Portable Solar panel

[aboyz]

Hi,

Is it necessary to get extra portable solar panel to plug in for more power? Or is the one pre installed good enough?

Please let me know if you are using extra solar panel to get more power

thank you

[awd.nv]

This will depend on so many factors it is too hard to say but I just picked up a Geo Pro 19BH with the 190w roof solar but am also certain that I will need my 200watt Renogy briefcase kit with me for boondocking. Primarily because how the roof panel sits, it won't have ideal placement half the time.

The Renogy 200watt kit I purchased from Amazon for less than $400, would give you some good recharge abilities when combined with the roof kit.

No one will probably be able to really answer this until you try it. I heard a great tip the other day. Try boondocking at a campground with full hookups. That way if you run out of power, water or fill your tank too fast you have a plan B.

[CustomBuild]

I got my 22RBHL around 3 weeks ago and didn't know they had included a solar panel until after I took delivery. With the refrigerator running (12v only) it took a few days for the battery to be too low. Right now I'm not using the trailer and I switched the refrigerator off. Everyday though I am opening and closing the slide, awning, use the tongue jack and other electrics and her in CA the battery is constantly fully charged. So the small solar panel is doing a fantastic job. I can't imagine it would be much use for boondocking though.

[PhilFromMaine]

Originally Posted by aboyz

Hi,

Is it necessary to get extra portable solar panel to plug in for more power? Or is the one pre installed good enough?

Please let me know if you are using extra solar panel to get more power

thank you

There are a lot of variables to consider. The sort answer is no. Location, environment, time of year, are just a few of the variables.

If you are in the Northeast Forest area, USA and have a site in the open (rare), a 100 watt panel will allow you to sparingly use your water pump and furnace circulator. That of course assumes that the 3-4 hour window for good solar in late June isn't ruined by cloud cover. Obviously, the more panels and storage capacity you have, the better your experience will be.

I have 500 watts of solar: 2-200 watt portable panels, 1-100 watt suitcase, and a 200AH lithium battery. I have extension cords ranging from 30' to 50'. From what I have seen and read, serious boondockers will have between 400-800 watts of solar. My upgrades have cost me nearly 3000 dollars (ouch).

[aboyz]

Originally Posted by CustomBuild

I got my 22RBHL around 3 weeks ago and didn't know they had included a solar panel until after I took delivery. With the refrigerator running (12v only) it took a few days for the battery to be too low. Right now I'm not using the trailer and I switched the refrigerator off. Everyday though I am opening and closing the slide, awning, use the tongue jack and other electrics and her in CA the battery is constantly fully charged. So the small solar panel is doing a fantastic job. I can't imagine it would be much use for boondocking though.

hwo do you turn the refrigetrator off? There is no on or off switch. But I did manage to turn the dial to 0 inside for hottest.. Is this the right way to do it?

[aboyz]

Originally Posted by PhilFromMaine

There are a lot of variables to consider. The sort answer is no. Location, environment, time of year, are just a few of the variables.

If you are in the Northeast Forest area, USA and have a site in the open (rare), a 100 watt panel will allow you to sparingly use your water pump and furnace circulator. That of course assumes that the 3-4 hour window for good solar in late June isn't ruined by cloud cover. Obviously, the more panels and storage capacity you have, the better your experience will be.

I have 500 watts of solar: 2-200 watt portable panels, 1-100 watt suitcase, and a 200AH lithium battery. I have extension cords ranging from 30' to 50'. From what I have seen and read, serious boondockers will have between 400-800 watts of solar. My upgrades have cost me nearly 3000 dollars (ouch).

Wow!! $3000 just for all the solar panels. With all that solar power how many hours do you get out of that? Does it last you the whole day.. I mean not constantly using it. Just normal use.

Do you know the name or brand that is compitable with geo pro 20bhs. do we need special plug?

[CustomBuild]

Originally Posted by aboyz

hwo do you turn the refrigetrator off? There is no on or off switch. But I did manage to turn the dial to 0 inside for hottest.. Is this the right way to do it?

I'd read in the forums that there was no switch and I might have just got lucky with a newer model. With mine there is a button to the right of the temperature indicators marked on/off and press for 10 seconds. At 10 seconds nothing happens, but around 12 it turns off.

I'm using the battery isolator each night when I go home after working on the trailer and when the battery is turned back on each morning the first job is to turn the refrigerator back off again. It comes on automatically. I'm currently planning to install a residential style wall switch when I relocate the refrigerator over the next couple of weeks. I'll use a residential switch because I will be confident in it handling the power and they look neater. Just for reference, my refrigerator, hopefully, will be moving back around 24" and I'll install my isolator switch at the time I'm adjusting the cabinetry back there.

[aboyz]

Originally Posted by CustomBuild

I'd read in the forums that there was no switch and I might have just got lucky with a newer model. With mine there is a button to the right of the temperature indicators marked on/off and press for 10 seconds. At 10 seconds nothing happens, but around 12 it turns off.

I'm using the battery isolator each night when I go home after working on the trailer and when the battery is turned back on each morning the first job is to turn the refrigerator back off again. It comes on automatically. I'm currently planning to install a residential style wall switch when I relocate the refrigerator over the next couple of weeks. I'll use a residential switch because I will be confident in it handling the power and they look neater. Just for reference, my refrigerator, hopefully, will be moving back around 24" and I'll install my isolator switch at the time I'm adjusting the cabinetry back there.

can you take a picture of the turn off switch . i want to see if my have one..

[aboyz]

Originally Posted by awd.nv

This will depend on so many factors it is too hard to say but I just picked up a Geo Pro 19BH with the 190w roof solar but am also certain that I will need my 200watt Renogy briefcase kit with me for boondocking. Primarily because how the roof panel sits, it won't have ideal placement half the time.

The Renogy 200watt kit I purchased from Amazon for less than $400, would give you some good recharge abilities when combined with the roof kit.

No one will probably be able to really answer this until you try it. I heard a great tip the other day. Try boondocking at a campground with full hookups. That way if you run out of power, water or fill your tank too fast you have a plan B.

is this the kit you got?
https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-200-Wa...4139999&sr=8-3

do you need to get any adapter to plug into the trailer?

[CustomBuild]

Originally Posted by aboyz

can you take a picture of the turn off switch . i want to see if my have one..

Here you go.

[aboyz]

Originally Posted by CustomBuild

Here you go.

yeah you got the newer model. the one I got is just the knob from 0 - 7 I turned it to 0 for the warmesth but it doesn't shut off.

OPERATING YOUR REFRIGERATOR
Temperature Control
• Your refrigerator has one control for regulating the
temperature. The temperature control is located on the top
center of the refrigerator compartment.
• The first time you turn the unit on, adjust the temperature
control knob to “7” and run for at least 2 hours before putting
foods inside. This will ensure the cabinet is thoroughly
chilled before food is put in.
• The range of the refrigerator temperature control is from
position "1" the warmest to "7" the coldest. Adjust the
temperature control to the setting that best suits your needs.
The setting of “4” should be appropriate for home or office
refrigerator use.
• Turning the temperature control knob to “0” position stops the cooling cycle but does not shut off the power to the unit.

Thank you. They should make a shut off switch so I can switch it off and on. Wonder how many power does it use if it is in the 0 position.

[PeterFischer]

Is there a limit on how much electricity the storage batteries can accept from solar panels? I have a portable power station that can be recharged with a maximum of 100W solar panel.

[2WheelJon]

How do you like your Renogy 200 watt solar kit? I'm thinking of getting one.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by PeterFischer

Is there a limit on how much electricity the storage batteries can accept from solar panels? I have a portable power station that can be recharged with a maximum of 100W solar panel.

The limit is determined by how much wattage you have in solar panels and the "size/rating" of the solar controller.

The controller will limit the amount sent to the batteries according to the battery's state of charge.

Portable power stations most likely have solar controllers built in that limit panel input to 100 watts or whatever the manufacturer designed in.

[awd.nv]

Originally Posted by aboyz

hwo do you turn the refrigetrator off? There is no on or off switch. But I did manage to turn the dial to 0 inside for hottest.. Is this the right way to do it?

My unit does not have an off switch but instead, I pull the fuse for the appliance circuit. Before putting the fuse back in, I would shut off the battery circuit at the kill switch to prevent an electrical ark. On the 19BH the battery kill switch is under the propane tank area, there is a knob you turn.

Originally Posted by 2WheelJon

How do you like your Renogy 200 watt solar kit? I'm thinking of getting one.

If this was for me, I have only used it a handful of times but I love it. A bit too heavy for my wife but I do not have issues with it.

[aboyz]

Originally Posted by awd.nv

My unit does not have an off switch but instead, I pull the fuse for the appliance circuit. Before putting the fuse back in, I would shut off the battery circuit at the kill switch to prevent an electrical ark. On the 19BH the battery kill switch is under the propane tank area, there is a knob you turn.



If this was for me, I have only used it a handful of times but I love it. A bit too heavy for my wife but I do not have issues with it.

Where is the fuse at anyway? why not just kill the battery switch and be done with ..

[{Tpc}]

Question for the solar guys. If you don't boondock, never really a reason to have one then, correct? We thought about getting one for our salem, and even thought about having a panel installed on the roof, but most of the time we camp in spots that have tree cover, and electricity, so it doesn't seem beneficial.

I thought it might be nice for the times before a trip when I have the trailer home (on the street without access to electricity), so to keep the batterys up while I have the fridge running (I have the everchill as well). But I feel like even I get a spot to put it in, someone would just steal a panel on the ground.

Suffice, we haven't got one yet. Every once in awhile the DW brings it up though...

[aboyz]

Originally Posted by {Tpc}

Question for the solar guys. If you don't boondock, never really a reason to have one then, correct? We thought about getting one for our salem, and even thought about having a panel installed on the roof, but most of the time we camp in spots that have tree cover, and electricity, so it doesn't seem beneficial.

I thought it might be nice for the times before a trip when I have the trailer home (on the street without access to electricity), so to keep the batterys up while I have the fridge running (I have the everchill as well). But I feel like even I get a spot to put it in, someone would just steal a panel on the ground.

Suffice, we haven't got one yet. Every once in awhile the DW brings it up though...

Yeah. if you don't dry camp or boondock you don't need one. Only for some places where they don't have any hookup. Does your trailer have the solar READY where you just plug in a portal solar panel? if so I would just get the 100watt because you can get a extension cord and just place it where you have sunlight and you can capture the solar power.. But then again you says you only go to places where you have hookup.

[awd.nv]

Originally Posted by aboyz

Where is the fuse at anyway? why not just kill the battery switch and be done with ..

Well, you just mentioned turning the fridge off, if you mean for storing then all you need to do is turn the kill switch to off. Look around your battery box, mine was below the propane tanks