Solar panels for charging batteries

[wwilkens]

I've attended Airventure most years since 1993. A couple of years I've had times when I just about depleted my two camper batteries. I'm thinking of buying a portable solar charger that can keep up with my vent fan. Any suggestions on brands and models?
Thanks,
Wes

[Bill Berson]

Harbor Freight has a three panel set and regulator for 12volt (14.4 volt regulated)
About $150. Might need to make a base mount. 75 watt total, I think.

[RC Gregg]

I just bought a lightweight 60 watt solar panel that folds up to 18"x18" $99 on amazon. It will recharge a portable power supply also purchased off amazon in about 6 hours. My friend is testing it with his cpap machine this week. 3 nights on a/c power before needing a recharge. There are hundreds of power supplies to choose from. I settled on this inexpensive($189) one:Amazon.com : PAXCESS Portable Power Station 200W, 230Wh/62400mAh Emergency Backup Lithium Battery, 110V Pure Sine Wave AC Outlet, QC 3.0, USB-C PD Input/Output, Solar Generator for Home/Outdoor Camping Adventure : Electronics (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086X29L2B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

and this solar panel:Amazon.com: 60W Portable Solar Panel Charger Kit, Foldable Solar Charger for Outdoor Camping RV, Suitable for Portable Power Station(2 USB, 1 Type C, 1DC Port): Electronics (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TW9B4DM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

[skyfixer8]

I have two Renogy solar panels hooked together with their wiring harnes kit. Camper has dual batteries and have no trouble keeping them charged. AC and microwave are not battery powered so they
won t work for them. I just lean them against camper in the sun and no problems.

[FrankLudington]

Harbor Freight now has a single 100 watt panel for $98. But it doesn't include the controller. They have a small, simple controller for about $25 I think. The 3-panel set for $150-$179 includes a nice controller, but it's a bunch of work to install it inside the TT.

[wwilkens]

I lookded at a 200 watt "suitcase" model they've got and was just curious if they'd keep my two camper batteries charged with the vent fan going (with some windows open) while I was at the AirVenture grounds. I'm not sure what the amperage draw is for the fan, but can't be more then the 16+ amps it would put out at full sun. I might just see if I can find a 100 watt Renogy.
Thanks for the feedback everyone.
Wes

[FrankLudington]

Hi Wes, I don't know what sort of fan you have, but I have a Riverside Retro with a "Maxx" fan which I am told draws only 0.3 amps on it's lowest speed. It's a very smart fan, electronically controlled, rain sensor, etc... There are many Retros which have a smart fan called "Fantastic" fan, if I remember correctly. It also takes very little current. Note that the refrigerator, on propane, draws 0.350 amps of D.C. With no fan or other things on, my travel trailer draws 0.50 amps. So I think you should be good with 100-150 watts of solar power to make up for the fan power drain, a few LED lights, and cellphone chargers. My water pump draws 6.5 amps, but it runs very infrequently. -Frank

[Al Burgemeister]

I've used the 3 panel Harbor Freight unit for the past couple of years. It came with a PVC pipe frame with legs to set it up at an angle. It mostly kept my 5th wheel batteries up for two weeks.

[BunnyRobie]

I just bought a lightweight 60 watt solar panel that folds up to 18"x18" $99 on amazon. It will recharge a portable power supply also purchased off amazon in about 6 hours. My friend is testing it with his cpap machine this week. 3 nights on a/c power before needing a recharge. There are hundreds of power supplies to choose from. I settled on this inexpensive($189) one:Amazon.com : PAXCESS Portable Power Station 200W, 230Wh/62400mAh Emergency Backup Lithium Battery, 110V Pure Sine Wave AC Outlet, QC 3.0, USB-C PD Input/Output, Solar Generator for Home/Outdoor Camping Adventure : Electronics (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086X29L2B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) microinverter (https://jt.org/easy-tips-on-choosing-the-right-microinverter-for-your-solar-system/)

and this solar panel:Amazon.com: 60W Portable Solar Panel Charger Kit, Foldable Solar Charger for Outdoor Camping RV, Suitable for Portable Power Station(2 USB, 1 Type C, 1DC Port): Electronics (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TW9B4DM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

I don`t trust Amazon reviews, so before buying check Trustpilot before buying anything

[kshaw]

For charging batteries, I will take my Jackery 290 which I bought at Harbor Freight. That is very neat and has a power inverter for blowing up your air mattress as well as USB ports and a 12v outlet. I have one of the 100w folding solar panels which I got from Amazon. Works very well.

[RC Gregg]

I don`t trust Amazon reviews, so before buying check Trustpilot before buying anything
Well, they worked as advertised. Powered a cpap machine all night with 60% charge left in the morning, solar panels had it fully recharged by lunchtime the next day. The reviews were accurate.

[gabieleke]

To avoid depleting your camper batteries, a portable solar charger is definitely a good idea. I suggest a distributed energy network (https://yenex.com), which utilizes a collection of small-scale renewable energy generators to provide power to a specific area. I'm using one in my rural cottage when I go there, and it has never failed yet. That flow creates a reliable source of power for your camping needs. Hope it helps you, and let me know if you have other questions about it. Happy camping!

[LightasAFeather]

Now here are more and more solar panels but it's so hard to choose which one to get. Can somebody help me?

[Jeffrey Meyer]

I've faced similar issues with my camper batteries running low, especially when relying on them for essentials like a vent fan during trips. After some research, I decided to look into portable solar chargers to avoid this problem in the future. I found a fantastic resource at solargenerators.to (https://solargenerators.to), which offers a wealth of information, reviews, and tips specifically on solar generators and chargers. This site helped me understand what to look for in terms of power, portability, and durability, making it easier to choose the right solar charger for my needs. It's a great starting point to compare different brands and models, ensuring you find a solar charger that can keep up with your vent fan and other power needs while enjoying Airventure.

[Inspector Fenwick]

I've faced similar issues with my camper batteries running low, especially when relying on them for essentials like a vent fan during trips. After some research, I decided to look into portable solar chargers to avoid this problem in the future. I found a fantastic resource at solargenerators.to (https://solargenerators.to), which offers a wealth of information, reviews, and tips specifically on solar generators and chargers. This site helped me understand what to look for in terms of power, portability, and durability, making it easier to choose the right solar charger for my needs. It's a great starting point to compare different brands and models, ensuring you find a solar charger that can keep up with your vent fan and other power needs while enjoying Airventure.

So....I am sitting here pondering the end of another day, and my ear hairs start to vibrate. Someone else, somewhere, is referring to battery power stations as "solar generators". Sure enough my cyber devining rod found this posting. Tain't right. My Jackery units, great as they are, have NEVER generated a single amp. They make good storage vessels for the amps I steal from the sun or my wall outlet. But the manufacturers have succeeded in rebranding a battery device as a "generator". I actually have a small Jackery that looks like a mini-Honda generator. It even says "Honda" on it. Great product.....not a generator. Please make it stop. I pair mine with 60 watts of folding solar panel. At Oshkosh, I have enough power for my hot tub, my microwave, my home theater, ice maker, my metal lathe, blender, and my water pic.

[Hooptism]

I think it's great to hear about your Airventure experiences. A portable solar charger sounds like a smart solution for keeping your camper batteries charged, especially during events when you're using a lot of power. As for brands and models, I've heard good things about brands like Goal Zero and Renogy. They offer portable solar chargers designed for outdoor use, and you can find models with various power outputs to suit your needs. Additionally, I recently came across some solar panel installers (https://solarsmart.ie) who share useful tips for selecting the right charger for your setup. They might have personalized recommendations based on your specific requirements.

[Russ-]

My current plan, subject to change is a 60w briefcase solar panel attached to two sealed lead acid 12v 14ah batteries or a single NOCO GB40 bank. I already know that we have 3 iPhones and 2 iPads the will need re-charging. The iPhones will be daily top ups, the iPads probably only once before departure. Anyone have experience with a similar situation?