Foldable solar panels for electricity in car living?

[colleenmueller]

I will be living in a small car soon and Im interested in using foldable solar panels on the dashboard. Partly so that its less noticeable to my coworkers that im living in my car and safer inside the car as my work is near camden nj.  Can this type of foldable solar panel be stored in a battery like the rooftop solars? I need power for a small light for sleep at night, phone specifically for the alarm to wake me up for work and laptop. I have not started living in my small car yet but I will need to soon. A 2007 Nissan Versa backseats do not fold down. Ugh. still not sure how im gonna sleep without access to trunk from inside. luckily im only 5 ft. I will be working 2 jobs to save for something larger but I will be in it for a year or 2 first. Any suggestions or help would be wonderful?

 

[DLTooley]

Removing your seats, rear and/or passenger is likely the way to go. Try to visualize what the remaining space will look like and how you will use it. The bulk head to the trunk may also be removable increasing your options.

2-4K should get you a reasonable running cargo or minivan. Get tranny maintenance on both. Start looking early and will know when the right vehicle and the funds match up. Private party is best and you can save a lot of time by talking on the phone first.

Placing a Craigslist ad seeking to trade would be good. There are scammers out there. I like going into the dmv with the seller and a cashiers check to do the transaction.

 

[lenny flank]

In my younger backpacking/kayaking days, I used to carry a 60-watt foldable solarpanel and a Tekkeon portable battery to charge my laptop/phone. The panel charges the battery, and the battery charges the electronics. There are probably kits available with similar setups. It always worked OK for me.

 

[Trebor English]

The solar panel will be impaired by the windshield glass absorbing a lot of the higher energy uv rays.  The extreme heat will reduce power and reduce lifetime of the panel.  The panel needs 100% exposure.  Shading from the rear view mirror or windshield wiper will cause hot spots and greatly reduced output.  Shaded parking spots must be avoided.  

Just using the car battery will work if all you do is charge a phone and get the laptop charged somewhere else.  The 2 jobs will require daily driving.  If you keep battery use down to 2 amp hours per day the starter battery life won't be horribly diminished.  

If you need the key in the accessory position to keep a cigarette lighter socket powered you will need to add a wire to a new socket.  Keeping the key on will likely kill the battery.  

If you want mobile electricity you will need a cheap multi meter.  Harbor Freight often has them free with a coupon.  You don't need anything over $10.  If you wait until you need it you will pay $20 for a fine $10 meter.  You don't need to be Julia Child to eat but you do need to know something about food.  You need to know some about electricity to have your own.

The folding solar panels might be just what you need to recharge over a weekend.  Just set the panels on the roof or park facing south and put the panels on the windshield.

 

[DLTooley]

A folding panel system designed to sunshade dimensions would be pretty cool. Still some losses but maybe worth it, if needed for security.

I use my old 50 watt panel as a secondary ‘portable’ resting on the windshield exterior. It is not stealthy. My primary is a 100 watt mounted on my older vehicles hood. A roof mounted option might be best if the additional power is needed. Not stealthy, but good enough.

 

[frater secessus]

One might also consider a single panel mounted on a roof rack.  The Inno base rack system for Versa is ~$200.
[img=200x160]http://www.missionariointernacional...o-in-xr-roof-rack-system-1000-x-800.jpg[/img]

The rack locks and the panel could be attached with tamper-proof bolts.  Benefits:

• cheaper watts/dollar
• greater output due to having a bigger panel
• greater output due to not being behind glass
• greater output due to panel cooling from breezes instead of stuck on a hot dash.  Panel output goes down as cell temperature rises.
• greater output due to being deployed more (all the time) rather than when you put it on the dash.  Collect power while you drive!  
• allows you to use a windshield reflector on hot days, reducing interior temperature

It's not a solution for everyone, but it was what popped into my mind.

 

[RVTravel]

This guy put a 120 watt panel in the windshield and got maybe 2 amps charging.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

. . . using foldable solar panels on the dashboard . . . I need power for a small light for sleep at night, phone specifically for the alarm to wake me up for work and laptop . . . 

I think you will be disappointed with the performance of small solar panels on your dash.  I have one that covers half my dash and I get ~ 0.7 amps in direct sun; enough to maintain your battery but not enough to run anything.

For your electrical needs there are a number of ways you can go:

• For light there are a lot of battery powered LED lights that will run for a long time on AA, AAA, or button batteries.  12V LED lights will give a lot of light for very little power.  I would be OK to run one off the Versa battery, since you are driving every day.
• You should be able to charge your phone off the car battery.  As mentioned above you will need a plug-in that is powered when the key is not in the ignition.
• You may be able to charge the laptop off the Versa battery depending on how much you use the laptop and how far you drive every day.  You can get 12V to 19V converters for your laptop; most manufacturers offer one and there are lots of 3rd party options.  Is it possible to charge the laptop at work?
• Another option would be to get a small battery pack and charge it at work or elsewhere and charge/run everything off that.