Doubling up on solar...?

[AlreadyGone]

I own an astro van, but I don't own a cargo trailer...yet. I am tall, and the astro just really isn't going to work as a full time home, so the cargo trailer is going to be a necessity for me.

I can fit ~300w of solar on top of the astro. Not sure what I can fit on top of a 6x12' cargo trailer.

So, assuming that I am going to solarize 1...and then double up -later- and solarize the other...does it seem to make more sense to solarize the cargo trailer first?

With the cargo trailer done first...everything solar will be done "in house"...meaning my living space. Also, by doing the trailer, I may find that I don't want/need to do the astro later. I should be able to fit more watts and ahr and may find it to be enough. Also, if I choose or need to change tow vehicles...the solar will still be on the trailer.

With it done on the astro first...the solar would go with me wherever I went, regardless of whether the trailer is in tow or not. Yes, I would need to be able to run the energy from the batteries in the astro to the trailer for living...at least when setting up camp.

 

[rvpopeye]

IMO but 6x12 would fit about 9x 100 watt panels or ??x bigger panels but I would think you will have enough space for a pretty big system.
The astro van would be less roof but the weight of the batteries might be more of the limiting factor.

What you should do is of course up to you ,,,
Maybe a medium stand alone system on the van with a lot of extra panels on the trailer for extended stays in the off seasons(s)?

Size the controller to work with the max amount of panels you think you might end up with.

 

[jimindenver]

First thing to know is what do you want the solar to do for you? It is said that there is no such thing as too much solar but you can spend a lot of money you don't really need to just the same.

I have solar on both my travel trailer and my truck. the 435w on the truck tilts, the 750 watts on the trailer does not. With a 50 foot set of solar cables the truck makes the perfect portable as I can track the sun from morning to night and even have power if the trailer is shaded. It isn't going to walk away, blow away and can charge while I am traveling. Together they are 1185w and I don't have it all just to keep a few LED's burning. It saves me a lot in propane running a cook top, a water heater and more. It even runs a small air conditioner when it's hot and sunny.

As for either or. I say you have your van now and could start using it now.

 

[John61CT]

I would move the living space, to the roomier trailer, make the tug the utility, mainly storage for heavier more valuable gear, maybe food & chuckbox. . .

But as before, it's your rig!

 

[jonsun]

It makes sense to keep the solar on the van only.

you going to park your trailer in the sun all the time?

I have no idea how anyone could need more than 200-300w (unless you need 1000w+) but get a generator if you do.

 

[jimindenver]

Or if you use it as a silent generator.

 

[IGBT]

Go for it!

I am thinking about doubling our solar from 1100 watts to 2200 watts.

On cloudy days we only get 200 to 250 watts per hour and I would like 400 to 500.  Then on sunny days we would have nearly 2kW coming in and could go crazy.

Solar is dirt cheap now.

 

[AlreadyGone]

I would move the living space, to the roomier trailer, make the tug the utility, mainly storage for heavier more valuable gear, maybe food & chuckbox. . .

But as before, it's your rig!

That's what I'm doing. Originally, I was going to outfit the van, but I've realized that that really is not going to work for me...except in case of emergency. I could swing it to exit, head west and then settle and regroup...but, otherwise, it's not really practical for me. That's why I'm not focused on getting the van setup to live in...more focused/concerned about getting it setup to tow and just trying to make sure it is ready to do it's part.

It makes sense to keep the solar on the van only.

you going to park your trailer in the sun all the time?

I have no idea how anyone could need more than 200-300w (unless you need 1000w+) but get a generator if you do.

Parking in the sun all of the time is what many people do. One of the big benefits (to me) of a large array covering the roof of the trailer is the air gap and the shading from the panels. Bob has a video about shade cloth, etc and how he sets up his camp and why he does things the way that he does. May not be for everyone, but it's doable.

I'm of the school that more power is better. If I could do a/c...I might seriously consider it. A microwave? Yep, maybe. I have a vitamix that I use and am/was planning on spending about $1k for a generator. Then I have it to deal with it taking up space, maintenance on it, extra gas for it. I may still go that route for a number of reasons, but, maybe, that money would be better spent on more solar. I understand peukert's law on a very basic level, so right now I'm not really in a position to decide. However, an extra $1K can buy a lot of extra solar!