Community Forums

Fxrscotty · 06-23-2005, 05:08 PM

How difficult is it to add solar to my camper? I beleave it is prewired for it. And how large a unit do I need? Scotty.

Fxrscotty · 06-23-2005, 05:08 PM

How difficult is it to add solar to my camper? I beleave it is prewired for it. And how large a unit do I need? Scotty.

rockman · 06-24-2005, 05:12 AM

hello scotty, went thru the same questions late last year, camper was wired for solar but couldn't bring myself to drill the mounting holes in the fiberglass roof. took the panels with us camping and experimented with locations.
quickly realized that when horizontally the panels were no where near as efficient as angled toward the sun. also realized most of our camping is in trees so very little direct sun hit the panels. so I opted to not mount panels on roof but build a portable, collapsible frame to mount my four 15 watt panels then run a cable over to the camper.
now I can set up camper to maximize view and locate panels to maximize sun exposure.
this arrangement has worked very well for me.

Fxrscotty · 06-24-2005, 10:55 AM

that sounds like a good idea. I stay in places that i couldn't do that but you have me thinking. Roof rack with suction cup feet might work and I wouldn't have to drill.

dmann12 · 06-29-2005, 12:22 PM

Hi Scotty, Hows the HD doing? My Lance was not wired for Solar, so I mounted a 75 watt panel on my Yakima Rack on the roof and use a cable that I keep coiled up in the battery compartment and plug it in when I get where I'm going. Also have the solar controller in the battery compartment.

Fxrscotty · 06-29-2005, 05:45 PM

dmann 12 the old FXR is still blowing off most of the new stuff looking and running great. I have become more interested with the solar since my gen went on the fritz. i am still trying to get it in ti otherised repare shop. The nearest one is run by a friend I grew up with and I still can't get in. It's too hot to be without airconditioning. Scotty.

Andrewdavis34 · 06-29-2005, 06:45 PM

Hi Scottie,

I have glued my to the top of my camper with 5200 Compound made by 3M I have installed solar three other panels this way and never had any problems traveling over many miles of dirt roads in Baja California. As far as mounting the panels on the roof horizontally you should be fine. I have a single 42 watt Uni-Solar, which will work fine in cloudy weather. I can run all the lights in my camper and run a 13inch TV/VCR combo on a 400watt inverter for several hours and the solar panel has no problem charging the battaies back to full charge the following day.

I have two six volt Trojans in my camper which is much better than the single 12 group 24 that my camper came with. If interested in how I set up my system let me know and I will send pics.<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Fxrscotty:
How difficult is it to add solar to my camper? I beleave it is prewired for it. And how large a unit do I need? Scotty. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Fxrscotty · 06-30-2005, 03:34 PM

That would be helpfull Andrew. How much $ you figure you have into system?

Fxrscotty · 06-30-2005, 03:36 PM

Oh ya Andrew welcome to the forum! Forgot my manners. Scotty.

Andrewdavis34 · 06-30-2005, 04:49 PM

Scott,

It's Discover Power

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Fxrscotty:
Oh ya Andrew welcome to the forum! Forgot my manners. Scotty. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Scott,

42 watt Uni-Solar $189
RV Roof Monuts for Panel $20.00
Morning Star Sun Guard charge controller $25.00
6 volt Trojan 105 Batteries x2 @ $68.00 each
Various Wire & Connectors $25.00
5200 Compound $12.00 Puchased at West Marine
All items except wire and connectors where purchased at Discovery Power in San Diego. I think they have a web site.

Good Luck!

Andrew

Hemi · 07-01-2005, 02:53 AM

This is a test...I may be having a login problem. hemi

Little Kopit · 07-16-2005, 11:40 AM

I'm thinking about solar for next year, when I'll be spending time in Labrador, which will be mostly boondocking (gravel pit camping, if you're a local).

Yesterday, a mechanic who uses solar for his camp, suggested I could do a lot even with just 15 watt. Let's hear it, all. What's the experience about what can be acheived with different capacity panels.

rockman · 07-18-2005, 05:21 AM

good morning in newfoundland.
we always "gravel pit camp" and do not have a generator.
upgraded the camper batteries to three 150 AH 12v deep cycle 24 series.
we also only off season camp and therefore use the furnace and lights more than summer campers.
we started with a single 15 watt solar panel but found that after a few days in sub zero weather that the camper batteries were getting too low.
we increased to four 15 watt panels on a portable frame placed and aimed right at the sun.
now we have been able to dry camp for up to 10 days without the worry of run down batteries.
in full sun the charge indicator on the camper's monitor panel lights up.

installed a multi connector on the solar panel array and are able to charge up truck batteries.

Little Kopit · 07-18-2005, 10:19 AM

So, rockman, you know what this place is called, don't you. With a name like that I had to check where you are.

From one West Coast to Another West Coast

What are you using power to run? To need 4 15-watt panels.

Local person I was talking to on Friday was doubting I'd need two 15-watt panels. I have fridge, inside lights. LPG for stove and heat!! A wee little rig. Very wee.

I would also charge cell phone, run computer, possibly radio.

So, comments.

Re. cold I brought this TC home last Oct, (home about Oc 24) when temperatures probably were down to -5 overnight. But I had the tailgate running up the center of the camper all wrapped in foam. I was not going to chance that catching fire. So, the radiator was me. It went down as low as 5 inside, but no lower. I've winter camped. No biggie.