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woody with a view
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solar powered pop up trailer
first off, all i know about electricity is that it is invisible-and it hurts. 
i'm going to need to power a pop up trailer and was wondering if there is a simple (cheap is good!) method to power lights and maybe a small ipod
stereo and of course, a blender. i'll have my 3 cubic foot fridge/freezer (in addition to the small unit in the pop up) that can run on electric or
propane.
anyone have a simple explanation to wire the panel(s) to the pop up?
[Edited on 7-31-2010 by woody with a view]
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noproblemo2
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You could put solar panels/panel in the top part of it, we have solar on our RV for back-up and works well..
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Bob and Susan
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woody...solar power is only battery power
the solar panels charge the batteries
then the inverter converts it to house current
house current powers the fridg and blender
you need to make a list of appliances you plan to use
ex:
ipod = 20w
fridg = 80w
coffe maker = 1000w
then you can se how many batteries you really need
and the size of the solar panel to charge the batteries
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woody with a view
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i know the panel charges the (car, or another battery in the pop up?) battery for night use. the inverter changes dc to ac. when i add up my total
expected watts that i'll need to draw, i need to get an inverter to handle ( + 50%?) amount of current needed?
plug into the inverter and drain my battery all night long, or until the sun comes out? is it a simple wiring set up like:
panel has two wires-which go to battery-which go to inverter?
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woody with a view
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| Quote: | Originally posted by noproblemo2
You could put solar panels/panel in the top part of it, we have solar on our RV for back-up and works well.. |
i'm assuming i'll disconnect the panel and stow it on a bed whilst traveling. then just set it on the ground at an optimal angle to catch the sun.
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Diver
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I wouldn't use the car battery for camp power; if it dies, the truck won't start.
You can put a 12V deep cell under the hood or in the camper.
If you put it in the truck;
1. the camper will have to be plugged into the truck to get power.
2. you need an isolator so the battery will charge when driving but not drain your starting battery.
3. You willl have a spare battery to start the truck if the other one fails.
The easiest way I have found to connect a solar panel to a battery is to hot-glue a small charge controller to the back of the panel. The wires from
the controller then go to the battery. For moveable, non-permanent use, I cut 2' off a 12ga extention cord and wire one end to the charge
controller/panel and the other end to the battery. This way you can plug the 2 together and place the panel anywhere around the camp that the sun is
shining.
If you use an inverter, it gets connected either to the cigarette lighter or to the battery leads - depending on your inverter leads. I normally use
an inverter that is rated for at least 1.5 times the draw that you anticipate.
[Edited on 7-31-2010 by Diver]
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woody with a view
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| Quote: | Originally posted by fishabductor
Or secure the PV panels down good and charge while you drive. Lots of people mount them permanately down. Lots of boaters do too.
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if you knew where we were planning to go..... won't the bad roads increase the chances of a cracked panel due to vibration?
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Diver
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| Quote: | Originally posted by fishabductor
Or secure the PV panels down good and charge while you drive. Lots of people mount them permanately down. Lots of boaters do too.
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With my extention cord method, we have often tied the 85 watt panel on top of the windsurf bags on the roof. But normally we get enough charge from
the alternator when we drive. I really like the flexibility to camp in the shade and put the panel in the sun !
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Diver
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Also, when it's sunny, our 85 watt panel and 1 group 27 deep cell will run our lights, water pump, occasional heater fan, range hood, stereo and 12V
DVD for the few hours each day we use them and we never run low unless it's cloudy.
We run our blender off a 5 Hp rototiller motor !! 
Nah, off the main truck battery with an inverter for a few minutes at a time.
Don't like them too blended !
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woody with a view
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| Quote: |
Nah, off the main truck battery with an inverter for a few minutes at a time.
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which is how we do it now. but with the new digs it's gonna need something mo' betta!
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Bob and Susan
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just get a honda eu2000
solar is just too expensive still for what you want to do
this generator is sooo quiet you'll love it
spend your money$$$ on food and drinks
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mojo_norte
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I've found a good condition fully charged deep cell battery will run the basics - lights + pump + stereo + furnace fan for 3-4 + ? on the road travel
days. When I get where I am going or even a place I'm spending half a day I put out my 50 watt solar panel out in the sun. I used to have a setup with
an isolator from my truck battery which is nice but the isolator went south and I never revisited it.
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mojo_norte
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| Quote: | Originally posted by woody with a view
y3 cubic foot fridge/freezer (in addition to the small unit in the pop up) that can run on electric or propane.
[Edited on 7-31-2010 by woody with a view] |
Any refrigeration units will drain your batteries in a hurry !
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Terry28
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vote # 2 for the honda generator......well worth the $$
Mexico!! Where two can live as cheaply as one.....but it costs twice as much.....
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BFS
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I know exactly where you are going brother.
Propane for the fridge, forget about electric/solar/battery on that. Propane lasts and makes ice!!
One solar panel bolted down is fine and can hang on any road down here.
With a good dedicated battery (not going to your engine) you can do lights, 12v fans, ipod w/speakers. Not sure about that blender as Ive converted to
"rocks" but they do make hand cranked ones. Forget the generator!!
And by the way its head high, on the rise, sheet glass and drainiiiing....
bfs
[Edited on 7-31-2010 by BFS]
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mojo_norte
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I think a generator is overkill for the needs of a popup - main power draw is the fridge and he's got a propane fridge. A 50 Watt $250 solar panel
will run ipod laptops lights blender pump. Generator's fine but cost + space taken up + fuel ? A bit messier than a solar panel.
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rts551
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mojo_norte
| Quote: | Originally posted by woody with a view
y3 cubic foot fridge/freezer (in addition to the small unit in the pop up) that can run on electric or propane.
[Edited on 7-31-2010 by woody with a view] |
Any refrigeration units will drain your batteries in a hurry ! |
Propane works better anyway
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woody with a view
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any sources for parts?
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mojo_norte
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Electrical parts bits.
http://www.parts-express.com/home.cfm
RV Batteries - Walmart - Costco?
Harbor freight had a 45 watt solar panel on sale recently for $150
I have a Kyocera panel that bought 15 years ago - they last forever!
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woody with a view
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being as i'm a dolt, isn't 45 watts less than a dim light bulb?
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