Continuing the experiments with solar...
Today, a bright cloudless day, Jan 14, at noon, I measured the output of my portable 150 watt panel in my backyard in Denver, Colorado.
To avoid having to compensate for the variable of a charging battery and to keep a steady load, I used a 1 ohm resistor as a load.
With the panel flat on the concrete I measured 21 watts output and with the panel aimed directly at the low angle winter sun, 76 watts.
This tells me I really need a tilted panel in the winter. Even at noon the best a flat panel can do is equivalent to a trickle charge. Our low winter sun just doesn't have the oomph. (Scientific term, look it up.) Combined with a cold battery and short days, I would not expect to be able to do much boondocking with a standard equipped Escape single roof panel and single 12 v battery. The is a definite need to add a portable panel, or two, and specify the 2-6 volt battery package if you plan much winter type camping.
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Alan
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