2021 Intent Solar Panels

[JoKeMa3]

👋 we got our intent in March. We had one New Powa 200 W solar panel installed. We have the Wet batteries that came with our Intent. What is the recommended vs max watts we would install? It looks like we may be Boondocking from 3 to 4 days at a time.

Thanks!

[creativepart]

What solar charge controller are you using? How many amps does the controller handle?

[Marine359]

Originally Posted by JoKeMa3

It looks like we may be Boondocking from 3 to 4 days at a time!

The amount of rooftop solar you have will be a lesser determinant of boondocking time than:
1. Daily amps consumed. Always different for everybody.
2. Number of available amp/hours In Your battery bank.
3. Whether you don’t mind running your generator for a couple of hours a day.

Solar is only a method to replace some of what you use, and there may not be ideal conditions for your panel to do that. If you replace your FLA with LiFePo4, you can “get by” with a single 100ah battery and a daily generator charge. Charging time will be half of time to top off a VRLA battery.

If you don’t use hardly any 120vac when you boondock (turning off your inverter), most people can boondock comfortably on 35-40 amp/hr per day. That’s unless you have an Intent with the residential fridge. That’s the wild card. I don’t know consumption for that.

With our 12v compressor fridge, which burns 25-30 a/h per day, we have gone for 3 days on our 170a/h lithium with no generator runs, and all the comforts of home except, no 120v usage. Hoping our new portable solar will allow us to get 5 days. Your mileage may vary.

[JoKeMa3]

Thanks! We had the solar panel installed on the roof actually. We have the larger fridge the top and then get the specs for that. I work so I have my laptop plugged in all day so I think that we are probably on the higher end of usage.

[YGoHom]

I put 400w Renogy panels on the roof, wired series/parallel, with a Victron MPPT SmartSolar 100/30 controller. This has been great for us, even in winter, and kept two 6v batteries (215 or 225 a/h?) fully charged with both residential refrigerators, water pump, furnace, lights, tv, cell phone chargers, and 2 laptops while working.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by YGoHom

I put 400w Renogy panels on the roof, wired series/parallel, with a Victron MPPT SmartSolar 100/30 controller. This has been great for us, even in winter, and kept two 6v batteries (215 or 225 a/h?) fully charged with both residential refrigerators, water pump, furnace, lights, tv, cell phone chargers, and 2 laptops while working.

Do you mean you installed two 400W panels?

[BobC]

If you don't have a residential refrigerator, you should be able to get by with your 200W if you are conservative in your power use, as Marine359 suggests. We camped for years with 200W on our TT with two 6V golf cart batteries. The key word is "camped". Enjoy the outdoors, don't watch TV, turn out the lights when you leave the room, etc. Our only exception was to run our Honda 2000 portable generator for a few minutes at a time to run the microwave.

It's more difficult in the winter, not only due to less sun, but the furnace is a power hog. If you'll be boondocking in cold weather you might want to consider an LPG heater like the Olympian Wave Heater:

https://www.google.com/search?q=olym...4dUDCA4&uact=5

Should you decide to add more, a second 200W panel should suffice.

[YGoHom]

Originally Posted by BobC

Do you mean you installed two 400W panels?

Sorry. Four 100w panels.
The INTENT models come with residential refrigerators.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by YGoHom

Sorry. Four 100w panels.
The INTENT models come with residential refrigerators.

Based on the refrigerator info, I think YGoHom's 400W and two 6v golf cart batteries makes sense. Hopefully he will provide some details in terms of layout, controller (your existing one might be inadequate, etc.).

If your existing batteries are "dual-purpose Marine/RV" batteries they aren't true deep cycle batteries. They'll work but aren't really up to the task of what you want to do. True deep cycle batteries (including 6v golf cart batteries) have heavier lead plates and can better handle the deeper discharges of boondocking. True deep cycle 12V batteries are also available but they tend to be more expensive. Any battery with specs that include Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) is not a true deep cycle battery even if it's labeled as deep cycle.

You connect the two 6v batteries in series (+ to -) for a total output of 12V. There are numerous threads on this. Decent ones are available at Costco and Sam's Club for under $100 each.

I suspect that some posters will raise the issue of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LIFePO4) batteries but, although they make a lot of sense, the upfront cost is very high so I'd advise waiting until you more fully educated as to your needs.

[Marine359]

While you’re at it, make sure you buy a negative shunt battery monitor if your Intent is not already equipped with one. They’re inexpensive, and an easy install when you drop in your new batteries. Then you’ll be able to keep accurate track of your usage and charging status.

[JoKeMa3]

This is a picture of our controller.

[JoKeMa3]

We have 2- 200w New Powa panels. We had one installed. The other one just came in so we’re having the second one installed.