camp solar

[line052]

I still recommend Trojan T105 as best battery in the market for solar 6V @ 220 AMP and 30,000 discharge cycle and still only about $175 a battery. You build in banks of 2 X 6V equal 12V. You can always add later and like Impact said - buy the biggest inverter possible. Always equate 15% of all daily draw will be just run the inverter/charge controller, so dont forget to add to your energy budget calculations. Get 300amp fuses to go between battery and array...you get 1 chance to hook backwards..dont worry they arc themselves solid if you make a mistake, use stubby wrenches, so if you drop one, they dont fuse to top of battery..just saying. Experience is the best learner. Also be respectful of the absolute danger to AMPs stored and lethal "capacity" to kill you on the spot.

I had a similar setup at my previous hunt camp.
I found that the solar panels were not very efficient in the early November period of the deer hunt and had to run the generator in the evening.

So, my suggestion to you would be to get a couple of 12 volt deep cycle batteries Group 29 for just a little over $300. Tie them in parallel.
You can feed a couple of hundred watts of solar panel to them.
Install your 2,000 watt inverter and a smart battery charger on them.

**** Caution**** A reverse bias from the charger will damage the inverter. You must disconnect the inverter when charging. Ask me how I know.
I installed a simple bypass switch to go from inverter to generator to prevent that problem.

Run off the inverter during the day and charge your batteries while running the generator in the evening.

Honestly, just buy a 3,000 watt inverter generator for a little over $1,000 and make good use of it.
It will provide plenty of power for your needs, safe for all sensitive electronics and cheap on gas.

[line052]

SO understanding how many watts is absolutely required to derive how many amps will be used to run those appliances. A fridge compressor has a high AMP start up (5-11 Amp), but a low runtime draw < 1amp. Each appliance and or motor has rated AMP draw on a sticker. Overall all those draws add up total amount of APH (amp hours), needed to be stored. In your first you state 300KWH per year, so about 1KWH per day, or 1000 watts. The panels you have now would run that fridge all day everyday - and both probably produce up 12 AMPS in perfect sunlight. So during the day in perfect conditions - almost zero draw down from battery bank (if perfect conditions), so really on a sunny day, during the day they would be neutral draw/use, so at night and on cloudy days they deplete the bank as a default -neg energy loop input. The rest of what are using is minimal draw and maybe add up to 1-2 amps per day.

Depending on the voltage output of inverter and input of solar either 12, 24, 48, 72V you can maximize saving on cabling from array..Ex: 12V requires bigger AWG (#6), over 72 which you get by with #10 AWG. This might not be a factor for you, but on bigger arrays we pushed 48 to 72V solar bundling to increase voltage, to save on wire feed costs.

I will be off grid at new house in a couple of years. Just picked 40 X 185W panels for $60 each that were 5 yrs old, they will be connected to 4400 APH T105 battery bank at 24V, feeding a 3000 watt inverter eventually as a back up to grid, eventually taking all 115V appliances and circuits off the Hydro feed.

I ordered 2 X 100 Watt Renolgy panels for 12 X 16 Amish shed lighting, and running small appliances/tools with a 1500watt CTC pure sine inverter that I will be installing in a couple of weeks. 2 X T105, 6V arrive next week to power the system.

Line052 Thank you i will take you up on that. I think i have figured out the watts on every thing but i am not sure what you mean about amps i will go on line and figure that out

[severn don]

Thank you again this sounds great and i can add later. your system sounds good. This is sure a upgrade from our oil lamps and coolers with ice during 40 degre temps of summer and running the generater at night kind of sucks.

[line052]

If you really want a real world accurate reading of appliances 24hr AMP draw and Voltage draw get a Kill-O-Watt meter. Perfect for monitoring energy use of any plug in appliance. They are like $30 online, I have several.

Like Impact said - I got a Blue Sea 12DC fused distribution panel ($30 automotive) and ran all my LED lights, cell chargers, laptop, tablets, and even the 22" LED TV and any other 12V (cigarette lighter), directly off the battery saving power on inverter use/DC/AC conversion. Plus you can use 14 gauge auto wiring for electrical lines, I had regular wall switches running DC lights.

[impact]

Than you impact I
was wondering about the generator and charging. I don't think i could run the Genny 2047 for the fridge that's why i was going to go solar.

Mark is the expert but here is my humble opinion and all depends on your budget and yearly usage.
With a 2,000 watt inverter you will be pushing the limits with a fridge plugged in.
Guys bring all kinds of electric devices to camp and it quickly adds up.
Add a toaster, microwave and electric skillet and your way over the amp/ wattage limit.

I hate the sound of a generator as well when camping and tried solar panels but my wife insisted on a curling iron and hair blower sooooo.

Off grid, deep cycle battery takes care of lights, electronics for fridge and a small inverter charges cellphones, flashlights, etc.
Evenings, the very quiet inverter generator (yes they truly are that quiet) tops up the deep cycle battery and powers all other needs around camp. Run time is from dusk to about 10:00 PM.
The fridge is on propane.
Everyone is happy!

[FishHog]

Yeah if you need to use electricity to make heat (coffee maker hair dryer curling iron etc) you better have a huge solar system or a generator is your only option. Luckily I trained my wife to not need those comforts of home

[MikePal]

This is sure a upgrade from our oil lamps and coolers with ice during 40 degre temps of summer and running the generater at night kind of sucks.

I was surprised a few years back when we discussed this on how many guys need the generator running all night for their CPAP machines. Never heard of that years back...we just had to put up with the snoring. I ended up sleeping in the back of my P/U (with cap) more than once HaHa..

[impact]

I do keep the deep cycle battery topped up with solar panels while parked at home.
The 45 watts total panels with a 7 amp max charge controller does the trick.
I bring the 3,000 watt inverter generator in the back of the truck when off grid.
More than plenty to power the AC and everything else in the hot days of July.

Happy wife = Happy life....lol