Solar Panels Rv Trailer
Charging battery in a travel trailer?
I am new to camper with a travel trailer. I am aware that the rv batteries are charged from the tow vehicle but is it efficient enough (more efficient than say a 10watt solar panel)? If I charge the batteries at home fully and than go on a 7 hour trip to the campsite that has no hookups, will my truck maintain the charge on the rv battery? What happens if the rv batteries go dead, can my truck recharge them? I do not have a generator.
What advantages does two 6v batteries have over one 12v batteries have?
Hey Chuck, your other answers here are correct, but understand, a 10 watt solar panel will accomplish almost nothing. It will put out about 1/2 amp, in direct sun only, for a couple hours in the middle of the day. If it were me, I would go with the deep cycle batteries, not the ones you buy in the Walmart automotive section, but golf cart batteries, in particular Trojan T-105. They are 6 volt, so you need 2 of them wired end to end for 12 volts. Then if you had a real panel, something like 50 to 75 watts, you could put it on the roof of your camper, and it would make some power you can use. You would still be able to charge them from home before the trip, or at a campsite with hookups, or with the vehicle, the panel will only add power when it is needed. Also, by using a panel not over 75 watts, you would not overcharge the golf cart batteries even if they were full and the sun was out. That size panel has a max current of about 4 amps, less than he 2% limit to operate without a charge controller.
As far as how long they would last, it is just a matter of usage. You’ll have to go camping some time and try it out. In a few nights, you’ll get an idea for what items use power the fastest, and how long you can operate your normal loads without a charge cycle, but a good sized panel will vastly extend the recharge times, if it is at least partly sunny. Check out some sources below, and good luck, Rudydoo
DIY Camper RV Solar Panel Installation
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Sunforce 50022 5-Watt Solar Battery Trickle Charger $49.95 Solar Power Chargers for your 12V batteries and accessories. Power-up anywhere, affordably! These Solar Power devices grab free “juice” from the sun! They extend the life of your 12V batteries, maintain the charge and allow you to run various electronics (deer feeders, landscaping pumps, etc.) from your batteries. Clean, silent operation… with both cigarette lighter adapter and battery clamps. T… |