RoamingGnomes
Toms River, NJ
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Joined: 10/11/2006
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We are in the east and live at the shore and therefore love to go to the mountains when we camp, surrounded by trees. This seems to defeat any possibility of practical solar power.
Those of you that use solar panels (especially dry campers), where do you do most of your camping and what type of sites (open, wooded, ...) do you typically usually stay at?
Thanks
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Padlin
W. Ma.
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Joined: 06/15/2006
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While I don't use solar, I was up at Moosehead lake at the state park in mid sept., you can't find thicker trees then western Me. A fella with a small Airstream was walking the CG looking for a site with sun for his panel. He ended up a site or 2 away where maybe 1/4th of the site had sun. He had a standalone panel that he put in the sun while the trailer was in shade. Roof mounted would have been out of luck. So to answer your Q, it would be as open as possible.
Bob & Deb
W Ma.
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sonicsix
Jemison, AL
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We look for a spot that will give us at least some sun during the day, or full sun if available. We wired our panels in parallel so if one is shaded, the output of the other is not affected. The awning gives us shade to sit in or we can put our chairs under trees if the camper is in the sun.
Our 12v usage is minimal so we don't need the panels to be in full sun all day to recharge the batteries. Also, even if there is no direct sun due to clouds, the panels will still produce some power. This picture is a driveway shot, but you can see the panels well.
* This post was
edited 10/29/09 07:13am by sonicsix *
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~DJ~
Boise, Idaho
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Solar would certainly be fun to have but not at the price of parking in the sun!!!! Deep cool woods and a genny for me please!!! 
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coug
Eastern Washington
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We dry camp 90% of the time. I do not ever worry about the solar when I park the trailer. Solar is a bonus because we have a lp generator, but even when parked under the trees we get a little bit of charge. Also, I am in the N. Rockies, so most of the time when we boondock we have to park in a meadow or clearing because there are not "sites" cleared in the trees. Our solar system recharges the batteries from the previous night's use and the only time we run the generator is for AC or the microwave.
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garyhaupt
Kitimat, BC, Canada, Mile '0' of Alaska HiWay #37
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Many do have free standing panels that are moved to the best-for-sun spots, as the day goes by. It's not as convenient as roof mounted but still very doable. You need to remember to have a controller, eh. Otherwise can over-charge the batteries.
I'll bet people say...not handy...but many also drag out a tri-pod for the Sat dish, too. All about attitude.
Gary Haupt
I have begun to blog.. .www.gary haupt.blogspot.com. It's not about RV'ing...but RV'ing is a part of it.
Gary
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nny12972
NY
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Joined: 10/25/2006
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Your choice of site is yours---same with whether you want solar charging, and quiet, and prefer not hauling gas....
100' of #10 wire and a portable mount works just fine...
AND, if you have 'em permanently flat-mounted on the roof, you're already losing 50% of the panel rating/capability....
Personally, the portable mount is no more bother than adjusting angle---if you can---on the roof....
J
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69RoadRunner
VA
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100' of #10 wire will cause a significant voltage drop.
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BillyW
North ID
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My two 75 watt panels are wired in series and permanently mounted flat on my roof. We ONLY dry camp, almost always in treed, mountainous areas. Typically the panels only get 3-4 hours of direct sun at the most. That provides us with more power than we need, despite my teenage son's proclivity to turn on and forget about the lights and other electrical conveniences. We typically watch a movie or two in the evening too.
On a side note, they also keep the batteries topped off when the trailer is in storage. I don't have to plug it in at home anymore. Though it would take years to pay for it self, the system is saving me quite a bit on the electric bill.
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69RoadRunner
VA
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BillyW wrote:
On a side note, they also keep the batteries topped off when the trailer is in storage. I don't have to plug it in at home anymore. Though it would take years to pay for it self, the system is saving me quite a bit on the electric bill.
Not to mention you're extending the life of the batteries by keeping them properly charged while in storage, assuming you use a quality controller.
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