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06-04-2017, 09:17 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Modesto
Posts: 59
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Solar for Travel Trailer
I have a 2015 Jayco travel trailer. Home Depot is advertising 100 and 180 Grape Solar units forRV. To be used to charge my two batteries when dry camping, does the solar hook directly to my batteries for slow charging or do I also need some kind of additional control unit. A friend put a 45 watt solar panel to charge their single battery and apparently burned up the inverter. Can someone with technical knowledge provide information that might be helpful. I would like to do it the simplest way but also the correct way. Thank you in advance for any assistance you might be able to provide. Happy Camping.
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06-04-2017, 11:34 PM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 11
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No expert here. But I've hooked up a small panel to my "solar ready" socket to keep the battery charged while in storage...the panel goes to a controller which goes to my "solar ready" plug (battery). The controller as I know it prevents overcharging.
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06-05-2017, 04:52 AM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL area
Posts: 5,196
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I just looked at Home Depot and the panel(s) for RV's are only panels, and do not include the required SOLAR Charge Controller. You can purchase a charge controller from them at EXTRA cost.
Take a look at Renogy, may be a better deal. A lot of members use them. You can locate some good prices on Amazon. Most of their kits come with a 20Amp SOLAR charge controller, so you can add more SOLAR in the future if you want.
Don
My Registry
RVing with SOLAR
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06-05-2017, 12:24 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Modesto
Posts: 59
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Solar
Thank you for the quick response and valuable information.
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06-07-2017, 08:19 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: NJ
Posts: 478
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mustang65
I just looked at Home Depot and the panel(s) for RV's are only panels, and do not include the required SOLAR Charge Controller. You can purchase a charge controller from them at EXTRA cost.
Take a look at Renogy, may be a better deal. A lot of members use them. You can locate some good prices on Amazon. Most of their kits come with a 20Amp SOLAR charge controller, so you can add more SOLAR in the future if you want.
Don
My Registry
RVing with SOLAR |
If just getting started with solar and want to keep my battery charged what kit would you recommend with the ability to be able to upgrade it later on. Just looking to keep my battery topped off right now while in storage. And would I connect a trickle charger/tender to it or direct from panel/controller to solar ready plug on frame. Does the panel need to be installed on roof?
Thanks
__________________
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2017 Jay flight 26BH Elite ( miss it already but Don’t miss the towing)
2018 Greyhawk 31FS
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06-07-2017, 08:58 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 11
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I installed a small 5w on the front of my propane cover to keep the battery topped up while in storage. Seems to do the trick. Panel>controller>solar ready plug.
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06-07-2017, 09:27 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: NJ
Posts: 478
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Riz
I installed a small 5w on the front of my propane cover to keep the battery topped up while in storage. Seems to do the trick. Panel>controller>solar ready plug.
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Please link your setup when you have a chance.
Thx
__________________
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2017 Jay flight 26BH Elite ( miss it already but Don’t miss the towing)
2018 Greyhawk 31FS
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06-07-2017, 09:31 PM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 11
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You know I got the set-up from a friend of mine. I can definitely take a couple pics when I'm out there. It's about a 1' x 1' panel, running to a coleman solar controller, plugged into the outlet on the a-frame.
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06-07-2017, 10:29 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Albany, OR
Posts: 692
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Studiovette
If just getting started with solar and want to keep my battery charged what kit would you recommend with the ability to be able to upgrade it later on. Just looking to keep my battery topped off right now while in storage. And would I connect a trickle charger/tender to it or direct from panel/controller to solar ready plug on frame. Does the panel need to be installed on roof?
Thanks
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The important thing about solar is to make sure your panels and batteries match.
I would start with a 100W Renogy panel like this,
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009Z6CW7O..._6dnozb8MMPQWH
Then you would need a charge controller like this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MU0WMGT..._cinozbXM15AJQ
You could add another 100W panel later and the controller would still be able to handle it.
If you want/need more than 200W of solar then you possibly have to upgrade the controller.
__________________
2015 Jayco 27RLS
2015 Ford F250 6.7PSD
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06-08-2017, 04:37 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: NJ
Posts: 478
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DanNJanice
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I'm not sure I would leave this setup unattended at my storage facility. It's too nice! That is definitely a nice startup kit for a roof. I was thinking for now something like this to keep my 1 battery maintained as we will be doing 1 camping trip per month. Unfortunately after reading a bit more it's not waterproof so it wouldn't work since it has a USB connection. Need to find a different 5-10 watt panel with a good controller. Something that will do a good charge fully charging my battery
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01K63CO0O...ustomerReviews
__________________
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2017 Jay flight 26BH Elite ( miss it already but Don’t miss the towing)
2018 Greyhawk 31FS
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06-08-2017, 04:44 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: NJ
Posts: 478
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[QUOTE=Riz;530979]Looks like this...could be it actually.
https://www.amazon.ca/Go-Power-GP-SF...dp/B006Q7C7L6#
And controller looks similar to this...
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....1OFpTa1CsL.jpg
Thanks! Not bad. Does the controller need to be installed out of weather? I have a second battery box I could use. Or I guess run it to the pass through storage area.
__________________
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2017 Jay flight 26BH Elite ( miss it already but Don’t miss the towing)
2018 Greyhawk 31FS
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06-20-2017, 11:56 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 11
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I just have it tucked under the propane cover in between the two bottles.
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06-21-2017, 05:01 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Decatur
Posts: 2,829
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Check this place out, I made an order on cable and connecters Great place best prices >>>>> solar supply store, solar panels, solar kits
__________________
Roy&Joyce
Decatur Al.
Jayco 2022 27RB WhiteHawk
Jayco 330RSTS Gone
Jayco G2 bunkhouse Gone
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06-21-2017, 06:35 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Langley
Posts: 516
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I purchased a Go Power 120 watt suitcase folding solar panel that includes a 10 amp digital controller. The controller shows the battery state of charge and peaks out at 6.7 amps in full sun. I also got the 30 ft extension cable to keep the panel in the sun as long as possible. on cloudy or rainy days, I bring my 2000 or 3100 Watt Champion inverter generator for back up depending what my power needs are.
__________________
2012 Jayco Jayfeather X213
2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Quad Cab 4x4
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