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04-03-2017, 11:10 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Kalamazoo, MI & Leesburg, FL
Posts: 735
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Decided to add a small solar panel to the rig.
I just can not stop diddling with the FF. After reading about another member adding a solar panel to his camper, I decided to look around and see what I could get. I bought this 50 Watt Renogy starter kit on Amazon. Will set it up as a portable unit that can be propped up on the ground. If I need more power, I can always added another panel.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
__________________
__________________
2013 Highlander AWD
2010 Fun Finder 189FBR
Into Camping and RC Flying
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04-03-2017, 04:05 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,330
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twinster2
I just can not stop diddling with the FF. After reading about another member adding a solar panel to his camper, I decided to look around and see what I could get. I bought this 50 Watt Renogy starter kit on Amazon. Will set it up as a portable unit that can be propped up on the ground. If I need more power, I can always added another panel.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Cool! That a great way to start. They must be in demand "ships in 1-2 months"
__________________
__________________
2008 Fun Finder 189 FBR, (replaced by) 1996 Shasta 265DBFW April 2017.
2006 Jeep Liberty 3.7 (replaced by.....)
2006 Chevy 2500HD, Duramax, crew cab
It's a big world...explore it!!!
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04-03-2017, 05:17 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Kalamazoo, MI & Leesburg, FL
Posts: 735
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Michigantraveler
Cool! That a great way to start. They must be in demand "ships in 1-2 months"
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Fortunately, they had a few in stock yesterday when I ordered, so my unit has been shipped and will arrived by Thursday.
__________________
2013 Highlander AWD
2010 Fun Finder 189FBR
Into Camping and RC Flying
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04-03-2017, 06:21 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,330
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twinster2
Fortunately, they had a few in stock yesterday when I ordered, so my unit has been shipped and will arrived by Thursday.
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Lucky!! Glad you didn't wait another day.
__________________
2008 Fun Finder 189 FBR, (replaced by) 1996 Shasta 265DBFW April 2017.
2006 Jeep Liberty 3.7 (replaced by.....)
2006 Chevy 2500HD, Duramax, crew cab
It's a big world...explore it!!!
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04-03-2017, 06:31 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Southern California
Posts: 2,142
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I use a 120 watt portable -- it has changed everything. We never run the generator, and we can boondock as long as we want (until the gray tank gets full, which is about a week). The panel tops off the battery every day.
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04-04-2017, 08:12 AM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 19
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I would like to have a portable solar panel, but chose to install a fixed one first and see if that does the trick. I can't wait to hear how yours does, as adding a 50 watt would be a good choice for portable solar.
__________________
2005 T139
Located in Casper, WY
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04-04-2017, 08:52 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,330
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The beauty of a portable is of course that if you are in a shaded campsite (which we prefer in the hot summer) you can move the panel to a sunnier spot maybe. I think on a roof installation it would be good to be able to tilt the panels for maximum exposure rather than have them in a fixed position.
__________________
2008 Fun Finder 189 FBR, (replaced by) 1996 Shasta 265DBFW April 2017.
2006 Jeep Liberty 3.7 (replaced by.....)
2006 Chevy 2500HD, Duramax, crew cab
It's a big world...explore it!!!
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04-04-2017, 10:17 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Kalamazoo, MI & Leesburg, FL
Posts: 735
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When my panel arrives, I will need to think about how I want to mange it. First thing is to set up a thru the wall SAE plug with the controller either inside the pass thru storage bay or inside the living area of the trailer. What have you guys done?
Also it would be nice to mount it on the roof but be detachable for portable use as well. Biggest problem is that the roof is pretty high so climbing up there to detach the panel would get old very quickly. And if it is not mounted on the roof, how would I store it so it does not get broken? Any suggestions?
__________________
2013 Highlander AWD
2010 Fun Finder 189FBR
Into Camping and RC Flying
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04-04-2017, 10:50 AM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 19
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One idea for a location to install a panel is on the back of the trailer, where you could tilt it for a good angle to the sun, or remove it and set it somewhere in the sun.
I am planning to install mine on the roof (T139) and use a cable entry plate to secure the cables and seal from weather, and drop the cables down where the shower valve/wall is (and also where the sink vent is located). I would like to mount the controller to the left of the sink, on the back of the shower wall, where I drop the wires. This seems like a great place to run the wires from the controller, which leads them under the sink and to the front of the trailer (next to all the other wires that run that direction).
__________________
2005 T139
Located in Casper, WY
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04-04-2017, 12:37 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,330
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Type "portable solar panel" into YouTube. Tons of informative videos on the subject.
__________________
2008 Fun Finder 189 FBR, (replaced by) 1996 Shasta 265DBFW April 2017.
2006 Jeep Liberty 3.7 (replaced by.....)
2006 Chevy 2500HD, Duramax, crew cab
It's a big world...explore it!!!
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04-04-2017, 05:04 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Kalamazoo, MI & Leesburg, FL
Posts: 735
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I found an interesting approach to mounting a solar panel on the side of a camper. It can be propped up or removed and placed on the ground.
__________________
2013 Highlander AWD
2010 Fun Finder 189FBR
Into Camping and RC Flying
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04-04-2017, 05:41 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Southern California
Posts: 2,142
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I store my portable on the bed when we are in transit.
And I hook it directly to the battery (on the tongue) with alligator clips.
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04-07-2017, 10:24 AM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by profdant139
I store my portable on the bed when we are in transit.
And I hook it directly to the battery (on the tongue) with alligator clips.
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What size panel are you running as a portable unit? I am very interested in adding a small portable one down the road.
__________________
2005 T139
Located in Casper, WY
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04-07-2017, 11:43 AM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Rawdon Quebec Canada
Posts: 1
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be careful
Quote:
Originally Posted by corleykj
One idea for a location to install a panel is on the back of the trailer, where you could tilt it for a good angle to the sun, or remove it and set it somewhere in the sun.
I am planning to install mine on the roof (T139) and use a cable entry plate to secure the cables and seal from weather, and drop the cables down where the shower valve/wall is (and also where the sink vent is located). I would like to mount the controller to the left of the sink, on the back of the shower wall, where I drop the wires. This seems like a great place to run the wires from the controller, which leads them under the sink and to the front of the trailer (next to all the other wires that run that direction).
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It is very important to locate the charge controller as close to the battery as possible, with suitable gauge cables. Good info on IRV2 forum...
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04-07-2017, 07:47 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Southern California
Posts: 2,142
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My panel is 120 watt.
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04-10-2017, 10:51 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 498
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Wow was offline a few days and missed all this. Really interested in this as I would like to add solar. Post pictures!
Liz
__________________
2008 189FBR & 2014 FORD F150 Now Full-Time
Tons of Inexpensive Camper Mods WackyPup.com
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04-10-2017, 08:40 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Kalamazoo, MI & Leesburg, FL
Posts: 735
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__________________
2013 Highlander AWD
2010 Fun Finder 189FBR
Into Camping and RC Flying
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04-10-2017, 10:04 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Southern California
Posts: 2,142
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Great job! A word of advice -- when you deploy the panel during windy conditions, put a few heavy rocks on the crossbar. I have not had a panel flip over and break during high wind, but I know someone who has.
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04-11-2017, 06:41 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: fort salonga NY
Posts: 191
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Quote:
Originally Posted by profdant139
Great job! A word of advice -- when you deploy the panel during windy conditions, put a few heavy rocks on the crossbar. I have not had a panel flip over and break during high wind, but I know someone who has.
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I would get 2 3 or 5lb ankle weights from walmart would easily go on pcv pipe.
__________________
2007 Fun Finder 189fbs Scrapped 4/16
2006 Hummer H3 1983 Honda CX650C
1968 Oldsmobile 442
2017 Keystone Summerland 1750RD
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04-19-2017, 03:16 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Kalamazoo, MI & Leesburg, FL
Posts: 735
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Just about finished with my Solar Panel Project. Below is a picture of the SAE two pin connector port I added to the side of my trailer. I also included a picture of left pass thru hatch where I decided to mount the charge controller. Since controller is pretty much automatic, meaning once the solar panel is plugged in it charges and when its not plugged in it does nothing, there was no point to putting it in a more prominent spot in the inside of the trailer.
__________________
__________________
2013 Highlander AWD
2010 Fun Finder 189FBR
Into Camping and RC Flying
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