Choosing solar... confused.

[Taj]

Hi, Ill try not to meander too far, but Im starting a cross country into alaska road trip in 5 months. Originally it was going to be in my 2500 GMC Vandura but as I started having a couple of leaks fixed the transmission was 'replaced' only to have the heating go Hiroshima on me,, the oil seals dont seal properly and 4K later decided that my poor Fernweh was now crippled and unable to go more than 35 mph and that was with the gas to the floor. 

Moving forward... I picked up a 2014 Dodge Caravan 2 which is pretty much ok. it was low milage decent price and was long enough in the back after taking out the seats to lay down comfortably, figured out how to add a bed, and storage and even a little kitchen, which brings me to my questions... 

I want to put in a travel fridge to keep my food stuffs cold, and several highly recommended ones can be put into a cig lighter, i have a inverter that also plugs into my car to keep my laptop and camera gear nice and fed, but i dont want to keep pluging and unplugging my equiptment, ive been looking at solar suitcases/kits and Im still stumped as to what is good vrs what isnt. yes ive watched the youtube, Vanlife, I live and breath those things since I got divorced and wanted to start my own life again. 

Im considering a ACOPOWER 12v/18v 70watt foldable. or even the 105.. anyone here have an opinion as to if this is enough to run a 12v fridge, and camera equipt? im considering picking up the ACOPOWER portable generator to get past the battery issue.

 

[Bohemian scout]

I know exactly how you feel ?.

 

[John61CT]

No, for me 200W would be minimum to account for suboptimal conditions.

400W even better, given your other gadgets may be high consumers.

200+AH true deep cycling battery, pair of 6V GCs, doubling that if extended periods in high latitudes, shade or overcast

 

[TechScott]

Considering your electrical requirements and the fact you're traveling vs. camping, I'd go with 100-125 Ah of 12v AGM Deep cycle battery as a "house" battery and install a battery isolator to the Minivan's battery to do the bulk of battery charging.

As for solar, I'd nix the portable panels and get the largest fixed panel that you could afford and fits onto your van's roof rack, run it to a cheap charge controller a fuse and into the "house" battery.  One or more 100-watt panel plus the battery isolator should keep your battery charged even if you stop for a few days.  Solar kits are cute but are a PITA to setup, adjust and take down daily.  Most of the folks I know that use them abuse their batteries by allowing them to discharge too much because setting up the solar doesn't seem worth it for the short time they're not traveling (hence the battery isolator and the permanently mounted solar providing a continuous charge).

Eco-Worthy has a 100-watt solar kit for $179 on Amazon https://smile.amazon.com/ECO-WORTHY...712&sr=8-11&keywords=150+watt+solar+panel+kit that would give you most of what comes with a foldable 100 watt kit for the same or less money and would be a permanent, expandable installation.

 

[user 37446]

Considering your electrical requirements and the fact you're traveling vs. camping, I'd go with 100-125 Ah of 12v AGM Deep cycle battery as a "house" battery and install a battery isolator to the Minivan's battery to do the bulk of battery charging.

As for solar, I'd nix the portable panels and get the largest fixed panel that you could afford and fits onto your van's roof rack, run it to a cheap charge controller a fuse and into the "house" battery.  One or more 100-watt panel plus the battery isolator should keep your battery charged even if you stop for a few days.  Solar kits are cute but are a PITA to setup, adjust and take down daily.  Most of the folks I know that use them abuse their batteries by allowing them to discharge too much because setting up the solar doesn't seem worth it for the short time they're not traveling (hence the battery isolator and the permanently mounted solar providing a continuous charge).

Eco-Worthy has a 100-watt solar kit for $179 on Amazon https://smile.amazon.com/ECO-WORTHY...712&sr=8-11&keywords=150+watt+solar+panel+kit that would give you most of what comes with a foldable 100 watt kit for the same or less money and would be a permanent, expandable installation.

Above comments are good, go onto YT and look up Element Van Life. Although he's dropped out of full-time (women. lol), he did come up with a rooftop solar that, while it was a flex panel and not likely the best choice compared to a fixed glass panel, he shows how he used L shaped 48" steel brackets with "U"  clamps onto his luggage carrier bars. He also relates how he had made a mistake by 3M taping a previous flexible panel directly to the roof of the Element, and it rusted the top badly.

With a continuous duty solenoid (125 or 200 amp) or the "Battery Doctor" 12v charging system, you can let the alternator do the heavy lifting and finish with solar. 

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Best of luck!

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I want to put in a travel fridge to keep my food stuffs cold, and several highly recommended ones can be put into a cig lighter, i have a inverter that also plugs into my car to keep my laptop and camera gear nice and fed . . . 

Im considering a ACOPOWER 12v/18v 70watt foldable. or even the 105.. anyone here have an opinion as to if this is enough to run a 12v fridge, and camera equipt? im considering picking up the ACOPOWER portable generator to get past the battery issue.

My 2¢

First, sit down and list all the things you are going to power, the number of amps they take and the number of hours you plan to power them.   Add them all up to create an energy budget.  This will tell you how much you need to replace every day.  From there you can determine the minimum battery and solar you need.

If you are driving most of the time a portable solar unit isn't going to do you much good, as they are stored when driving.  Alternator charging is a better solution.  If you want, portable solar can supplement the alternator for those few days you are parked.

If you are camping most of the time either fixed rooftop solar or portable solar will work.  You will get more for your $$ with a rooftop setup, portable solar gives you more flexibility.  Some people like portable because you can park in the shade.  Some think it is a pain in the butt to set up and take down all the time.  With a portable system you are plugging and unplugging every time you move. 

With what you listed, my guess is you will be using >30AH per day so a 70W panel won't replace what you are using, the 105W barely; so you will not have any margin for cloudy days.

Get a DC to DC converter for your laptop and if you can for your camera gear.

 

[UptownSport]

The sun has been out for an hour, but 300w panels aren't producing.
They're in a forest-
I like the forest, solar panels don't.


It's a bit of being a slave to an expensive system in a lifestyle that's supposed to be more free.


Could you do without refrigeration?

 

[John61CT]

It should not need saying, panels only work with nothing at all between them and the sky.

Your vehicle in the shade, but at the north edge of a field in which to place portable panels could be made to work.

Otherwise in the woods you need a genny for sure.

 

[RVTravel]

Amorphous solar panels works with partial shading? John Daniel has a utube vid showing it. I realize those are hated panels around these parts ; ).

 

[John61CT]

Watts per square foot is critical in a mobile context.

Maybe those would be useful for a 20' unit, but not much total power compared to normal panels