Solar Panel Install on A122 Trailer

[daveinpickerington]

I added a permanent 100w solar panel and interior outlets to the A122.

I apologize, but, there is some duplication in videos 1 and 2.

Solar Panel on A122 Travel Trailer - Part 1 - YouTube

Solar Panel on A122 Travel Trailer - Part 2 - YouTube

Interior 12V Wiring for A122 Travel Trailer - YouTube

Dave

[BelgianSquiggy]

Nice setup! I Could benefit from having a setup like yours, its almost always sunny in colorado and arizona where i go. What was the cost and model numbers of your equipment?

[buffalohunter]

Nice post Dave, I would like the information same as BelgianSquiggy.

[backpacker3]

That is a very nice setup. Good job and thanks for the info, something to think about on my part.
Thanks again.

[daveinpickerington]

Originally Posted by BelgianSquiggy

Nice setup! I Could benefit from having a setup like yours, its almost always sunny in colorado and arizona where i go. What was the cost and model numbers of your equipment?

I will post the requested info sometime next week.

[D-mo]

nice system ... nicely thought out ...

d-mo

[ThunderRoad]

Does that model not have windows on that side? I have a 2013 A122BH and it has bubble windows on each side (one large on one end, two smaller ones on the other).

[Jeep4Two]

The 2011's did t have bubbles on the front end.

[ThunderRoad]

Gotcha. Could probably still mount one above the bubble windows, though.

Eagerly awaiting more information on this project!

[daveinpickerington]

Mine is an early build 2012 without front windows. You could mount the panel above the door side window.

[FarFromStock]

Great videos!!!! Thanks for sharing!!

[daveinpickerington]

As promised earlier, my equipment list follows.

100W Solar Panel cost $299 from EBay seller dab.soalr. I could not find any US made flexible panels this thin so I had to purchase a Chinese panel. The panel was shipped from California. There is no current US listing for this panel. However, this same panel is available from his UK location.

Solar Converter (Solar Converters Inc PPT 12/24 - 10) $125 from solarseller.com

10' of 10 gauge zip cord: Zip Cable Cord

Watts-Up power meter: Watt's Up Meter by Power Werx

Powerpole connectors and mounts from powerwerx.com

Cigarette Lighter Socket: Amazon.com: Blue Sea 1011 12V DC Socket: Automotive

3M double sided outdoor tape: Amazon.com: Scotch Permanent Outdoor Mounting Tape, 1 Inch x 450 Inches (4011-LONG): Office Products

3M 1" Extreme Tealing tape: Extreme Sealing Tape, W 1 In, L 18 Yd - Packaging Tapes - Tapes - 4YLY7 : Grainger Industrial Supply

[ThunderRoad]

Was the solar panel a single 100w panel? I see that ebay store has a 100w, but it looks as if it's 2x50w bundled together.

[daveinpickerington]

Originally Posted by ThunderRoad

Was the solar panel a single 100w panel? I see that ebay store has a 100w, but it looks as if it's 2x50w bundled together.

The panel is a single 100W panel.

From my original post:

Originally Posted by daveinpickerington

There is no current US listing for this panel. However, this same panel is available from his UK location.

The panel in the UK: UK Stock UK Ship 100W Semi-Flexible Mono Solar Panel for DIY Car,Boat,Carvan | eBay

You could email the seller to see if he will be getting more US stock.

Dave

[ddavis662]

Great set up!
Is your solar panel charging a separate battery?
Or did you just bypass the existing interior 12 volt system when you wired the cigarette lighter and power plugs directly to the battery?

[daveinpickerington]

Originally Posted by ddavis662

Great set up!
Is your solar panel charging a separate battery?
Or did you just bypass the existing interior 12 volt system when you wired the cigarette lighter and power plugs directly to the battery?

I only have one battery setup (two 6v batteries in series). They feed the trailer just like original battery.

I bypassed the factory wiring and ran new 10 gauge wiring directly to the batteries for the internal cigarette lighter and power plugs. I did this because I wanted a direct to battery connection for my ham radio (20 amps) and soon to be purchased 12V compressor fridge (5-6 amps). This frees up the factory wiring for running interior lights, Fantastic fan, TV, radio ...etc.

Dave

[ddavis662]

Originally Posted by daveinpickerington

I only have one battery setup (two 6v batteries in series). They feed the trailer just like original battery.

I bypassed the factory wiring and ran new 10 gauge wiring directly to the batteries for the internal cigarette lighter and power plugs. I did this because I wanted a direct to battery connection for my ham radio (20 amps) and soon to be purchased 12V compressor fridge (5-6 amps). This frees up the factory wiring for running interior lights, Fantastic fan, TV, radio ...etc.

Dave

Cool!
I was just wanting to make sure that I wasn't missing something.

[BelgianSquiggy]

Excellent! Now I have to start another jar of savings! Thanks for the info.

[BelgianSquiggy]

Well I have been toying the idea around to do the solar panel install. I'm debating if I should mount a panel on the roof, or have one that I can set up on the ground to angle towards the sun.

Long story short, for me to park easily where we normally camp, the truck faces north, and the solar panel would face north also on the roof. How efficient will the panel be if it is a sunny day, but it is facing away from the sun? Most of our camping trips are about three to four days, and I would think that 100 watt panel would be good. 5 amps give or take in full sun, but what about my situation?

We will be boondocking for three days towards the end of october, and we will have to use the furnace. 9000 ft elevation, and about 25 degrees at night. But we will have the radio, lights(still have to order LED lights, suggestions?) on for a longer time seeing that the sun will set alot earlier so battery usage is a concern. I would imagine that if the panel could produce 2.5 amps to compensate for the furnace, we should be ok, but unfortunately I can't find anything about solar panel output when the panel is facing away from the sun.

[D-mo]

This strongly depends on the type of charge controller you have.
I have basically the same system as the daveinpicterington, about 80 watts, but with another 30 watt panel dedicated to charging a Xantex/inverter product.
I have not mounted my panels, but use them with 25 ft of cable to find the sun, as these panel really work, only when the sun is fully on them. My charge controller will only allow charging when the panel is fully in the sun, and the battery bank is lower than the output, volt wise. Once the panel is out of the sun i get some charging effects, not nothing compared to the digital pulse blasts of 14.4 volts every 15 or so secounds. Out of the sun i can push in, but who knows what amp level that would be.
We live and camp mostly in Ontario, using our provincial parks as go to spots. Most of these are quiet and shaded, therefore the setup has to remain off the trailer.

hope this helps ... d-mo