-10-12 8:55 AM (#49962) Subject: Solar Battery Chargers
Regular
Posts: 59 Location: Mt. Vision, NY - waaay upstate
I am sure this has been done/asked before, but one more time for me please...I have a small LQ and have 2 batteries. The only thing I want to be able to do is charge my batteries back up if camping for a week or so. I want to run my water pump and some lights (few) and occassionally my furnace. Question 1. What size solar panel(s) do I need? 2. How much do these cost (ballpark)? 3. Can I install them/it myself, or should I hire it done? 4. Do these panels stay on all year long or can they be removed and stored inside? My trailer will be winterized next week and then stored, but not undercover so snow/ice can get to roof.
Posted 2006-10-12 2:09 PM (#50003 - in reply to #49962) Subject: RE: Solar Battery Chargers
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 366 Location: Albany, Oregon
Originally written by pasobeth on 2006-10-12 6:55 AM
Question?
1. What size solar panel(s) do I need?
50-75ish watts=3-4 amps in full sunlight
2. How much do these cost (ballpark)?
$300-$500+charge controller $45.00
3. Can I install them/it myself, or should I hire it done?
Yes if you have basic knolage of 12V and can solider and run a drill.
4. Do these panels stay on all year long or can they be removed and stored inside?
Yes they are designed to do this.
Note: Those size panels will not charge the batteries when you use them alot. They will contribute to the charge and will take care of your batteries all winter better than the 110v battery charger. To get enough panels to run your outfit might cost 2-3 times the $500.00. You can fire up the tow vehicle to top them off when they fade. It starts getting spendy.....then you go buy a 1000w Honda! It all depends on how much you use 12V to pick the right size.
Posted 2006-10-12 4:27 PM (#50013 - in reply to #49962) Subject: RE: Solar Battery Chargers
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 524 Location: Lone Oak, Tx
Hi Pasobeth,
I have a 20 watter on top of the roof of my trailer. It keeps my batteries charged quite well, but that's all it does. I would like to get more but it all comes down to what I can spend money on. We usually camp out for about three days at a time, mostly on my endurance rides and I have never had my batteries drain out totally. But I also run LEDS in my main 12v lighting and the occasional water pump usage and maybe the radio, but that's pretty much it. The LEDS really help with battery consumption.
For the larger stuff I use my generator (fridge and what not). To run more you would need more, as xyzer stated, and yes more panels can get expensive. The other thing you will definately need is a solar charge controller. What that does is control the amount of current from the panel to the batteries so the panel(s) do not burn up your batteries. They was not hard to install, I did mine and it's on the web site in my sig. like I said, I intend to get more but with a new house toys are definately on hold for the moment.
Posted 2006-10-13 7:05 AM (#50040 - in reply to #49962) Subject: RE: Solar Battery Chargers
Regular
Posts: 59 Location: Mt. Vision, NY - waaay upstate
Folks - Thank you for all the infomation. It is so nice to have ALL my questions answered in one place! A friend told me he would install it if I had he and his wife over for lunch this winter. Sounds like a plan.
Posted 2006-10-13 8:25 AM (#50044 - in reply to #50040) Subject: RE: Solar Battery Chargers
Elite Veteran
Posts: 671 Location: THE GREAT NORTHWET, OREGON(THE REAL GODS COUNTRY)
Originally written by pasobeth on 2006-10-13 5:05 AM
Folks - Thank you for all the infomation. It is so nice to have ALL my questions answered in one place! A friend told me he would install it if I had he and his wife over for lunch this winter. Sounds like a plan.
Let us know how it goes,take notes so you can post them on a thread and keep those who want to know informed."Perspiring people " want to know !
Posted 2006-10-13 1:53 PM (#50066 - in reply to #49962) Subject: RE: Solar Battery Chargers
Regular
Posts: 59 Location: Mt. Vision, NY - waaay upstate
OK - will take notes and pictures and share on this board. May be a couple months or so. I was told to buy in the winter when they are cheaper. Don't know how that can be, but oh well.
Posted 2006-10-14 7:06 PM (#50101 - in reply to #49962) Subject: RE: Solar Battery Chargers
New User
Posts: 1
Location: Tampa, FL
You can figure out your needs by calculating what your usage would be per day. List the appliances/lights you plan to run and how much time total (in hrs.) Their amp rating tells you how much energy they draw per hour. So a 3 amp water pump that you use for 1.5 hrs. per day would draw 4.5 amps. Add up all your energy needs and that’s your daily amp usage. Opinions vary but most people in the know say your batteries should cover that plus 30-50% over that quantity. Make sure your batteries’ amp-hour rating matches your calculated need. Then, you need to understand that any time you convert energy there is a loss so the net wattage is different than the panel’s rated wattage. I run two 75 watt panels with a 220 amp-hr battery bank and can dry camp the whole weekend with a daily draw of 80-100 amps depending on what I run. A great book that helps you figure it all out is Managing 12 Volts: How to Upgrade, Operate, and Troubleshoot 12 Volt Electrical Systems by Harold Barre, Updated Second Edition 2002. I used it to design, purchase and install the 12v system in my horse trailer.
Posted 2007-07-13 9:03 AM (#63822 - in reply to #49962) Subject: RE: Solar Battery Chargers
Regular
Posts: 59 Location: Mt. Vision, NY - waaay upstate
Just wanted to update folks on the solar batter charger stuff. Got mine installed a month ago. It is 4 panels, 15 volts each. The installation was done by a friend of mine and it took one hour - tops. He has done several others on horse trailers and mine was a snap. He was able to use a cupboard to put the small unit that tells if your are charging (yellow light) or fully charged (green light). THis unit cannot overcharge the battery. This is really the way to go!!!! No more worrying about the batteries going dead after a week of primitive camping. I got my unit from Ebay and I believe it was $400-450, but it is well worth the money. I am one of those who HATES listening to the darn generators going. You do not need sun - just daylight. Supposedly works thru 3 inches of snow. We shall see come winter.
Posted 2007-07-13 11:31 AM (#63845 - in reply to #49962) Subject: RE: Solar Battery Chargers
Elite Veteran
Posts: 736 Location: Western WA
My husband and I lived in a 5th wheel while we built our house, and the first three months were without power (long story - a couple of weeks turned into months). We had two solar panels on the roof of the 5th wheel and they kept the batteries charged enough to have lights, water pump, and minimal use of the furnace. This was Sept-Dec in the Seattle area so daylight hours were short and lots of overcast days, very few days of blue skies and sunshine. We used a generator to run a washer/dryer unit and watch TV (and heat up the electric blanket to warm the bed before going to bed). I highly recommend the solar panels when a generator or shore power isn't possible or practical. I mainly use my LQ trailer for shows so shore power is readily available. If I camped, I would get solar panels installed in a heartbeat. Just my 2 cents worth.
Pic 3: Tregulator box (in LQ cupboard) that keeps the charger from overcharging. I has a light which shows yellow when charging and green when fully charged. The black electrical tape is to keep the excess wire out of the way.
Posted 2007-07-22 7:45 PM (#64240 - in reply to #49962) Subject: RE: Solar Battery Chargers
Veteran
Posts: 211 Location: El Paso, Texas
I agree, buy the generator, my buddy started the solar panel thing on his trailer. It was never quite enough to charge the batteries. Finally after spending over a grand and getting the volts just right, a hail storm took the whole system out. Buy the generator, when its running, not only does it charge your batteries it helps cool down the refrigerator and you can use 110 volt stuff.
Posted 2007-07-22 8:58 PM (#64244 - in reply to #64240) Subject: RE: Solar Battery Chargers
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
a hail storm took the whole system
Now that stinks!!
Hey, your in El Paso, are there any trailer dealers there? I looked in one in Las Cruces, but they are a camper dealer that only has a couple of trailers.
Posted 2007-07-23 1:30 PM (#64283 - in reply to #64275) Subject: RE: Solar Battery Chargers
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
How long does it take to get there? My map program is showing 460 miles, from Deming. Do you have to go through the Guadalupe mtns? Even though it's nowhere near as steep as the Teton pass, I still don't like it. The winds can be awfull.
Solar Battery Chargers
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