Cover With Cut-Out for Solar Panel?

[Chainplate]

Last week, my wife and I took delivery of a 2023 Escape 17B, brought it home and are putting it in storage until our next adventure. Our trailer came with the lithium battery option and I know it’s important to keep the batteries charged (actually, this is true for all batteries, not just lithium except lithium batteries are much more expensive than FLAs or AGMs). Our 17B also came with a solar panel. Since the current draw on the batteries would be minimal for a stored trailer, the solar panel should be more than adequate to keep the batteries charged. However, I’d also like to keep the trailer covered. Does anyone have any experience with a cover that allows the solar panel access to sunlight? Is there just a hole in the cover or was there an isinglass panel sewed in? Any ideas?

Safe travels.

 

[alanmalk]

Last week, my wife and I took delivery of a 2023 Escape 17B, brought it home and are putting it in storage until our next adventure. Our trailer came with the lithium battery option and I know it’s important to keep the batteries charged (actually, this is true for all batteries, not just lithium except lithium batteries are much more expensive than FLAs or AGMs). Our 17B also came with a solar panel. Since the current draw on the batteries would be minimal for a stored trailer, the solar panel should be more than adequate to keep the batteries charged. However, I’d also like to keep the trailer covered. Does anyone have any experience with a cover that allows the solar panel access to sunlight? Is there just a hole in the cover or was there an isinglass panel sewed in? Any ideas?

Safe travels.

I would suggest a little research before doing anything. Check with the battery manufacturer and find out what their protocol is for long term storage. Most manufacturers of Lithium batteries that I have seen suggest that the long term SOC (State Of Charge) should be between 50% and 80%. One brand wants 100% but clearly specifies no float charge. My 100 AH Lithium battery that I use for fishing never gets charged up until it is scheduled to go on a fishing trip with me. It is now around 7 years old and going strong.

 

[BravoDeltaRomeo]

It is my understanding, those Fancy Dancy Lithium batteries won't drain much in storage.

Your cover may let enough light in for solar anyways, minde does. Moat are vented somewhat on the top or a different material, at least mine is.

 

[alanmalk]

It is my understanding, those Fancy Dancy Lithium batteries won't drain much in storage.

Your cover may let enough light in for solar anyways, minde does. Moat are vented somewhat on the top or a different material, at least mine is.

In very rough numbers - a FDLB (FancyDancyLithiumBattery) will self discharge about the same as a Lead-Acid battery. A couple of percent per month, more or less.

An alternative solution seen on a different thread recently - use a 20 watt panel on the side to provide a bit of winter power. No mods needed to an expensive cover. Just lay it on the ground on the south side of the trailer and since the amps are around 1 or 2, cheap wire is fine for the run to the controller.

 

[HABBERDABBER]

Besides state of charge issues (SOC) at storage, temperature is a factor. If it gets real cold for long periods, you may want to remove the battery. As mentioned, check the manufacturers recommendations for storage conditions.

Some lithium batteries have internal heaters to prevent battery damage. Some don't.

 

[Chainplate]

I like the idea of getting a small, separate solar panel, just to keep the batteries topped up. Our Escape is stored in a 600-space RV storage yard in Southern California so I think it would be fine to just throw a small panel on the top of the cover and plug it into the solar panel connector. Thanks for the idea, alanmalk!

 

[vermilye]

When I kept my 17B under a cover enough sun got through the cover to keep the batteries charged throughout the winter. That was with 1 100 watt panel.

 

[Ron in BC]

I think it would be fine to just throw a small panel on the top of the cover

I'm all for using a small panel but the first thing that I did when I first started using one on my boat years ago was to mechanically fasten it down. Items like that have a tendency to grow legs and walk away in storage type places.

Ron

 

[Lanark Camper]

I have a 17B with the factory solar panel, and the Escape supplied cover. It charges fine with the cover on. It’s been inside a storage building as well with a plastic roof and that also works.
Bob

 

[iamunique127]

I have a 17B with the factory solar panel, and the Escape supplied cover. It charges fine with the cover on. It’s been inside a storage building as well with a plastic roof and that also works.
BobView attachment 182217

The Classic Accessories covers do let a lot of light through the top but not all covers do.

I'm not confident the much heavier fabric on my new CalMark cover will let any light get to the solar panel so I'm adding a small external panel to maintain the batteries.

BTW your cover really fits your trailer nicely.

 

[Lanark Camper]

Yes it looks like a custom cover, even the zippered door aligns perfectly.
Adding a small panel is smart, the batteries like that.
We found one corner of the solar panel frame had started to wear a hole in the corner. It was easily repaired and now we use a split pool noodle on frame corners to protect it.
It should not take much to maintain the batteries if there are no parasitic loads so a small panel should be fine.

Bob

 

[BravoDeltaRomeo]

Yes it looks like a custom cover, even the zippered door aligns perfectly.
Adding a small panel is smart, the batteries like that.
We found one corner of the solar panel frame had started to wear a hole in the corner. It was easily repaired and now we use a split pool noodle on frame corners to protect it.
It should not take much to maintain the batteries if there are no parasitic loads so a small panel should be fine.

Bob

Our "Classic" cover came with the used RV purchase from a local seller (not through forum). I wasn't sure what to expect but wasn't expecting much.

The kid and I rolled it out last month to winterize, threw it over the roof and it was on and cinched down in 5 min. I've been in and out many times and the zippered area works like a charm and lines up perfectly.

Spoiler

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

In very rough numbers - a FDLB (FancyDancyLithiumBattery) will self discharge about the same as a Lead-Acid battery. A couple of percent per month, more or less.

At 65F kind of moderate temps, a flooded lead acid discharges about 5% per month (AGM maybe 4%), while a decent quality prismatic cell LFP(*) discharges around 2% per month. at 80F, the flooded lead acid self-discharge doubles to around 10% per month, but the lithium is relatively flat at 2-3%

(*) there's some anecdotal evidence suggesting the cheaper pouch cells may be worse than this