Getting started with Solar Power

[Anne3358]

Sunforce 60 Watt Solar Back Up Power Kit with 1.8 Watt Solar Battery Maintainer
7 amp Battery Charge Controller, 200W Inverter

Coleman® CL3900 60W Solar Back-up Power Kit with CL100 1.5W Battery Maintainer & Inverter
Clean, Green Power, No Noise! For Power Failures, Rv's & Boats, & Remote Areas

After reading several 'solar panel' threads we're looking at these two Solar Panel System for our Little White House. We want to keep the solar install 'portable'. I'm leaning towards the Sunforce, mostly because of what I read about the mfg. On the other hand I don't like having to set up four panels every time we camp but ...... does it really take any longer than setting up at a campground with full services.

I like that both systems have everything I need to get started. Both are priced around $300, an investment I'm willing to make to learn about Solar power.

[Roy in TO]

I purchased an earlier version of the coleman kit.

I think both are made by the same company. Check the controller on them both, earlier versions of the coleman were for +ve ground systems. I had to replace mine at an additional cost to get it to work properly in my -ve ground system.

In hindsight, you can now pick up a single panel of similar or greater wattage as the 3 or 4 combined for about the same price. The small panels in the kit for keeping your battery topped up can be had for $10 on sale regularily and they don't need a controller. Do an advanced search here for +solar +panel for posts by peterh and you'll find out a lot about solar.

[peterh]

In hindsight, you can now pick up a single panel of similar or greater wattage as the 3 or 4 combined for about the same price.

Roy's right about panel pricing. These days you can get a very good quality solar panel that'll cost less than the 3-panel "amorphous" silicon panels (like those in the $250-$300 kits), will take up half as much space, and last longer, too. I can get a really nice 60-watt panel for about $200 these days; that's about 15 more watts for the same money after you add in a $60 controller.

Another good FG denizen to look for solar advice from is GinaD. She's a boondocker extraordinare and solar living sage. I avoided many early mis-steps by reading her posts on the subject.

Last of all, as someone who has some experience with both brain surgery (on mice) and rocket science (as a high-power rocketry hobbyist), setting up a solar panel is not brian surgery or rocket science. If you can wire up a light socket, you can do this. Do a little reading, ask a few questions, and you're probably good to go.

[Anne3358]

Another member pointed us to the following site. It has an excellent tutorial.
Basic Tutorials: Solar Panels

I especially like the Power Estimator. It will help you, in understanding, how much power certain appliances/lights/a.s.o. will draw. This info will help you in configuring your Solar Power System.

Back to reading

[Anne3358]

BTW, for people who have replaced their Casita lights with LED lights? Where did you purchase your new lights???

[D Tharp]

BTW, for people who have replaced their Casita lights with LED lights? Where did you purchase your new lights???

I used autolumination. See the posting WOW.

[Donna D.]

For added knowledge, you may want to check out the Tutorial in the left navigation Bar here on FiberglassRV: Solar - Solar for Travel Trailers

[GeorgeR]

This could be a good option. Coleman panels are 58% bigger then this 85W panel and 76% if normalized from 60W to 85W. Solar panels technology is progressing but monocrystalline technology still has a good edge over thin film. I am considering installation of this 85W panel in the roof mount capable of 4 ways tilting. Any experience with HQRP is very welcome.

George.