Campers 101

[Irving]

I'm asking what size battery they are using. However, given what you've assumed, it seems like everything drives everything a bit.

[ruthabagah]

Anyone? What size battery with those 100 w panels?

ruhabagah, are you also using a 100 w panel?

Bueller? Sorry did not see your previous question: Yes 100w panel and the battery is 550/690/140 SRM24 type. Not my favorite, but it'll do until I can change it for an AGM or 2-6V deep cycle.

[gnihcraes]

Battery I'm using is a BCI GROUP NUMBER: 27 deep cycle from Checker/O Reilley auto parts. My research on the internet said that their deep cycle battery was made by Deka. Which should be a good battery. The previous one I had was original to the camper, InterState Deep cycle, lasted 6 years. We camp a couple times a year, only a few times have I needed the heater all night long and the battery kept up.

I'll confirm the size/amp hour of mine tomorrow. But I'm just using the solar panel to replenish whatever we used during the night. The panel in good sun should put back into the battery at ~ 5 amps an hour. That's a decent charge.

[Irving]

Thanks guys.

[gnihcraes]

Thanks guys.

welcome, anytime!

[gnihcraes]

Update to my setup:

Just spent three nights, 3.5 days out with the family in the camper. Bowhunter Jamboree, with about 1000 other campers.

I swapped out a couple of Bulbs in the camper for some LED 1141 bulbs, Dome lights. They work very well, nice and bright. I need to change out two more so they are all LED.

I used my home made LED light strips, they worked well inside and outside the camper. I forgot to take pictures, but they light up everything. Can't miss my camper among all the others.

We ended up using the camper furnace/heater because the afamily was cold during the night. It was in the 40's each night. I ran out of propane early sunday morning, had to jump out and switch tanks. Brrrrrr

Solar setup worked well. New 100 watt panel, new charge controller that I mounted inside a ridged tool box from home depot. Put Power pole connectors on the outside; Panel In, Battery Charge out, Battery load from controller. The toolbox worked great, gave me a awesome place to store all the camper and solar cables I might need.

I was able to charge the battery back up in a couple hours. (according to the charge controller indicators)



Tons of comments from other campers. Wow, how well does it work? That thing doesn't make any noise huh! (Generators running all over the place at this event) Since we're in a popup, we really didn't have a reason for a generator, no big refrigerator, water heater, tv's. No inverter, just charging up the main battery each day.

I installed a USB and DC cig plug port into the camper before leaving. Everyone was able to charge up their cell phones and kindles the entire time we were there. Now I know where to install a 2nd and 3rd charge port because of location/people/cord issues.

The wife downloaded a movie to her kindle before leaving home and we watched that friday night. Small screen, but we all can huddle around and watch it.

View from our location looking south towards Buena Vista.

[ruthabagah]

Nice setup.