Solar on roof and solar on side charging

[JoeCO]

I will have a 2025 Mini Lite soon with 400W solar on the roof and would like to also use my Ecoflow 220W biracial solar panel connected to the side. I assume you can use both at the same.time to keep a good charge on the batteries?

I know I'll need a separate solar controller for the ground panel so.just starting to look.at those.

The trailer has 180W deep cycle lead acid but im.going to.move to Li very soon.

 

[TacomaJoe]

Sounds good. Look for a MPPT SCC with LFP profile and check the polarity on the side port before connecting.

 

[itat]

That Ecoflow panel is “bifacial” not “biracial”. I assume that your device did an autocorrect!

 

[CaptainSue]

I will have a 2025 Mini Lite soon with 400W solar on the roof and would like to also use my Ecoflow 220W biracial solar panel connected to the side. I assume you can use both at the same.time to keep a good charge on the batteries?

I know I'll need a separate solar controller for the ground panel so.just starting to look.at those.

The trailer has 180W deep cycle lead acid but im.going to.move to Li very soon.

Interesting. I’m going a slightly different route. My trailer has 100w panel and I want to use my BLUETTI 350w panel to charge my battery faster. I’m getting a LFP 280ah battery installed tomorrow and adding DC7909 barrel plugs with pigtails so I can switch between using fixed and portable easily. I have a 30A MPPT SCC. It was my understanding that I couldn’t use different solar panels together.

 

[Rivstg1]

Sounds good. Look for a MPPT SCC with LFP profile and check the polarity on the side port before connecting.

what does "MPPT SCC" stand for?

 

[CaptainSue]

what does "MPPT SCC" stand for?

SCC is solar charge controller.
There are two types of charge controllers to consider: Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controllers and Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) controllers. PWM charge controllers are cheaper and ideal in smaller applications. They’re an older technology and are cheaper, but they are less efficient than MPPT charge controllers. MPPT controllers are the most efficient, ideal in large applications, and are the most expensive option. Both are widely used, have similar lifespans, and preserve the life of your batteries.

 

[Aussieguy]

I would look at how much panels you could put on the roof as a string or two

For average 12v use
600 to 800 watts is a good target but more is always better

Then buy a controller MPPT to suit the string

Having them on the roof allows charging while driving and if you stop for sightseeing and of course while camped

Obviously you want to avoid shade but afternoon shade after charging has finished makes life better
my system usually has my batteries topped up by 2 or 3pm


I have 740w (2x370) panels
50amp mppt and 200ah
Extremely happy with the setup and have not needed side solar

If you can setup something similar it should work well in most areas of the lower 48
Seattle has been reported as solar unfriendly so go there with a mooch cord or a generator

 

[JoeCO]

That Ecoflow panel is “bifacial” not “biracial”. I assume that your device did an autocorrect!

I swear autocorrect causes more problems than it solves!