Camp Hosting with Water/Sewer but no Electric

[LeeB]

We are going to be camp hosting this summer up in the high country and will have Water and Sewer hookups but no Electricity.We have our on board generator and a small 2000watt generator.

Where we will be is in the shade off and on all day so I was thinking about getting a Luggage Style Solar Panels with a long extension cord ones that can be moved during the day. I don't necessary need or want to hard wire it. I would like to just use battery clips and clip and un-clip when not in use.
Ideas and advice will be greatly appreciated on what kind and where to purchase them.
Thanks LeeB

[DavidM]

You can buy foldup kits including controller for about $2.00 per watt like this one: https://www.amazon.com/DOKIO-Foldabl...s%2C255&sr=8-9.

Or you can buy individual panels and a controller for about $1.00 per watt: https://www.amazon.com/HQST-Monocrys...s%2C586&sr=8-5 plus a controller like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Wander...xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

The individual component route takes a bit of extra work, but lets you use long, heavy gauge cables which you will need to get far enough away to find some sun. I would use 50' of 10 gauge MC4 cables to the controller like this one: https://www.amazon.com/RICH-SOLAR-Ex...%2C219&sr=8-10, then a short 12 gauge run to the battery.

You can wire two or three panels in series and use the same cables but you have to switch to a MPPT controller like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Rover-...s%2C181&sr=8-4

David

[LeeB]

Originally Posted by DavidM

You can buy foldup kits including controller for about $2.00 per watt like this one: https://www.amazon.com/DOKIO-Foldabl...s%2C255&sr=8-9.

Or you can buy individual panels and a controller for about $1.00 per watt: https://www.amazon.com/HQST-Monocrys...s%2C586&sr=8-5 plus a controller like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Wander...xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

The individual component route takes a bit of extra work, but lets you use long, heavy gauge cables which you will need to get far enough away to find some sun. I would use 50' of 10 gauge MC4 cables to the controller like this one: https://www.amazon.com/RICH-SOLAR-Ex...%2C219&sr=8-10, then a short 12 gauge run to the battery.

You can wire two or three panels in series and use the same cables but you have to switch to a MPPT controller like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Rover-...s%2C181&sr=8-4

David

Oh so very interesting...... Thanks for the information.........

[creativepart]

Assuming you have flooded lead acid batteries keep in mind they are slow to charge up. Solar will help but you’ll be running that generator for some long hours to top up the batteries. Making the expensive switch to lithium batteries would be a game changer.

Are you still using the Dimensions MSW inverter that RV came with? We see some regular reports of inoperative chargers in those at about this RV’s age.

[al1florida]

How much power will you be using while camp hosting?

Just lights, laptops, phone and maybe a little gas furnace from time to time? A LED flat screen TV doesn't take much power, but a satellite TV receiver takes quite a bit of power.

If so you won't be using a lot of power and a couple hundred watts of solar should work just fine.

For a better idea of how much power you will use and what it take to replace the power into the batteries, take a look at these links:

The 12volt Side of Life (Part 1)
The 12volt Side of Life Part 2

BTW replacing the incandescent and Florissant bulbs with LED will save you lots of battery power.

[Cataska]

Originally Posted by LeeB

We are going to be camp hosting this summer up in the high country and will have Water and Sewer hookups but no Electricity.We have our on board generator and a small 2000watt generator.

Where we will be is in the shade off and on all day so I was thinking about getting a Luggage Style Solar Panels with a long extension cord ones that can be moved during the day. I don't necessary need or want to hard wire it. I would like to just use battery clips and clip and un-clip when not in use.
Ideas and advice will be greatly appreciated on what kind and where to purchase them.
Thanks LeeB

We do what you stated when we have no hook up 200 watt renolgy suit case alligator clips to battery and longer extension cord extension cord is heavier gauge wire.