Solar for Dummies

[Knarf]

Purchases a 2025 Cougar Half Ton with a single solar panel. Now realize that it only will charge the battery and nothing else. What do I need to buy to get more use out of the solar panel. The dealer, Midwest RV, St. Louis, Mo. was absolutely useless in answering this question.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Sometimes it is nessissary to be a little technical, or scientific. Although the numbers are up from what was considered fact, one meter square of earth surface receives 1000 watts from the sun. Because solar panels are typically only 20 percent efficient, that means a panel 1m square, Will only produce 200 watts of power, at best.

That said, what is the maximum power your single panel able to produce?

An MPPT solar controller will give you the biggest bang for the buck, but my guess is you will need larger panel area!

We can help you decide what you need to do if you want more capacity! I like using used panels on RVs! For obvious reasons.

 

[Knarf]

Man, you lost me after "Sometimes".

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Basically you can only get out of a panel what it can produce! How big is the panel? We'll go from there! No spec. No problem! Give me the dimensions.

 

[Knarf]

Well have discovered that this is my solar package.https://www.keystonerv.com/solarflex-protect-overview

Find it ironic that am not able to utilize it without additional purchases. Like buying a electric vehicle without batteries.
Any recommendations you might have as to inverter and batteries would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

What is your expectation of what a solar panel should do for you? Knowing your expectation can help direct the conversation.

To help set expectations a bit of solar on a RV - the link you provided shows 200watt panel (or 220 watt, depending on model year). That 200 watts is in ideal conditions; when the sun is aiming directly at it (midday) with no haze or clouds and perfectly clean.
Since the power output will vary quite a bit during a 24 hour period, the typical best use for solar in an RV is for charging the battery(batteries). The batteries then store the energy and provide you consistent power when you need it.
But 200 watts is not much. Using an old standard 60 watt lightbulb as an example, in peak conditions that 200 watt solar panel would supply enough energy to run 3 of those old 60 watt light bulbs (180 watts total).
This is why people like Kevin have much larger solar setups, with MANY panels, working to get many thousand watts and larger battery banks to store that energy for use when the sun isn’t available.

Solar in an RV, IMO, isn’t cost effective for most people (there are exceptions but typically when someone has the knowledge to do the work themselves).

Solar for use in a house is a different situation, where the option to run the house meter backwards removes the need for large/expensive battery banks and large expensive inverters (still need inverters, but just large enough to match the output of the solar panel).

 

[Knarf]

I have no expectations as to what the solar panel does for me. I just want to know what I can expect of the solar system installed. Really have no expectation of using it while traveling unless absolutely necessary. Just want to know what I can expect of the system installed. IE: can we use the AC? can we watch TV? We have a 12V refrigerator and tank less water heater.
Researching the use of the RV should the need arise of a local power outage. RV is stored close enough to home to retrieve and park at home if necessary. If nothing else it will provide a comfortable place to sleep and relax if necessary.

Thank you for all your input it is very much appreciated.

 

[Diesel Pusher]

Now realize that it only will charge the battery and nothing else.

^^^^^ Exactly..... Want to run other electical items, you'll need to spend more money. There's lots of solar calculators on the interweb to help you determine the approximate cost of a solar upgrade based on your needs and estimated usage.

 

[Knarf]

Not looking to upgrade solar system Just want to know what I can expect out of the system as is. The solar system was not a deciding factor when the RV was purchased. I considered it a perk, boy was I wrong. If I had known that it basically didn't do anything except charge the battery, I would probably have saved myself a lot of money and walked away from the deal.

 

[GTS225]

Sorry, Knarf.....but from a purely practical standpoint, your solar panel setup will recharge the battery while you have some decent sun exposure, and that's about it. It's not very likely that you have the battery bank available to power the A/C, or even much of the 120 volt loads. A single battery is really only good for lighting at night, and maybe the furnace if the fan isn't too large. Understand, though, that your fridge control power is also 12 volt, so your battery is also supplying that in order to run the fridge off of propane.
Where solar really shines is if you do a lot of "boondocking", or off-grid camping, where there's no shore power available. One can get by with about 300 watts of solar, and a two-battery bank, if you're conservative with your usage. That way, the solar recharges your battery(s) the following day.

Roger

 

[Kevin D Pem]

My name was mentioned above!
So yes, I have 3000w on my two trailers. 1500 on each.

I live full time off grid. I don't like the smell of fumes produced by gasoline or diesel, diesel being the most putrid of the two!!!

I have a minimum of 4 people close to me living in tents and cars! They use jackeries and blueitties.( don't know the spelling). These devices are referred to as solar generators. The charge system consists of 100 to 200 watt solar panels!

Here's the kicker!!!! They love the things! A far cry from the lifestyle I desire, but they are happy. If I used a putrid noisy power supply for my electric power, I would never have met some of these wonderful people, they have added color to my life!

so to rap this up! I advocate solar. It's the most considerate caring thing you can do for the people around you! When you buy used panels, as I do, it is just as wonderful for your environment!!!



For a weekend warrior, a larger battery bank is a method to get through a trip to the woods. The solar has time to top things off during off use.

My system is not the norm, in this off grid world! My choice is moderate battery bank, and solar enough to cook from panels in the middle of the day!

Why you ask?

Because I expect another 25 years out of those already 20 year old panels! And a far shorter life out of those high end carbon/lead batteries (tripple the projected cycle life of lithium).

As you can see, there is no dummies lesson for solar! The truth is most all installers, know their equipment, but lack in real world experience!!!

My hope is you grow, now that you know what you have, and build on what you have learned!

 

[Knarf]

Thank you for the information. Like I said, did not really buy the RV for the solar panel just wanted to know what I can expect out of what I have. Obviously useless. Sure wish I had never bought a keystone rv.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

Sure wish I had never bought a keystone rv.

I think many of us have thought the same thing at some point in owning one of these things. Hang in there.