Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-21-2017, 07:05 PM   #81
WE RV
 
WeekendEscape RV's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Bryan, Texas
Posts: 57
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackhat6mike View Post

Make sure you set up your charge rate on your controller for gel batteries as the rate is lower than acid or AGMs.
It is and thank you for the reminder.
__________________
2017 Rockwood Mini Lite 2109S
2016 Ford FX4 F150 V-8 4x4
Michael, Robin, and Sophie
"If you want to see some changes in your life, you have to make some changes in your life"~Michael
WeekendEscape RV is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2017, 07:16 PM   #82
Senior Member
 
Kenny kustom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 3,464
Where did you purchase the panels from?
100 watt flex can range from $200-500
__________________
2017 Dynamax Isata 4
Kenny kustom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2017, 08:12 PM   #83
WE RV
 
WeekendEscape RV's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Bryan, Texas
Posts: 57
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenny kustom View Post
Where did you purchase the panels from?
100 watt flex can range from $200-500
On Amazon. 120 Watt for $172 to my door. I've ran these on another build and couldn't be happier with their performance

Click image for larger version

Name:	Screenshot_20170421-201001.png
Views:	93
Size:	167.4 KB
ID:	135410
__________________
2017 Rockwood Mini Lite 2109S
2016 Ford FX4 F150 V-8 4x4
Michael, Robin, and Sophie
"If you want to see some changes in your life, you have to make some changes in your life"~Michael
WeekendEscape RV is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-23-2017, 07:24 AM   #84
WE RV
 
WeekendEscape RV's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Bryan, Texas
Posts: 57
We ordered a couple more things that will make our boondocking experience more comfortable. A soft-start capacitor for the A.C. and an inverter generator for those extended cloudy days. The capacitor should extend our solar capabilities and make things overall easier on our system.

Click image for larger version

Name:	Screenshot_20170423-071903.png
Views:	88
Size:	209.3 KB
ID:	135569
Click image for larger version

Name:	Screenshot_20170423-071847.png
Views:	79
Size:	166.0 KB
ID:	135570
__________________
2017 Rockwood Mini Lite 2109S
2016 Ford FX4 F150 V-8 4x4
Michael, Robin, and Sophie
"If you want to see some changes in your life, you have to make some changes in your life"~Michael
WeekendEscape RV is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2017, 10:50 AM   #85
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Austin
Posts: 14
question... do you have a "how to" plan for just a battery solar tender/charger for the tt??
__________________
life is good!
S_M_J82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2017, 11:11 AM   #86
WE RV
 
WeekendEscape RV's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Bryan, Texas
Posts: 57
Quote:
Originally Posted by S_M_J82 View Post
question... do you have a "how to" plan for just a battery solar tender/charger for the tt??
I do not but that could easily be achieved by installing an inexpensive charge controller and a 10W solar panel.
__________________
2017 Rockwood Mini Lite 2109S
2016 Ford FX4 F150 V-8 4x4
Michael, Robin, and Sophie
"If you want to see some changes in your life, you have to make some changes in your life"~Michael
WeekendEscape RV is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2017, 04:46 PM   #87
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 1,222
10 watts or less

The 5 watt panels that go on the dash and plug into a cigarette lighter are enough to keep a full battery charged. My truck battery lasted 10 years with one of those. For two batteries, you would want 10 watts. Everything I've read says 10 watts or less doesn't need a charge controller. It doesn't have enough amperage to overcharge a battery. Parasitic drains on my trailer run about 5 watts, so a 5 watt panel would not be enough to keep it charged if hooked up to a trailer, because the sun doesn't shine 24 hours. A 5 or 10 watt panel with no charge controller, and with battery disconnected from the trailer would do the trick. It won't necessarily charge your battery, but it will keep it from draining.

I would recommend a larger solar panel on the roof, with a charge controller. It tops off your battery during the day. Change your light bulbs to LED, and you won't need that much power. Some people are power hogs, but we get by fine with 100 watt panel and two batteries. The only time I had trouble was up in Montana when it rained a few days in a row. I put a smaller portable panel to catch the morning sun, and we did fine.
__________________
2009 Roo 21ss + 2007 Superduty 6.0
mnoland30 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2017, 06:21 PM   #88
WE RV
 
WeekendEscape RV's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Bryan, Texas
Posts: 57
A charge controller is a must have, especially if you are running gel cells! 14.1V will kill a gel cell in no time.

My philosophy is go big or go home so I do agree larger and on the roof is, in my opinion, the way to go.
__________________
2017 Rockwood Mini Lite 2109S
2016 Ford FX4 F150 V-8 4x4
Michael, Robin, and Sophie
"If you want to see some changes in your life, you have to make some changes in your life"~Michael
WeekendEscape RV is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
boondocking, solar

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:23 PM.