Panels on a tear drop camper?

softdown
softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,925 ✭✭✭✭
in Caravan, Recreational Vehicle, and Marine Power Systems #1
My turn in the RV department. But I don't have a large roof to work with. I have a lot of used ~170 watt panels but they are too big to be used I think.  The roof has a ventilation fan right in the middle. Knowing that unproductive panels cancel out productive panels - this seems like Mission Impossible right now. Perhaps one panel just to keep the battery from dying? Not much one can do with a size 24 (weighs ~50 lbs) FLA battery anyway. 

The camper is a 6 x 10. Giving it a small chance of doing something worthwhile. Many are 5 x 8. 

I could install a real battery bank and charge via generator or campsite electrical. But that would contribute to over burdening the tow vehicle - a Prius. Camper weighs 1200 pounds. Prius rated to "1600 pounds tow".

Then again, one can't do too much without a $izable battery bank. Weird to be a solar guy and feel kind of tied up on this one. Not buying lithium batteries either. Budgetary reasons.
First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • 706jim
    706jim Solar Expert Posts: 521 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    A camper that small shouldn't have too many electrical loads. You could store the panels inside the trailer while travelling then bring them out and set them up on the ground when you have settled at your campsite. I don't think it is at all practical to mount them on such a small curved roof.

    That said, it seems my idea would entail a lot of work and you would quickly tire of all the bother of setup and take down.
    Island cottage solar system with appriximately 2500 watts of panels, 1kw facing southeast 1.3kw facing southwest 170watt ancient Arco's facing due south. All panels in parallel for a 24 volt system. Trace DR1524 MSW inverter which has performed flawlessly since 1994. Outback Flexmax 80 MPPT charge controller four 467A-h AGM batteries. Insignia 11.5 cubic foot electric fridge 1/4hp GSW piston pump. My 31st year.
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,626 admin
    #3
    In theory, you can run a ~1,200 Watt maximum AC inverter off of the 12 VDC battery bank (and the traction battery supplies the bulk of the energy). One link here:

    http://hiwaay.net/~bzwilson/prius/priups.html

    More information on this thread:

    https://forum.solar-electric.com/discussion/11546/using-a-prius-as-a-generator/p1

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • Marc Kurth
    Marc Kurth Solar Expert Posts: 1,174 ✭✭✭✭
    #4
    My opinion is to enjoy it for what it is: A compact lightweight rig designed for fairly primitive camping. 
    I always have more questions than answers. That's the nature of life.
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,925 ✭✭✭✭
    #5
    BB. said:
    In theory, you can run a ~1,200 Watt maximum AC inverter off of the 12 VDC battery bank (and the traction battery supplies the bulk of the energy). One link here:

    http://hiwaay.net/~bzwilson/prius/priups.html

    More information on this thread:

    https://forum.solar-electric.com/discussion/11546/using-a-prius-as-a-generator/p1

    -Bill
    The hiwaay.net article and application is a bit beyond my level of comfort. I'm still figuring out Prius "idiosyncrasies" - such as the aforementioned  Using 'stealth mode', we returned home showing 99.9 MPG but the next morning it was down to 1 or 2 MPG. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,925 ✭✭✭✭
    #6
    706jim said:
    A camper that small shouldn't have too many electrical loads. You could store the panels inside the trailer while travelling then bring them out and set them up on the ground when you have settled at your campsite. I don't think it is at all practical to mount them on such a small curved roof.

    That said, it seems my idea would entail a lot of work and you would quickly tire of all the bother of setup and take down.
    You are unto something here. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,925 ✭✭✭✭
    #7
    Many tear drop campers are over $20,000 and equipped with a/c, heat, cooking, sink, and refrigeration. Mine is missing heat and refrigeration being a $15,000 unit. Nothing compared to many "adventure campers" but still desirous of more energy than one might have considered. 

    What comes to mind right now is an ~ 350 pound battery bank in the Prius cargo department that is kept charged by a small generator and  possibly a solar panel. I figure the "1600 pound tow" guideline is figuring four passenger in the Prius. So I have room for additional weight in the Prius. Though at 237,000 miles the Prius can no longer be considered as robust as a less traveled model. Shoot - my average vehicle has at least ~200,000 miles. Most are over that mark. Unsure why I sense security in a fleet of very high mileage autos that I saved from destruction.
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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