Solar suitcase best purchase ever

[Pomacanthus]

https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Watts-...solar+suitcase

Just got back from our virgin break in run. let me just say as my first Jayco Im nothing but impressed, everything worked as advertised and we went out for a short weekend 3 days 2 nights. Turns out the only site left in town for the last minute planners was dry camping...but I was prepared.

The Renogy solar suitcase saved the day, this thing is amazing. I want to thank the previous poster here in this forum THANK YOU ALL FOR POSTING this forum made my decision.

I didn't want to retrofit, and fabricate my entire roof with solar, as a former fabricator I have the technology. Sometimes in my primary industry Ive seen the advantages of "stand alone systems" (non integrated) so much easier to service when something goes wrong, and eventually something always goes wrong.

I opted for the 100W suitcase model by Renology after studying up here on the forum. Perfect choice for me, I had it hooked up in less than 5 minutes with no previous solar experience. It took my giant oversized deep cycle marine battery from 50% to 100% in full sun in 30 minutes flat, I was amazed, pleased and practically jumping for joy, my family got sick of my exhuberance but they don't really understand how extremely cool this is

Im a backcountry preferred camper, I like isolation and Im so excited because now I can everything essential to life off one panel, I ll have hot water, showers, radio, HEAT etc. I don't have to come back in until my water or gas runs out.

Plus where i live backcountry sites avg cost is $12-18 per night.

It even held up to my 2 kids constant phone charging and running a fan 24/3

I highly recommend it for back country aficionados, nothing but smiles knowing with confidence you can bail off the grid at a moments notice ! ! ! !

[Rustysocket]

Very cool setup. I've never been one to invest in solar technology but a small portable standalone setup like this might be just the ticket to get me interested. The price is right and I see Amazon has it bundled with a small inverter as well.

Thanks for sharing that.

[Pomacanthus]

again can't say enough good things about this unit, the peace of mind alone is worth $275 for me to feel confident about back country. The best part is you can drain the battery every day if you want because its so efficient.

[Pfflyer]

How did you determine your battery was at 50% soc? I don't doubt that your battery was full after 30 minutes but I am doubting it was at 50% soc. If my calculations are correct 100w solar in a perfect world is only producing about 8 amps.


Edit: according to Renogy optimum operating current is 2 x 2.78a

[RoyBraddy]

I too think you were probably seeing a surface charge making your % meter show 100%. Not being down to 50% charge state could also answer this as well... Hard to get good info from the %meters that most trailers have on them them...

I have to have around 52-53AMPS available for my three 12VDC Batteries when they they start demanding DC current when I first hit them with 14.4VDC. WHen i start out with them at the 50% charge state it takes a good three hours of PD9260C Converter/charger to get them back up to their 90% charge state running my trailer off of my 2KW Generator. My converter/charger is the PD9260C 60AMP model smart mode charger.

I have been wanting to put solar panels on my popup trailer roof but I already have a 13K BTU Air Conditioner on top and I'm abit worried adding solar panels will be too much weight on the roof...

I want to use my solar panels to supplement my running of the generator. If I can reduce the generator down to only one hour of use the solar panels running all day day long in high sun just might pay off for me big time...

My total DC current demand drops back from the 52-53AMPs DC Current initial draw to around 8AMP DC in an hours time period... The solar panels should be able to complete my 90% charge before I lose high sun around 6PM each day...

I have learned along time ago I can't start my day/night run off my batteries unless they are at least at their 90% charge state - otherwise it gets dark on me pretty quick haha...

Thats gonna be my game plan at any rate playing with some solar panels...

You made a great investment here getting your portable panels going... I'm always wanting more PLAN Bs haha...

Roy Ken

[sebring96hbg]

I am glad you enjoyed your use of the suitcase. I'd invest in a meter to measure the SoC at the battery like this one, https://amzn.com/B000EVWDU0, or this one, https://amzn.com/B013PKYILS.

As mentioned above, it is unlikely that the battery was fully charged within an hour from a 50% SoC. A better meter will be much more reliable than the four-way factory meter.

[Pomacanthus]

Yep I was using the generic meter inside, but my point remains the solar was adequate and did a much better job than I expected. I love backcountry and just need to keep my bare essentials running, if I can shower I can stay out indefinitely. Kids took 2 showers same day on the battery and it wasn't the end of the world scenerio I was anticipating.

Thanks for the tip on the cig lighter meter! I might get 2 or 3 of those if it works good. I bought one for marginally less that required a tedious installation of tiny wires needless to say its still in the box it came in

[Pomacanthus]

*Im not lazy, just busy lol

[Aepowell]

The only thing about having the panels on top of your trailer means you have to put your trailer in the sun. I wouldn't like that at all.

[jerdog]

Originally Posted by Pomacanthus

https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Watts-...solar+suitcase

Just got back from our virgin break in run. let me just say as my first Jayco Im nothing but impressed, everything worked as advertised and we went out for a short weekend 3 days 2 nights. Turns out the only site left in town for the last minute planners was dry camping...but I was prepared.

The Renogy solar suitcase saved the day, this thing is amazing. I want to thank the previous poster here in this forum THANK YOU ALL FOR POSTING this forum made my decision.

I didn't want to retrofit, and fabricate my entire roof with solar, as a former fabricator I have the technology. Sometimes in my primary industry Ive seen the advantages of "stand alone systems" (non integrated) so much easier to service when something goes wrong, and eventually something always goes wrong.

I opted for the 100W suitcase model by Renology after studying up here on the forum. Perfect choice for me, I had it hooked up in less than 5 minutes with no previous solar experience. It took my giant oversized deep cycle marine battery from 50% to 100% in full sun in 30 minutes flat, I was amazed, pleased and practically jumping for joy, my family got sick of my exhuberance but they don't really understand how extremely cool this is

Im a backcountry preferred camper, I like isolation and Im so excited because now I can everything essential to life off one panel, I ll have hot water, showers, radio, HEAT etc. I don't have to come back in until my water or gas runs out.

Plus where i live backcountry sites avg cost is $12-18 per night.

It even held up to my 2 kids constant phone charging and running a fan 24/3

I highly recommend it for back country aficionados, nothing but smiles knowing with confidence you can bail off the grid at a moments notice ! ! ! !

Just got mine delivered today. can't wait to hook it up and try it out.

[jerdog]

Hooked it up last night in the fading light and it performed well. This is a great product.

[Seann45]

I hope you have it chained down.. or it WILL disappear.

[jerdog]

Originally Posted by Seann45

I hope you have it chained down.. or it WILL disappear.

Absolutely!

[rlr001]

Depending upon how much you used your battery, 100 Watts panel cannot technically charge to 100% in 30 minutes if your battery was at 50%, you would also need a few hours past bulk charging to do that, but it is cool it built it back up to where you needed it to be regardless, especially for a few days trip. Bulk charging is very fast, and it is usually 80-90% capacity, but it can easily take a few hours to get that last 10-20% charge completed. Most battery monitors are not very intelligent, so they indicate 100% at a certain voltage charge, but that is not the entire picture, so it can be deceiving. The practical side of it is if your batteries are charged enough to do what you want them to do, and over 80%, it can work. Batteries might not last as long as it could if it is not charged properly to a true full capacity, but heck unless you are full-time RV'er its not really a big deal. Buy a new battery every couple years and have fun!

I built a 165 Watt system, and it works well. I try and make sure the battery is charged to over 100% actually, these are deep cycle 6V golf cart type batteries designed to take that kind of charge. I use a smart controller and monitor from Bogart engineering (TM2030 and SC2030). The panels are portable and I set them up outside the trailer in the best direction of the sun, hook up the cables, and off they go!

[ensign]

I have the Renolgy 100 W solar suitcase.

It has dramatically cut down on my generator usage. For the most part I only run the generator when I need 110 power.

Does it charge my batteries to 100%? Who knows? What I do know is that with my new LED's, and some sensible conservation, I don't have to worry about running out of power.

Highly recommended for those who do not want to invest big $$$$ in solar.


Ensign

[Pacwind3]

I really like the idea of that unit. I do have a small generator, still haven't run it. I will be dry camping in a week and will probably break out the generator. Free energy from the sun sounds better to me though.

[nevermind]

Originally Posted by Pacwind3

Free energy from the sun sounds better to me though.

Where are you getting a solar setup for $0? I'd sure like to get in on that deal!