Just noticed this solar power pack made by Xantrex at 50% off on the Canadian Tire web site, and trying to figure out if it's worthwhile. It's basically a 10 Ah battery with a 5W solar panel, inverter, and AC/DC charger.

Our egg doesn't have a battery at the moment, and our needs are basically just running a couple of 12V lights during the evening, which we could most likely convert to LED.

http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/245/p/1/pt/32/product.asp

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_...408474396672502

Any thoughts?

They look ok for your needs. I had a Compact J and all i used was a motorcycle battery. I only had 2 lights. Very little power was required.

That seems like a very good price. I have used the Winchester (and a 5 watt panel)to jumpstart batteries, to charge my laptop, cellphone, to run a small b&w tv, and to run a trolling motor for a short time. Very handy when needed although I do not always haul it along. I usually take it if I am camping solo - it makes me feel independent.
Click to view attachment

I picked up this one in the fall for $89.99

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_...408474396672502

I used a much smaller cheap one I bought at Princess Auto last year for $27.99, worked not too bad for just the lights, but if I ran the fan I built all night, along with lights for an hour or so, it really drained the battery, then used my 13Watt solar to charge it. It worked until I left it one time connected to the fridge running on 12volt (oops), and it pretty much killed the battery. I would guess at best it was a 7amp hour battery, but i have a feeling it was a 3.5amp hour battery.

The new setup works real well, the lights are much brighter, and I should be able to leave the fan on at nights without worry.

I have also seen this one for about $80 or $90 when on sale, would give you lots of power as well. Your trailer sounds just like ours, and it is surprising how much juice those little bulbs use.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_...408474396672502

Neither of these links go directly to a product. They might work if you happen to have a canadian zip code to input into it but Im guessing most in here do not?

Less than 10Ah doesn't seem like much at all. The more I think about it, I am leaning towards just getting a small sealed deep cycle battery, which I can tuck permanently in a corner inside one of the benches. I played with the Xantrex at the store and dislike the fact that you have to throw the whole thing out when the battery dies. And with a more capable battery, I would be way ahead than with that 10Ah battery and wouldn't have to fiddle with that tiny solar panel.

Just gotta wait till this one goes on sale, now.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_...408474396672456


Apparently you can just enter the sample postal code shown on that page.

welll duhhhhhh

guess I need more coffee!

well guess the coffee is not helping. I don't see a sample post code on the site the link carries me.

Oh well... nice try though.

Yer right. I guess I should have plugged-in that solar panel before answering.

Seems just any postal code works, though... Try H0H 0H0.

I have several of THESE 17 ah batteries. We use them in one of our products at work and I can scrounge them on occasion...

I also have a few portable solar panels ranging from 2.5 to 7 watts and can (and do) charge them with them. I leave the batteries as portable, taking them where I need them. Right now, they are in my house as a small standby system for a few lights because we are experiencing power outages here.

It would seem cheaper to buy a larger capacity battery and a 5 watt panel than to pay for the pretty package of the Xantrx and have the option of positioning the panel away from the battery.

I used to have them installed in my 13, I didn't sell them with the trailer. I have not yet installed them as aux batteries in the 17, but it's on the "to do" list. I am considering installing them exclusively for my furnace as it seems a bit persnickity about avaible voltages to ignite.