ebinmaine 74,343 #1 Posted September 23 What say you, fine Redsquare friends? We'd like your recommendations, experiences, thoughts comments questions suggestions etc about a solar charger for charging the battery of our camper. Is higher power better? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 8,051 #2 Posted September 23 If you want to power appliances a solar setup will be expensive and not reliable, a small generator is much more practical. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 74,343 #3 Posted September 23 1 minute ago, lynnmor said: If you want to power appliances a solar setup will be expensive and not reliable, a small generator is much more practical. I'm thinking just water pump, some lights and maybe a small fan? Nothing big. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 29,232 #4 Posted September 24 (edited) There are numerous options for keeping your batteries charged up. Many designs for roof mounts ad well as portable setups. Personal preference but I would opt for a mounted system that charges while your driving as well as at campgrounds... I would also have a small generator as well... Edited September 24 by SylvanLakeWH 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 29,752 #5 Posted September 24 1 hour ago, ebinmaine said: solar charger for charging the battery of our camper. I have a 100w solar panel for our pop up camper. It has no issue keeping up with our usage. Lights, water pump, fans for the gas furnace, & a bunk fan. The bunk fan has a switch to turn it off, even though my wife has never found it. We have 1 large frame deep cycle battery from WalMart, have spent several days with out AC power, even in cool weather. I noticed that the only heat source on your new camper is the AC fire place. If you are cold weather camping, you may want a genny to run the heater. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8ntruck 8,109 #6 Posted September 24 We are considering a similar set up. We are looking at solar 'generators'. They appear to be lithium battery packs with a built in charge controller/inverter and a solar panel. I have not determined if that combination will be able to directly charge a lead acid deep cycle RV battery or not. Would not be suprised if you had to go through the inverter to power the battery charger in the camper to charge the RV battery. Might be possible to replace the deep cycle lead acid battery with the solar 'generator'? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Razorback 1,138 #7 Posted September 24 We got one of these..... https://4patriots.com/product/patriot-power-solar-generator-2500x-solar-panel At the time, it came with several "free" items..... Lately, I noticed that in lieu of the "free" items, they added a "free" 2nd solar panel to the offer instead. I know the unit has a 12VDC-30VDC input jack on it that can be used to charge the unit. It alos has a 12VDC output that could be used to charge another battery. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 52,808 #8 Posted September 24 2 hours ago, lynnmor said: solar setup will be expensive Beg to differ ... go in the jungle. Complete set ups with controller for less than 200. What Dan has works great and another guy in our bunch got one to keep his fridge going between shows. RV dealer now yeah big bucks. https://www.amazon.com/Rvpozwer-Charger-Controller-Brackets-Off-Grid/dp/B0FCFV1GDQ/ref=sr_1_14?crid=1LIXW7WBXLDOG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.U-onSXJdA9GFUaanrEzZKcXl7q5avHTdgE8Xc3wSdmSTdglmjIZqsVTIYDpd2cWRU8A-Bi0VhFwBHKNZT8cf8BvinP4zPKrmTHK0OdaG1NmVTsGf6S6ItKw0unRFX2r5Vow3-iydErNjoFDg2Yo96X68vX1TPwY3h3v8K7SmHsSdi4s40fwSS49LWTEWyLwcR-LPykEjtaNBLxZKLZSxM1e75TLivs9SnVx9DnvINn0.BRq4zOmbhDbAzgSVHF_IfIQvFsyapKINHS4bNNJ9-KQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=solar%2Bcamper%2Bbattery%2Bcharger&qid=1758678301&sprefix=solar%2BcAMPER%2Caps%2C939&sr=8-14&th=1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 8,051 #9 Posted September 24 5 hours ago, WHX?? said: Beg to differ ... go in the jungle. Complete set ups with controller for less than 200. What Dan has works great and another guy in our bunch got one to keep his fridge going between shows. RV dealer now yeah big bucks. https://www.amazon.com/Rvpozwer-Charger-Controller-Brackets-Off-Grid/dp/B0FCFV1GDQ/ref=sr_1_14?crid=1LIXW7WBXLDOG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.U-onSXJdA9GFUaanrEzZKcXl7q5avHTdgE8Xc3wSdmSTdglmjIZqsVTIYDpd2cWRU8A-Bi0VhFwBHKNZT8cf8BvinP4zPKrmTHK0OdaG1NmVTsGf6S6ItKw0unRFX2r5Vow3-iydErNjoFDg2Yo96X68vX1TPwY3h3v8K7SmHsSdi4s40fwSS49LWTEWyLwcR-LPykEjtaNBLxZKLZSxM1e75TLivs9SnVx9DnvINn0.BRq4zOmbhDbAzgSVHF_IfIQvFsyapKINHS4bNNJ9-KQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=solar%2Bcamper%2Bbattery%2Bcharger&qid=1758678301&sprefix=solar%2BcAMPER%2Caps%2C939&sr=8-14&th=1 How much for the battery, mounting, cables that will run several days without sun? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 44,478 #10 Posted September 24 I'm sure things have changed but how much time are you going to be actually "inside " this trailer when camping. You may turn on an occasional light. What else are you planning on running? A Fridge running on 12V sucks, (at least they used too) Water pump for a shower? We used to go to the Nascar races for 4 days and not kill the battery. Instead of using a genny and hauling fuel or rigging up a solar charger, Why not one of these nifty power stations from Horror Fright or equivalent? https://www.harborfreight.com/1200-watt-power-station-1060-wh-capacity-70081.html 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 74,343 #11 Posted September 24 9 hours ago, Achto said: I noticed that the only heat source on your new camper is the AC fire place. If you are cold weather camping, you may want a genny to run the heater. Not having a heated camper isn't an issue for us like it would be for most folks. We regularly camp in 40⁰ ish temps and prefer to sleep in the cold. We always have the two burner Coleman stove on hand and in use. That alone would be adequate to break the chill. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 74,343 #12 Posted September 24 35 minutes ago, squonk said: I'm sure things have changed but how much time are you going to be actually "inside " this trailer when camping. You may turn on an occasional light. What else are you planning on running? A Fridge running on 12V sucks, (at least they used too) Water pump for a shower? We used to go to the Nascar races for 4 days and not kill the battery. Instead of using a genny and hauling fuel or rigging up a solar charger, Why not one of these nifty power stations from Horror Fright or equivalent? https://www.harborfreight.com/1200-watt-power-station-1060-wh-capacity-70081.html Interesting piece. I wasn't aware these existed..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nylyon-(Admin) 8,216 #13 Posted September 24 On my camper I have both solar and a 5500 generator, both built in. For solar, remember that solar is simply to replenish the batteries, so when sizing the system, battery capacity is key to what you will be looking to do. If you plan to utilize 120v system, then batteries and an inverter are the critical parts, and the solar then gets sized to charge the batteries based on how much they become depleated. My solar is simply to keep the batteries topped off when we are not plugged in, the setup is a simple 200w panel with 2 agm batteries and it works for what I need. The built in 5500 Onan generator can basically power the camper when needed, including the 3 roof top air conditioners. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kenneth R Cluley 610 #14 Posted September 24 Doesn't that camper have a propane heater installed from factory? Most have propane heat and water heat on propane. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nylyon-(Admin) 8,216 #15 Posted September 24 1 minute ago, Kenneth R Cluley said: Doesn't that camper have a propane heater installed from factory? Most have propane heat and water heat on propane. Still need 12v to power the heaters. The furnace will actually draw quite a bit of 12v to power the blower motor, water heater and refrigerator (if it has an LP fridge) don’t use too much 12v, but does require it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 74,343 #16 Posted September 24 2 minutes ago, Kenneth R Cluley said: Doesn't that camper have a propane heater installed from factory? Most have propane heat and water heat on propane. No sir. All electric. The simplicity of the unit- not having a system that we don't need - is one of the things I like about this rig. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nylyon-(Admin) 8,216 #17 Posted September 24 Interesting, I didn’t realize that it was all electric. Is this a 120v electric system, or is everything 12v? If it were 120 and If it were me, I would go with a larger inverter like a Victron Multiplus II with 3 or 400 AH of lithium batteries and 400w of rooftop solar with an MPPT charge controller, then you can get away with a small portable generator when the sun don’t shine. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 74,343 #18 Posted September 24 1 minute ago, nylyon said: was all electric. Is this a 120v electric system, or is everything 12v? I don't actually know yet. There's a battery on board so obviously there's some portions of 12. But there are plugs in the wall. I'm hoping the water pump is a 12 volt system and the rest of it, doesn't really matter. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nylyon-(Admin) 8,216 #19 Posted September 24 I am sure that the water pump is 12v, that is the most common, although my 5th has 2 water pumps, one is 120v, but the primary is 12v. I have a lot of experience with the RV electrical systems, more than happy to help you through it. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 52,808 #20 Posted September 24 6 hours ago, lynnmor said: How much for the battery, mounting, cables that will run several days without sun? 125 for the battery ... hardware & wiring comes with it and EB is good with wiring & adept at installation. The 100 or larger sizes make up for the lack of bright sun or camping in shade. I would stay away from roof mounting. Just something about drilling holes in a roof but I suppose if it is done right at factory?? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 14,536 #21 Posted September 24 3 hours ago, ebinmaine said: two burner Coleman stove on hand and in use. That alone would be adequate to break the chill. Never in an enclosed space, of course?! 2 hours ago, nylyon said: 5500 Onan generator can basically power the camper when needed, including the 3 roof top air conditioners "Glamping” 😁 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 74,343 #22 Posted September 24 2 minutes ago, Handy Don said: Never in an enclosed space, of course?! I've always found it interesting that everybody thinks you can't use propane in an enclosed space but that's exactly what my kitchen stove uses. Larger space of course. I realize that. But there is just no way you can convince me that this camper is going to be airtight. It's super unlikely it would ever come to that anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 14,536 #23 Posted September 24 7 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: that's exactly what my kitchen stove uses. Larger space of course. The interior volume of your home is many times the interior volume of a small camper trailer. Many industrial buildings use propane powered forklifts, right? The key is having enough volume or air exchange to lessen the CO concentration. Research paper: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37816660/ 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 74,343 #24 Posted September 24 2 minutes ago, Handy Don said: Research Thanks for that link! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nylyon-(Admin) 8,216 #25 Posted September 24 37 minutes ago, Handy Don said: "Glamping” 😁 Need to be sure that the beverages remain cold, that’s all. More of a necessity I think. 2 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
