Portable Solar for Challenger

[Mike in AZ]

Originally Posted by B7smith

I have the Renogy 100 watt solar suitcase. Outstanding performance and very easy to use. I added a plug to the outside of my Axis 25.2. If you purchase a portable solar unit make sure that you purchase the extension cables. Longer cables allow you more flexibility as the sun moves.

B7, the 200 watt Renogy Solar Suitcase I bought came with a mounted Controller. It has two sensor cables, on for temp and one for voltage. They’re optional but recommended. Does yours have them, and if so are you using them?

[B7smith]

Originally Posted by Mike in AZ

B7, the 200 watt Renogy Solar Suitcase I bought came with a mounted Controller. It has two sensor cables, on for temp and one for voltage. They’re optional but recommended. Does yours have them, and if so are you using them?

Looks good Mike! I use the voltage but do not use the temp sensor. Looking forward to seeing how the 200 watt system performs with the four batteries.

[bigben]

Gotta get ours about Jan '18. I'd really like to know how well your portables do for keeping the batteries topped up.

[Mike in AZ]

I’ll post another update here in a couple weeks, to let you guys know how it performs. Thanks again for all the advice!

[bigben]

Thanks Mike. REALLY appreciate

[Mike in AZ]

So here’s my initial take on the solar trial run.

We have the Renogy Solar Suitcase, 200 Watts.

Four 6 volt Crown GC235 batteries.

We have a residential refrigerator, and I sleep with a CPAP running all night.

Because of the tight spaces here, I only got a few hours of sunlight on the panels yesterday. When I unplugged and stowed them, my batteries showed fully charged. I ran the generator a little over an hour before going to bed around 1030.

When I woke up at 0630, the batteries still showed three out of four bars!

I plugged in the solar and ran the generator about 30 minutes (DW need3d the gennie to run the coffee pot). When I shut the gennie down, batteries showed full.

I’ll leave the solar on all day until the sun is gone.

Lessons learned -
The cables that came with the Renogy unit are 9’. Not nearly enough for what I need to keep the panels in sunlight. I will buy longer cables, a minimum 20’ but preferably 30.

The connectors - one is fine, the other is tough to connect and a real bear to disconnect.

Have had several people stop by to ask about the solar.

I’m very pleased so far!

[Mike in AZ]

Pic of our Solar Suitcase in action, LOL.

[bigben]

Mike - thanks for the update. We have a very similar setup with batteries and usage. I plan to do the same sort of use. Want to use my gennie to make coffee in the AM, then use the solar to top up my batteries during the daytime. Our current set of house batteries are sufficient to last all night for residential refrig and CPAP if they have a full charge. Thought I'd probably do the same timing - run the gennie for just before quiet time at 11:00 PM. This should reduce the gennie run time to about 2 hours per day.

Again, many thanks for the feedback Mike. If you have more info, I'd appreciate.

[B7smith]

Hi Mike!
Thanks for the update. Do you have a MC4 connector/removal tool? If not, it really helps when separating the MC4 connector. They can be found on Amazon for about seven dollars.

[Mike in AZ]

Originally Posted by B7smith

Hi Mike!
Thanks for the update. Do you have a MC4 connector/removal tool? If not, it really helps when separating the MC4 connector. They can be found on Amazon for about seven dollars.

Thanks, I will look into that ASAP! It was easier disconnecting last night, but still not easy by any means. One connector is fine, but the other is very stiff.

[Mike in AZ]

Originally Posted by bigben

Mike - thanks for the update. We have a very similar setup with batteries and usage. I plan to do the same sort of use. Want to use my gennie to make coffee in the AM, then use the solar to top up my batteries during the daytime. Our current set of house batteries are sufficient to last all night for residential refrig and CPAP if they have a full charge. Thought I'd probably do the same timing - run the gennie for just before quiet time at 11:00 PM. This should reduce the gennie run time to about 2 hours per day.

Again, many thanks for the feedback Mike. If you have more info, I'd appreciate.

You’re welcome Ben. Nothing new to update today, still very pleased.

[Mike in AZ]

Final update - Just got home. We did 5 full days boondocking. I learned a LOT of lessons re water consumption, waste tanks, and of course electrical power.

The Renogy Solar Suitcase was great, one of the best add-ons we’ve done. I ran it daily, Wednesday thru Saturday, connecting in the mornings and stowing it as soon as the sun was down.

On Sunday, our final day at PIR, I did not use the Solar at all. The difference was significant.

When we ran Solar, we ran our generator about 30 to 60 minutes each morning and between 60 and 120 minutes each evening, tops.

Sunday, no solar, and we ran the generator at least six hours.

Based on our trial use of this product, I am very happy with it.

I am going to purchase longer cables. The 9’ it comes with is just not enough. I think 30’ would be about right.

I did find that after connecting and disconnecting the cables a few times, it got easier and easier so I think the connector was just stiff, initially.

Hope some of you found this useful.

Mike

[bigben]

Mike, your post is behind useful it is exactly what I was looking for. Many thanks again

[Mike in AZ]

Originally Posted by bigben

Mike, your post is behind useful it is exactly what I was looking for. Many thanks again

Thanks Ben, I’m very glad to hear that!

[Rich&Cathy]

Originally Posted by B7smith

I have the Renogy 100 watt solar suitcase. Outstanding performance and very easy to use. I added a plug to the outside of my Axis 25.2. If you purchase a portable solar unit make sure that you purchase the extension cables. Longer cables allow you more flexibility as the sun moves.

B7smith do you remember the name of the part you mounted to your rv. Or a link would be great to. Thanks

[Rich&Cathy]

I found your link sorry lol

[B7smith]

Originally Posted by Rich&Cathy

I found your link sorry lol

No worries, let me know if you have any other questions

[Rich&Cathy]

Originally Posted by B7smith

No worries, let me know if you have any other questions

Sure will!