View Poll Results: use Solar Power
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Yes
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7 |
70.00% |
No
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3 |
30.00% |
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10-11-2015, 08:57 PM
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#1
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Rockwood A192HW Camper
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: houston
Posts: 7
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Solar power connection to A192HW via the Solar ready feature - what is this?
Were getting it ready for BoonDocking (no shore power). heard there is a solar ready connection near the front by the vehicle power cord?
anyone know about this? know where it is and what it does?
Dealer say connect solar panel and power manager direct to the battery.
any recommendations on size of solar panel and controller?
want to use this to only power the 12v features of the system e.g. charge battery, to run DC appliance e.g. lights, refridge, radio, etc.
Anyone else thinking about this and have a tried and true solution?
--Ron
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10-12-2015, 02:01 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 144
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__________________
Dan
2012 Rockwood A128 (no S)
2016 Ram Power Wagon 6.4L Hemi 4x4
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10-21-2015, 07:13 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Penfield
Posts: 196
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What, exactly does the "pre-wire" mean? Is it just a pair or wires run to the battery that happen to go through the sidewall and look pretty?
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10-21-2015, 09:13 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 144
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For A-Frames, that's exactly what it means. You will need an external solar charge controller which is usually mounted on ground-mount solar panels, specifically from ZAMP:
http://www.forestriverinc.com/brochu...psolarinfo.pdf
Bigger RVs with solar connections on the roof, may already come with a solar charge controller installed from the factory. In that case, all you need are the solar panels.
__________________
Dan
2012 Rockwood A128 (no S)
2016 Ram Power Wagon 6.4L Hemi 4x4
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10-21-2015, 04:17 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 62
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If you plan on using that prewired connection, check the polarity with a multimeter. I had to make a special connection since Z-amp and my Renogy suitcase panel are reversed from each other.
__________________
2015 A122S
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10-23-2015, 10:35 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Washington state
Posts: 1,258
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Here's our solar set up. This monocrystalline panel efficiently works to charge the battery during the day. Its for the basics: recharge the battery, charge my phone and small electronics. We have LED lights in the trailer but we tend to use small battery and solar lanterns when dry camping.
The 12v volt meter helps to keep an eye on how much battery life is left. It's connected to the floor runway light switch, so it can be switched on and off and not drawing power all the time with its read out.
(Don't know why my photo flipped sideways. Don't know how to fix it but it gives the general idea)
__________________
2012 FR Flagstaff T12SDTH
1996 Shadowcruiser Pop Up Truck Camper
1967 Newell Motorcoach
2003 Ford F150 5.4 V8 Triton Super Cab
2004 Nissan Titan LE 5.6 V8 4x4 Crew Cab
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03-13-2016, 05:16 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 140
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2015 A192HW 100w solar panel. 30amp charge controller mounted next to breaker/fuse panel in dinette area. Works great.
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03-13-2016, 11:07 PM
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#8
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World Traveler Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Santa Rosa
Posts: 175
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I installed a 100 watt solar panel with controller and cable for $180 with no pre-wire. All I did is buy a battery post connectors at home depot and $129 grape solar panel and 20 controller that will support up to 3 panels and 50 feet of wire that I cut in half for 25 feet of movement for my panel.
__________________
2014 A194HW
2004 Toyota 4runner V8 4WD
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03-16-2016, 03:35 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 412
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refridge uses so little propane when running and would require so much solar and battery not sure it would be worth it on 12V when dry camping. I have 2 34 watt panels most of the time I can get by on one but some times need 2 if a little shaded.
__________________
Steve and Adele
2017 RB-195
2005 Toyota 4runner 4x4
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03-20-2016, 05:46 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Oregon
Posts: 16
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Solar set up
Quote:
Originally Posted by abdiver
I installed a 100 watt solar panel with controller and cable for $180 with no pre-wire. All I did is buy a battery post connectors at home depot and $129 grape solar panel and 20 controller that will support up to 3 panels and 50 feet of wire that I cut in half for 25 feet of movement for my panel.
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Thanks for the info Abdiver, I am a total newbie, I saw the grape solar panel at costco. Can you link to the 20 controller and post connections you use so I can see them? Are you happy with your setup and would you do anything differently?
Thanks
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03-20-2016, 05:47 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Oregon
Posts: 16
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Thanks for the info Abdiver, I am a total newbie, I saw the grape solar panel at costco. Can you link to the 20 controller and post connections you use so I can see them? Are you happy with your setup and would you do anything differently?
Thanks
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03-20-2016, 06:54 PM
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#12
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World Traveler Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Santa Rosa
Posts: 175
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bend5729
Thanks for the info Abdiver, I am a total newbie, I saw the grape solar panel at costco. Can you link to the 20 controller and post connections you use so I can see them? Are you happy with your setup and would you do anything differently?
Thanks
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The one thing I would upgrade is the stock battery I have since it came with a group 24 to a group 27 from Costco. The 24 has about 100 amps and the group 27 is about 150 amps and would last better on overcast days. My solar controller is VicTec Intelligent LCD 20A 12V/24V 240W/480W PWM Solar Panel Regulator Adapter Charge Controller and I got it on Amazon and I am pleased with it. My battery connectors I got at home depot they clamp on the posts with a side screw connector to hold the wire on.
My system has enough power for a couple of days and with the solar panel and on a good day it takes 4 hours to recharge. I also carry a Yamaha 2000 watt generator for the microwave and backup charger.
__________________
2014 A194HW
2004 Toyota 4runner V8 4WD
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03-22-2016, 01:00 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 99
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I just installed Bogart TRI-METRIC TM-2030 & SC-2030 MONITOR & CHARGE CONTROLLER to work with 2 100w suitcase panels. They work great but they wouldn't if I hadn't read www.handybobsolar.wordpress.com/. I highly advise you to read it before you spend your money. I applied what he said to my small solar system and am getting better results than a lot of people with many more panels.
DAYS CAMPED 2016 16
__________________
Tom & Laura USAF Ret Smsgt
1995 2500 5.9 Cummins 5 sp 3.54 diff
2011 Coachman Catalina 22FB
Days Camped 2016 91, 2017 110
Days camped 2018 136
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