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Old 05-22-2018, 09:57 PM   #1
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Solar power to keep my battery charge

Never use that system
Now my vibe has a build in hock up for panels
Do I need a special panel or would like Coleman system work
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Old 05-22-2018, 10:02 PM   #2
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Coleman? OK, I get it, you have no idea about solar. So I guess you need to educate yourself about solar panels, charge controllers and wiring.
First question you need to ask yourself, do you really have a need for solar?
Do you have room to instal an adequate solar system?
Do you have room to instal sufficient battery bank to support your needs for how ever long you plan to dry camp?
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Old 05-23-2018, 01:09 PM   #3
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Ho by the way I know quite a lot about solar panels
It’s obvious your not a vibe owners
My question was for vibe owners what they use
My tt already have a build in system for solar
My question was about panels
Coleman make panels
Need to know the amps require to keep my battery change when park in storage
And panels with the proper connector
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Old 05-23-2018, 01:29 PM   #4
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I'm no Vibe owner; however, I bet even the smartest Vibe owners (they are a cut above the rest aren't they? ) will need to know this very basic information:

- Your batteries' voltage and amp hour capacity. (Either (2) 6volt batteries wired in series to make 12v, (1) 12v with a AH rating or (2) 12v paralleled to double the amp hours and retain the same 12v)
- Size of solar panel you're considering. (They are measured in watts...but you knew that)

Please tell me your trailer will be parked outside...If it's stored inside, there's likely no hope for the solar set up to work!
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Old 05-23-2018, 01:51 PM   #5
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The system is 1 12v AH
And yes the trailer is park outside in the sun [emoji274]
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Old 05-23-2018, 02:59 PM   #6
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Anyone ever use the Zamp Solar system and panels on there vibe
Let me know the results
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Old 05-23-2018, 03:09 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alain h View Post
...by the way I know quite a lot about solar panels....
Quote:
Originally Posted by alain h View Post
The system is 1 12v AH...
Point proven...

In order for anyone (this is not a Vibe specific question) to help you, correct information needs to be provided.

A solar panel can easily be hooked up to your trailer. However, without any of us here knowing the size battery you have, the size panel you want, if your trailer has a built in controller, etc....none of us can help you.

Will a solar panel keep batteries topped off in storage? Probably, but it's got to be big enough to keep the battery charged.
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Old 05-23-2018, 03:13 PM   #8
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Ok give the guy a break. Its obvious english is not his first language.
Basically 1 12 volt dual use battery should maintain just fine with a 100 watt panel. There is a world of differences between panels, so you need to search and read before spending any money.
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Old 05-23-2018, 03:38 PM   #9
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Your funny [emoji38] bit you right
Thanks
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Old 05-23-2018, 04:10 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alain h View Post
Ho by the way I know quite a lot about solar panels
It’s obvious your not a vibe owners
My question was for vibe owners what they use
My tt already have a build in system for solar
My question was about panels
Coleman make panels
Need to know the amps require to keep my battery change when park in storage
And panels with the proper connector
I don't have a Vibe. BUT, you are asking about keeping your battery fully charged while sitting in storage. That I do know a little about...

I am assuming that you have a battery cut off switch or that you have killed all power going into the trailer some other way (disconnect that battery).

I use a Coleman battery maintainer panel. I don't remember that wattage but I think it is under 10 watts. I use the provided battery clips to connect to the battery. Using some string, I hang the panel on top of my propane tanks. That slowly topped up the battery and/or maintained 100% even with only 1/3 day of full sun (when it was sunny in the winter). My neighbor at a prior storage location built a gizmo out of perforated angle which he attached to the hitch on his 5th wheel. That did a slightly better job of pointing the panel at the sun.

No need to connect into the ZAMP plug on the trailer. BTW, I THINK the ZAMP setup has the wires backwards to what most other panels and connectors use (pos and neg inverted to make it a custom setup).
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Old 05-24-2018, 03:00 PM   #11
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How long it takes to recharge the batteries depends on your solar panel Wattage as well as how much power you used last night and will use during the day while you are recharging. Sometimes power usage in the camper uses more than the solar panels are putting into the battery as charge, so you are barely charging or maybe no charge is being realized, just slowing the battery depletion with the added solar output.
I find this site helps explain it and helps understand what you might need.
Always get a system that can be upgraded or added on to.

https://www.outsidesupply.com/rv-solar-guide/
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Old 05-24-2018, 05:36 PM   #12
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Solar panel

The idea is good if you are not living in a snow contry!!
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Old 05-24-2018, 06:42 PM   #13
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The idea is good if you are not living in a snow contry!!


Trust me. From Canada. The sun still shines in the winter and you can use solar...I’m in alberta cold but not a lot of snow. So you may have to dust it off a couple of times a year
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Old 05-25-2018, 04:02 PM   #14
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solar panel

In Quebec is a different story! HA!HA!
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