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slider45
GA
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Joined: 06/13/2017
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Skibane wrote:theoldwizard1 wrote:Those devices are convenient, but significantly over priced !
Definitely!
Your RV already has the battery. All you need is a solar panel and charge controller - both of which are dirt-cheap nowadays.
Here's a handy, inexpensive way of hooking solar panels up to just about any trailer - without making any modifications to the trailer whatsoever:
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/mXVY3htl.jpg)
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/SzDIw7Gl.jpg)
You simply plug your trailer's hitch connector into it. Power from the charge controller ( Renogy's $20 Wanderer 10A PWM model) is supplied to your RV's house batteries through the Charging wire in the hitch connector.
The $13 Harbor Freight Apache 1800 protective case case is waterproof (when the lid is closed), so this rig can be left outdoors indefinitely.
I use it with a 100 watt solar panel (around $85) connected by 50 feet of wire. This portable arrangement allows the panel to be moved around to whatever part of the campsite has strong sunlight, and allows the panel to be quickly removed and stowed.
That's a pretty good kit!
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Thermoguy
Graham, WA
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Joined: 01/04/2017
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Igotaname wrote:What has been your experience with battery back up with Bluetti, Jackery, Goal Zero? I am thinking of boondocking and think the quite power with solar would be good.
How long to you plan to boondock? The batteries in your trailer might allow you to go 2 or 3 days without doing anything. Maybe you need to add a second, 3rd or 4th battery to get the job done. If your only going a couple days, you might not need to do anything, if you want to go a week, you might need to add something. You can get by with far less than those units, they include the battery which you have...
I treat boondocking like an extension of tent camping. I only use power when I need it and only mostly use lights, fridge, and water. We don't sit in the trailer with the lights on at night, we sit by the fire with the lights off. Just saying, you might not need much power to get through a nice long weekend trip.
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Gjac
Milford, CT
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Joined: 08/16/2006
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Thermoguy wrote:Igotaname wrote:What has been your experience with battery back up with Bluetti, Jackery, Goal Zero? I am thinking of boondocking and think the quite power with solar would be good.
How long to you plan to boondock? The batteries in your trailer might allow you to go 2 or 3 days without doing anything. Maybe you need to add a second, 3rd or 4th battery to get the job done. If your only going a couple days, you might not need to do anything, if you want to go a week, you might need to add something. You can get by with far less than those units, they include the battery which you have...
I treat boondocking like an extension of tent camping. I only use power when I need it and only mostly use lights, fridge, and water. We don't sit in the trailer with the lights on at night, we sit by the fire with the lights off. Just saying, you might not need much power to get through a nice long weekend trip. The only thing I would add to this very good post is if you have tent camped in the past and have minimal battery requirements you would be wasting your money on Jackery or solar. I dry camp 95% of the time and never run out of battery power in a week worth of camping. Water has always been the limiting factor, after 7 days I am almost out of water but my 2 6v GC batteries are still at 50% SOC or higher. If you have a single 12 battery replace it with 2 6v golf cart batteries wired in series and you will have plenty of power for a weeks worth of camping. What is the size of your FW tank?
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austinjenna
Columbus, Ohio
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Joined: 03/27/2002
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Quote:
Definitely!
Your RV already has the battery. All you need is a solar panel and charge controller - both of which are dirt-cheap nowadays.
Here's a handy, inexpensive way of hooking solar panels up to just about any trailer - without making any modifications to the trailer whatsoever:
[image]
[image]
You simply plug your trailer's hitch connector into it. Power from the charge controller (Renogy's $20 Wanderer 10A PWM model) is supplied to your RV's house batteries through the Charging wire in the hitch connector.
The $13 Harbor Freight Apache 1800 protective case case is waterproof (when the lid is closed), so this rig can be left outdoors indefinitely.
I use it with a 100 watt solar panel (around $85) connected by 50 feet of wire. This portable arrangement allows the panel to be moved around to whatever part of the campsite has strong sunlight, and allows the panel to be quickly removed and stowed.
Why go through that process and just not hook up the solar controller right to the battery?
2010 F350 CC Lariat 4x4 Short Bed
2011 Crusader 298BDS 5th Wheel
Reese 16K
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wa8yxm
Davison Michigan (East of Flint)
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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Just a note: On Facebook I see a bunch of adds for systems like the one in the Original Post for prices that are very attractive.
So much so I smell a nearby fish market even though there is no nearby fish market. (Something smells fishy)
I'd love to hear from someone who gets "hooked".
Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times
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