A Small pick up camper i am making needs a power source

Billstannard

hello, thanks in advance for any advice and such on my present pet project. I am making a small pickup camper to taking the family on trips. if it will let me I am posting a pic of it although it is still in process and the picture is a bit out of date as the roof has been properly en capped and sealed, it now has all the corners sealed with metal angles inside and out, and painted inside and out etc but it gives you an idea on completion of step one. Ok what I want to do is make a small power source for it out of solar panels. I have two roof angels that are 29 inch wide by 73 long with a top panel that is 14 inch wide by 73 long. I am only looking for enough power to run some lights and maybe a dvd player or laptop part time. The idea is that while on a family trip that if the weather turns bad we can climb up in the camper and watch a move or play cards or what not.

So far I was looking at putting two 120w Panels on the 29 inch wide roof sections ( http://www.altestore.com/store/Solar-Panels/altE-ALT120-12P-Poly-120W-12V-Solar-Panel/p10354/ )
and on the flat top part put two 30w panels this giving me a total of 300 watt power output on a good day(yes I know to expect only 2/3 but it is not a constant use item) < http://www.altestore.com/store/Solar-Panels/altE-ALT30-12P-Poly-30W-12V-Solar-Panel/p10350/ >

I was also looking at a 30amp charge controller to charge 2 to 4 deep cycle batteries. http://www.altestore.com/store/Charge-Controllers/Solar-Charge-Controllers/PWM-Type-Solar-Charge-Controllers/Blue-Sky-Solar-Charge-Controllers-PWM/Blue-Sky-Energy-Solar-Boost-Sun-Charger-30-30A-12V-Solar-Charge-Controller-with-Display/p10313/

I am looking for advice on if I am starting in the right direction or not. I have read a few books on solar power and will admit I need to read them again as I am rusty. For a job I work on industrial steak cutting machines that use digital camera's and lasers to calculate volumes of meat to make steaks to weight. So I am very familiar with electrical theory and ac and dc power from the industrial control stand point. I know the Lap top I presently have that we take camping is a max of 300 watt at 120 v with a 2.5 AMP draw. Lights are standard 12vdc RV dome lights, Every kit I have found on line is either far bigger like for cabins or far smaller. So any ideas or thoughts please let me know. Thanks again BillAttachment not found.Attachment not found.

mike95490

Re: A Small pick up camper i am making needs a power source

With 2 different angles, you would need to wire panels in parallel. And park in full sun

10 minutes drive time (vehicle alternator) = all day solar production

Get the largest panels you can fit/afford. They may be 30V or more, grid tie models, that are made by the millions, and are cheaper per watt, than the specialty 12V panels. The higher voltage panel, will need a MPPT controller.

vtmaps

Re: A Small pick up camper i am making needs a power source

Billstannard wrote: »

Every kit I have found on line is either far bigger like for cabins or far smaller. So any ideas or thoughts please let me know.

Welcome to the forum,
For most folks, kits are not a good deal. Better to design the system you want, then price it out... if you find a kit that meets your design criteria and it is priced right, then go for it. Otherwise buy the components of the system you need.

How often will you use the system? Batteries are a huge investment if you are only using them a few weeks a year.

Billstannard wrote: »

I know the Lap top I presently have that we take camping is a max of 300 watt at 120 v with a 2.5 AMP draw.

Wow! I didn't know they made laptops with vacuum tubes. Seriously though, I've never heard of a laptop that drew 300 watts... can you turn off its defroster? It might cost less to buy a new laptop than to build a power system large enough for a 300 watt laptop.

The first rule of battery based systems: Its usually cheaper to conserve than to store more power in your batteries.

--vtMaps