Solar battery charger for RV?

[Fastass350]

Which solar panel do you all recommend for daily charging of your rv batteries? I have a big generator for powering micro and a/c and all that stuff, as well as a little 1000 for running just a battery charger, but I’m trying to eliminate the fuel use and running the little 1000 just to charge what the sun could be. So I’m looking for suggestions for what solar panel setup to go with.

Thanks

[gasman]

Tagging along......

[trophyelk6x6]

You can find solar panels cheap on amazon or evil bay but remember.............you still need a tender/meter to make sure the solar charger doesn't keep charging your RV batteries.  They are cheap, plug into the RV solar panel plug.  I was going to plug my solar panel into the convenient RV plug mounted on the side of my new RV and I thought...hmmm how does it quit charging once those dual batteries are fully charged? So I call my RV dealer Apache in Poulsbo and they said i needed a tender or shut off which is NOT built into your RV solar battery plug ins. FYI.  I haven't bought one yet and I don't remember the actual name but just inquire with a good RV dealer and they will know what you are asking. 

[Russ McDonald]

Look at Harbor Freight they have a 100 watt suitcase type panel setup for $189 I believe.  Has a regulator with it.

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[Hilltop123]

You can find solar panels cheap on amazon or evil bay but remember.............you still need a tender/meter to make sure the solar charger doesn't keep charging your RV batteries.  They are cheap, plug into the RV solar panel plug.  I was going to plug my solar panel into the convenient RV plug mounted on the side of my new RV and I thought...hmmm how does it quit charging once those dual batteries are fully charged? So I call my RV dealer Apache in Poulsbo and they said i needed a tender or shut off which is NOT built into your RV solar battery plug ins. FYI.  I haven't bought one yet and I don't remember the actual name but just inquire with a good RV dealer and they will know what you are asking. 

The electronic device your talking about, is called a charge controller.

[Hilltop123]

Are you thinking of permanently mounting the panel to the roof of the RV?

[MADMAX]

I use the harbor freight 20 dollar solar charger daily on single battery
Easy and cheap
500 watt Honda for the dvd and tv or heater fan if needed
I can go off grid for a couple weeks easy

[724wd]

I use a Coleman panel and controller I bought from Costco. Last I looked, they still have them. I don't take my generator anymore (I will when it gets cooler and need to run the furnace/fan at night).

https://www.costco.com/Coleman-100W-Solar-Panel-With-8.5-AMP-Charge-Controller-.product.100389117.html

[Carl]

I just looked at the Costco 100W Solar Panel that comes with the controller.  It's got a $40 instant rebate right now!  $119.99 after rebate.

Carl

[Fastass350]

Just ordered two from Costco, now my dad will have one too. Thanks for the help all!

[92xj]

I just ordered the coleman solar panel from Costco as well.
Can I butt splice this on the end of the wires and plug it directly into my TT and not go the alligator clip on battery route I was originally thinking about doing?
https://www.amazon.com/SolarAccs-Industrial-Circular-Connector-Suitcase/dp/B07V7SBY72/ref=asc_df_B07V7SBY72/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=366403781750&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13786869388638883922&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033824&hvtargid=pla-802232737172&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=77662753153&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=366403781750&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13786869388638883922&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033824&hvtargid=pla-802232737172

[BNAElkhntr]

I've used the Harbor Freight Model 100 watt with charge controller Like Russ said 189 but watch the ads got mine for 149 works great for keeping batteries topped off while I leave RV between Seasons Even has enough power to allow me to leave Propane Fridge running to keep stuff good while gone
https://www.harborfreight.com/100-watt-solar-panel-kit-63585.html

[Fastass350]

We picked up our trailer today, and it has the same plug that yours shows xj, I asked the kid at the parts counter to order me a plug to fit that to wire my Coleman to. Should be pretty easy.

[Carl]

Are you guys permanently mounting the solar panels on your RVs? 

[Russ McDonald]

I have seen it done.   The problem with a permanent mount is you would have ri have your rig parked to hey good sun. Ther easy spat panels work if you get a shadow across the panel it will shut off those streams not giving you full efficiency of ther panel.   If the shadow falls jus right you can shut down the whole panel.  On the other side is if they are decent panels you will get  charge just off ambient light.  Ibuse solar for my remote repeater sites for work.  Full overcast I get anywhere from 1.5 to 2 amps from the panels.

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[Ghost Hunter]

Just ordered one for the cabin.   

[92xj]

Got my panel in and was going to get it all set up.
Might seem like a dumb question, but which wire is the Positive on the panel, they are both black and I do not see a + or - on the black box...

[BNAElkhntr]

What That Little tag on the one wire say? @92xj

[92xj]

"Do not connect or disconnect under load"

[Stein]

The easy way is to put it in the sun and use a multi meter.  Another way is to open up the junction box.  Almost every module will have a diode (actually two) that is used to help keep power output up when the module is partially shaded.  The diode will have a stripe on one side and that stripe will be on the side that is positive - one lead will be connected to that.  Both diodes "point" in the same direction to the positive lead.

[92xj]

No multi meter at the moment...

[92xj]

every picture I have found including the factory pictures as well as other people posting up there project show the red wire on the right, as the positive.  They must have run out of red when building my unit.  So, I think I am going to assume the right is positive and hope for the best.  What will happen if I assume incorrectly?

PS- I still hate electrical stuff!

[92xj]

@Stein

[mnb300]

the cable to the right is the +. just like Stein said those 2 diodes stripe side connected to the +.

[92xj]

Thanks!

Now, help me learn a little please.  I see no difference in the left and the right, the diodes look connected to the right and the left.

[Stein]

Yep, right cable is +.

[mnb300]

https://www.altestore.com/blog/2017/07/solar-panels-plus-minus-terminals/#.XW_LcyhKg2w

[92xj]

Thanks for the link and help @mnb300 and @stein.
Learn something new everyday.

[ctwiggs1]

Jumping in to thread steal a little here...

If a fella wanted to put some panels up top for some boondocking and didn't have a "solar panel" power port on his RV, could he just rig them up to the main power plug?  I've got a 30A plug for "shore power" (I hate using that term for RV), would I just rig it to that?

[ctwiggs1]

Jumping in to thread steal a little here...

If a fella wanted to put some panels up top for some boondocking and didn't have a "solar panel" power port on his RV, could he just rig them up to the main power plug?  I've got a 30A plug for "shore power" (I hate using that term for RV), would I just rig it to that?

Just realized... I'd need an inverter for that.

[92xj]

I'd just run a plug in the wires at the panels themselves and go straight to the battery.

Panel on top.
Wire out of panel, female plug.
Male plug to 10' of wire (depending on battery and panel location)
end of 10' wire into charge controller
wire out of charge controller into a male plug
female plug hard wired onto batteries.
When driving down the road, panel is hard mounted and all your wires are unplugged and stored inside the trailer.

This is how I am setting mine up, minus a hard mount to the roof.  I'm going to run this coleman panel on the ground propped up for a while and see how it does.  If I want to upgrade later, I will buy a nicer bigger panel and hard mount to roof.

[Ghost Hunter]

Got mine mounted yesterday.  Only gets partial sun due to large trees on south exposure.  No problem charging my battery.   

[Fastass350]

Been using mine at camp and it’s working great, same deal though only sun in the afternoon but it’s keeping up. Ordered two, one for my folks, one came broken and with no controller so I’m waiting for the new one. I just hard wired the controller of mine to the battery and out quick disconnects off the panel.