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10-13-2018, 06:39 PM
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#1
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Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Earth
Posts: 95
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100 watt solar from Sams Club
This is a Coleman 100 wat solar panel and controller from Sam's Club for $140. I'm just looking to extend the time between charges, not looking for anything too fancy. Is it worth the money?
https://www.samsclub.com/sams/coleman-100-watt-crystalline-solar-panel/prod22420415.ip?xid=plp_product_1_2
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10-13-2018, 08:11 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ontario, California
Posts: 2,429
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Might be great for a motorcycle battery but it's only rated at 8.5 amps and that's at 'peak' sunlight. I seriously doubt it will put 20 amps back into your battery in a whole days worth of sun unless you keep tipping it towards the sun.
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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]2016 Newmar Dutch Star 4369
Newmar Owners Club
USAF 1966-1969,- Law Enforcement 1969 - 2003, Retired since March 2003
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10-14-2018, 07:08 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 492
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It would maintain your batteries while the rv is in storage (assuming it is stored were it gets sun) but is not going to do much while being used.
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10-14-2018, 07:23 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,994
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MTBer
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I'm pretty sure a 100 watt panel on it's best day will only put out a little over 5 amps.
__________________
2004 Montana 2955RL, 400 watt solar, 2000 watt inverter/charger, 4-Interstate 225AH 6volt golf cart batteries, All LED lights,Champion Remote start 3- fuel option 3100/3400 inverter/gen.- 2000 F-350 7.3 4x4 long bed crew cab SRW.
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10-14-2018, 07:30 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Grasonville, MD -- Golden, CO
Posts: 6,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MTBer
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Not at my Sams but found this on Amazon - Hook a few up to get plenty of Amps - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DCEKKQ0...5-8929d75e6129
Best of Luck,
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Busskipper
Location - Grasonville, Maryland - and/or - Superior, Colorado
2005 Travel Supreme 42DS04 - GX470 Toad
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10-14-2018, 08:08 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MotorPro
It would maintain your batteries while the rv is in storage (assuming it is stored were it gets sun) but is not going to do much while being used.
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This.
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Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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10-16-2018, 05:43 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 99
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I bought a morningstar controller 45 amp for < $175 I buy Grape 100 watt panels from Home Depot for less than $100 when they are on sale. Started out with 1 panel and add another when on sale. Now up to 400 watts. Buying a little at a time is easier to swallow IMHO
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greenhorn1
2017 Tiffin Allegro Red 33aa
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10-16-2018, 07:00 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Nowhere, now here. Freedom!
Posts: 4,602
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That 100 watt system will recharge your battery if you use almost no battery. To get the most output, it would need to be angled correctly to capture the most sunlight, moved throughout the day, and you can't get peak sunlight capture in the early morning or later evening hours. I have a two hundred watt set up from ZAmp Solar that can charge my house batteries when I've been using them lightly for the radio, a couple of LED lights, and occasional water pump usage.
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ORV 19B Full Timer from '15 to '20, '14 Ram 2500 Diesel and a GSD. Vancouver, WA
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12-13-2018, 07:22 AM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 88
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Since the charge controller is only rated at 8.5 amps, you will not be able to just add solar panels. The controller will not handle the higher amperage that more panels will provide. I would research and buy a higher capacity controller, even if you start with 100 watts of solar.
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95 Tiffin Allegro Bus
95 Jeep Wrangler Toad
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12-13-2018, 08:18 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 2,812
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Look in your local Craigslist, should be able to get good panels for $.50-.75 a watt. Get a good mppt controller bigger than you need because in the future you will probably want to expand.
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Foretravel tag axle 40 ft. 500 hp/1550 ft/lbs ism 1455 watts on the roof. 600 a/h's lithium down below.
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04-06-2019, 05:58 AM
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#12
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Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Earth
Posts: 95
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobwilcox
Since the charge controller is only rated at 8.5 amps, you will not be able to just add solar panels. The controller will not handle the higher amperage that more panels will provide. I would research and buy a higher capacity controller, even if you start with 100 watts of solar.
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I took the advise and looked at other options and bought a Renogy 100W Panel & 30A controller (for a little less money) so I can add panels if I want. It worked well for me. I still had to use the generator every other day while camped in the shade but the solar topped off the batteries by the end of the day but were down to around 12.2 or 12.3v on the second morning. When camped in an area that I could move the panel to full sun I didn't need the generator for the four days we were there. I put the panel flat on the ground when we left in the morning and when we returned in the late afternoon/evening angled it towards the sun. I even used the furnace in the morning & watched the news.
I'm posting this for anyone looking for advise on small solar in the future, this is NOT the place to get it. Most here seem to think you need a megawatt system and don't realize that you can camp without coffee makers, hair dryers, microwaves and other heavy electrical draws but I do appreciate the time for your thoughts.
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04-06-2019, 07:00 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ontario, California
Posts: 2,429
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MTBer
I'm posting this for anyone looking for advise on small solar in the future, this is NOT the place to get it. Most here seem to think you need a megawatt system and don't realize that you can camp without coffee makers, hair dryers, microwaves and other heavy electrical draws but I do appreciate the time for your thoughts.
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I tend to disagree with you as there is a wealth of knowledge on this board. Had you made it clear in your opening post that your camping intentions were to be relatively close to primitive camping then I believe you would have received different answers. Most everyone here read your original post which was
Quote:
This is a Coleman 100 watt solar panel and controller from Sam's Club for $140. I'm just looking to extend the time between charges, not looking for anything too fancy. Is it worth the money?
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and assumed that you needed more power.
So, glad the new system worked out for your.
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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]2016 Newmar Dutch Star 4369
Newmar Owners Club
USAF 1966-1969,- Law Enforcement 1969 - 2003, Retired since March 2003
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04-06-2019, 10:33 AM
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#14
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Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Earth
Posts: 95
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I don't camp in a tent very often any more so my camping is not "relatively close to primitive." You considering camping in a camper, taking showers, cooking inside when its raining, using the oven to bake cinnamon roles, watching TV, etc. being "relatively close to primitive" just seems to confirm that many in this sub-forum, (well at least you,) think that you need mega-watts. You quoted my original post but did you read it? "I'm just looking to extend the time between charges, not looking for anything too fancy. Is it worth the money?" The question was whether or not that panel/controller was worth it. Bobwilcox (thanks) answered the question and didn't assume anything. I took his advice and did some more research and came up with something better.
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