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02-24-2016, 08:48 AM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
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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?
__________________
Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
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02-24-2016, 10:10 AM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,364
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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.
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02-24-2016, 10:13 AM
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#23
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,232
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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
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02-24-2016, 11:43 AM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Fremont, California
Trailer: 2016 21. '15 Ford Explorer V-6
Posts: 1,558
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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
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02-24-2016, 11:57 AM
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#25
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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I run off the solar on sunny days.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
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02-25-2016, 02:14 PM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2009 Escape 19'
Posts: 242
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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!
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02-25-2016, 02:37 PM
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#27
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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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.......
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02-25-2016, 06:40 PM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Strongsville, Ohio
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
Posts: 137
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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
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02-25-2016, 07:01 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2009 Escape 19'
Posts: 242
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SeldomSeen
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
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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.
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