Shady Camping

[75thRanger]

I don't know if it's general knowledge but I didn't know that the Escape installed solar panel is n ow 190, not 170

[75thRanger]

Originally Posted by 75thRanger

I don't know if it's general knowledge but I didn't know that the Escape installed solar panel is n ow 190, not 170

I forgot to mention that I was told this 2 weeks ago when I picked up my 21

[cpaharley2008]

Idaho is like Vermont, Washington and Oregon similar to California with a central valley between eastern and sierra ranges. Montana, Wyoming,Utah, Colorado all have the Rockies and other mountain ranges throughout the states with no central valley just an eastern or western side.

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by 75thRanger

I don't know if it's general knowledge but I didn't know that the Escape installed solar panel is n ow 190, not 170

The website still shows 170...

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

The website still shows 170...

The website still promos the fall sale.
It's out of date in many places.
Still looking forward to the 2019 rally.

[davidmurphy02]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

The website still promos the fall sale.
It's out of date in many places.
Still looking forward to the 2019 rally.

I know they are in the process of completely redesigning the website and are probably very close to rolling out the new one, so just not doing updates and changes to the old one.

[Mike Lewis]

Originally Posted by padlin

The biggest draw to us about the west is the big sky feel. We remarked on this just last week when we drove to the Canadian border through VT. Most places it like driving in a narrow trough, tree walls on either side, a ribbon of sun above, just like Maine. Haven't made it to the NW as yet, does it sound like Vermont and Maine, or open like Wyoming?

Eastern Washington and Oregon: high desert steppe, big sky. Coastal parts of those states are largely temperate rain forest. The change is abrupt and startling when driving westbound along the Columbia River.

[Perry Butler]

Originally Posted by 75thRanger

I don't know if it's general knowledge but I didn't know that the Escape installed solar panel is n ow 190, not 170

I just posted this recently in another thread, but 3-4 months ago GoPower discontinued their 170 watt panel for a 190 watt. The footprint is identical. Escape probably buys them in a lot for a volume discount, and now that those are installed they're buying 190 watt panels.

Enjoy,

Perry

[cpaharley2008]

Maybe they follow LIFO inventory control vs FIFO.......

[Tin]

This last camping trip I spent some time evaluating my 5.0 parasitic draw. For boon docking its nice knowing where your AH are going. ( All values are approximate @ the battery )

1. Trailer disconnect switch set to the OFF position ( no power to the converter ) = 0 amps
2. Trailer disconnect switch set to the ON position ( power to the converter ) = .15 amps
3. Trailers refrigerator (DM 2663) ON running ( gas valve open ) average = .6 amps
So my total AH draw just sitting there with no other devices on (only frig ) .
Total AH draw = .15 amps + .6 amps = .75 amps x 24hr = 18 Amp Hours .

My 220 AH battery bank divided by 2 = 110 usable AH when fully charged.
Total days = 110 AH divided by 18 AH = 6 days

With a 100 AH battery about 3 days.

Note, every trailer is configured differently so yours may be different.
Happy Camping
Tin.

[Mike Lewis]

The propane detector draws a little power.

I think my parasitic load is 200-300 milliamps, but I haven't checked lately. At this point I have all kinds of stuff going on, anyway-- I see a constellation of LEDs at night. The amp for the TV antenna is on all the time, for instance (with no LED).

[mimie]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

The website still shows 170...

My build sheet lists 190

[padlin]

If you have a radio installed they draw a little when off.

[fudge_brownie]

Some discoveries I made in looking for portable solar panels. I only looked at rigid panels, none of the newer thin film. First of all, solar panels come in three flavors. There maybe some slight variations to these but they are all based on the number of cells on the panel. Portable panels and roof top rv panels are almost always 30 cells per panel. Sometimes 36. With today's technology these seem to be limited to 200 watts. There has been some slight increase in this 200 watt limit over the past several years, but in general a 30 cell panel is going to face some significant limitations.

Most panels used in household rooftop applications are 60 cells. They are typically sized and designed to meet some OSHA regulations for weight, this is about 45 lbs. Something a single worker can handle. They are sized at approximately 65 in tall and 39 in wide. They do not fold for easy carrying. Today these panels output between 280 and 320 watts. Of prime importance in these panels is their voltage output. They are sized to work at 24 volt versus the 12 volt of 30 cell panels. This is significant for three reasons: at 24 volt there is less power loss in the run between the panel and the solar controller, at 24 volts you are able to put more power into the battery (s), and third this panel requires a solar controller capable of operating at 24 volts.

An example is my previous 120 watt portable panel will generate about 17 volts maximum (no clouds or trees) during the charge process. The 310 watt panel, operating at 24 volts, will apply 22 volts during the same charge process. A significant improvement with the subsequent reduction in charge time. I had a very difficult time getting a full charge using the 120 watt panel with five+ hours of full sun during the height of summer.

Commercial panels are 72 cells, they are taller in size and typically used in large arrays. Some US electrical code has change in recent years allowing for these panels to be connected even though they develop some significant voltages. Their size allows for a reduction in the number of panels in each array, thereby a cost saving with the large installations they are used in.

Moving a 60 cell panel is quite the challenge. I do not know if it could be mounted rooftop. It does however fit nicely into my Escape. With some caveats. It has to be removed to do anything, it can be lifted by one person but due to its length is best handled by two, it is not amiable to someone doing frequent travel, rather a fixed location.

It really does produce the power.

As an aside, I cringe when I read a posting that states: "with the roof top panel on my Escape I am always fully charged by 10:00". Maybe, maybe not. If it is raining that day does it charge? What if you are parked under a full forest canopy? How much do you use? What season are you referring too? Do you or your spouse use a CPAP? A home office in your Escape? You can see the fallacy of such a blanket statement.

Another option is to connect two panels. I considered this but it becomes very convoluted if the panels are not identical. Generally, when using two different panels the wattage will be that of the lowest panel.

Is a big panel for everyone. certainly not. Best for stationary campers with high power needs. It fits me perfectly. I only carry it when I know the conditions I will encounter at the campsite.

[Vermilye]

An interesting point on using 24V panels - some individuals, usually with large RVs, have been using 24 volts for both their panels & batteries (4 6V or 2 12V in series). They use a 24V inverter, 24V compressor refrigerator, and a small DC to DC converter to provide 12V for the rest of the traditional RV appliances & lights.

The advantage is smaller wire sizes or less voltage drop. It also means you can use the less expensive PWM solar controller rather than the more expensive MPPT controller required when using 24V panels with a 12V battery. Not all PWM controllers can operate at 24V, but many can. Of course, with large systems of a couple thousand watts of solar, a MPPT controller provides other advantages, but by the time you have put that kind of money into a system, the price of the controller is not a big factor.

[Farther]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Maybe they follow LIFO inventory control vs FIFO.......

Finally an acronym that I recognize.

[Tin]

Fall camping is wrapped up. Tow welding cables complete, Trailer next.

[hotfishtacos]

I have lot of solar charging capacity and 4 batteries but learned over time that no matter how I try, there will be times when I need to use a generator if I truly want a complete camping experience...to go where and when I want to enjoy our great outdoors. It took a few years for me to go over to the the dark side but it was well worth it!

[Viajante]

Originally Posted by hotfishtacos

I have lot of solar charging capacity and 4 batteries but learned over time that no matter how I try, there will be times when I need to use a generator if I truly want a complete camping experience...to go where and when I want to enjoy our great outdoors. It took a few years for me to go over to the the dark side but it was well worth it!

John Muir wouldn’t agree.

[cpaharley2008]

Tin,
What kind of tow vehicle are your tow cables now installed?