More Solar!!! - Page 2 - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Escape Systems | Water, Waste, Charging & Propane
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 02-24-2016, 08:48 AM   #21
Senior Member
 
MyronL's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
My 100 watt portable un-folded solar panels also served me (dual 6v batteries) well at the Q-Rally but we are also not big power consumers. Can you find Solar-Wally?
Attached Thumbnails
Qz048.jpg  
__________________
Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
MyronL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2016, 10:10 AM   #22
Senior Member
 
Vermilye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,363
One consideration for additional solar panels (other than camping in the shade) is the time of year. I have 195 watts of panels on the roof of my 17 & it is plenty in the summer. During the winter I need the addition of a portable panel - I have a 160 watt panel from Solar blvd. I've wired it so that I can use it with the built in controller or feed directly from the panels to the input of my GoPower controller built into the trailer. I monitor the usage with a Bogart 2025 battery monitor.

I do use quite a bit of electricity - I use an inverter to make a pot of coffee each morning, and also often make toast. That, along with lots of computer, camera & cell phone recharging, a cell phone amplifier & the furnace at 58°F had me averaging 30 amp hours during December & January, sometimes as high as 40 amp hours. As the sun angle improved, the need for the portable panel dropped.
__________________
Jon Vermilye My Travel Blog
Travel and Photo Web Page ... My Collection of RV Blogs 2018 F150 3.5EB, 2017 21
Vermilye is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2016, 10:13 AM   #23
Senior Member
 
thoer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,232
Good info Jon
__________________
Eric (and Mary who is in no way responsible for anything stupid I post)

"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." George Bernard Shaw
thoer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2016, 11:43 AM   #24
Senior Member
 
Steve Clark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Fremont, California
Trailer: 2016 21. '15 Ford Explorer V-6
Posts: 1,558
I'm guessing, On Top of The Camper Shell?
__________________
Steve and Debbie
2016 - 21'

“Get out the map and lay your finger anywhere down” -Indigo Girls
Steve Clark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2016, 11:57 AM   #25
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
I run off the solar on sunny days.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
padlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2016, 02:14 PM   #26
Senior Member
 
Daubsy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2009 Escape 19'
Posts: 242
I finished my solar project over the weekend. I have a 120 watt portable solar suitcase that runs to a Xantrex c35 inside the trailer. The hardest part was deciding what connectors to use, and how to run the wires.

What I did was make a waterproof junction box that mounts on the trailer frame underneath the propane tanks. I have 10 gauge cables that run from the junction box to the charge controller, through the hole where the battery ground connects to the chassis. For the solar connections I used 1/4" stereo cables. Here why:

1) I already have a bunch of beefy stereo cables with different lengths. They are very flexible and I love the single input.
2) The female stereo connector fit perfectly into the hole of the junction box, as did the 30A toggle switch.

I metered the output at the solar panels and where the wires connect to the charge controller. No loss. No holes. A cheap DIY portable solution that works for me!
Attached Thumbnails
IMG_0048.jpg   IMG_0051.jpg  
Daubsy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2016, 02:37 PM   #27
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
Daubsy,
You may want to check your propane platform for water retention, a lot of rust appears in the picture. I drilled several holes tallow water to drain out, also keep those hole open.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2016, 06:40 PM   #28
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Strongsville, Ohio
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
Posts: 137
Daubsy,

What solar panels are you using? I've been looking for a suitcase without a controller.

I'm guessing you used the tip and ring on that 1/4" connector...not the sleeve? (Looks like a metal barrel on the plug which is probably connected to the sleeve.) Nice solution,

Glenn
SeldomSeen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2016, 07:01 PM   #29
Senior Member
 
Daubsy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2009 Escape 19'
Posts: 242
Quote:
Originally Posted by SeldomSeen View Post
Daubsy,

What solar panels are you using? I've been looking for a suitcase without a controller.

I'm guessing you used the tip and ring on that 1/4" connector...not the sleeve? (Looks like a metal barrel on the plug which is probably connected to the sleeve.) Nice solution,

Glenn
I got mine from SolarBlvd a while back but it looks like they don't sell them anymore, or are out of stock.

It makes sense to use the ring but the other female connector that I used for the panel end only had two leads, tip and sleeve. I will probably finish them off with some plasti-dip.
Daubsy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:11 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.