Solar and Batteries

[duckwonder]

Above was the full post, please ignore the "third" at end.

 

[Almost There]

My suitcase set was borderline too heavy for me too. I now use 2 separate 100W Renogy Eclipse panels that weigh about 17 lbs each. They do not need to be fastened together to work. I use 2 5 gallon square buckets to prop them up for tilting toward the sun. The buckets stack with my other square bucket so they take up negligible extra room. I was going to build a support system for each panel but why do the work if the buckets do the job...

As to the propane tank, a 20 lb tank weighs 37 lbs when full. BUT you can buy smaller tanks like the 5 lb tank. Yes, they're pricey in comparison to a 20 lb tank but since weight and space is a consideration more than size, I'd go for it. I'm only using the 20 lb tank until it needs re-certification, then I'll switch to a smaller tank. Might need refilling more than twice a year but still more convenient than trying to haul that heavy tank in and out.

 

[Van Lady]

https://www.renogy.com/renogy-200-watt-eclipse-monocrystalline-solar-suitcase-back-order/

What are your thought on this system please?

200 watts, but expensive....

 

[jonsun]

good but pricey and I simply cannot justify the price for myself. I mean there's only so many minor things that can be better and none of it justifies paying that much for 200w when you can get 100w panels for under $100 now.

in case you all have missed bobs thread...there's a good chance solar is going to go way up in price soon due to tariffs.

 

[duckwonder]

https://www.renogy.com/renogy-200-watt-eclipse-monocrystalline-solar-suitcase-back-order/

What are your thought on this system please?

200 watts, but expensive....

I hope someone else replies to you Van Lady, I am not yet knowledgeable in this area at all.  Based on limited research so far, I'd say that's a good system and over $100 less than a Zamp that provides a similar package but with 160watts.  From what I hear, Zamp is one of the best.

 

[Van Lady]

in case you all have missed bobs thread...there's a good chance solar is going to go way up in price soon due to tariffs.

I did miss Bob's thread....can you link it please.

 

[Blanch]

The Solar place in Quartzsite has prices cheaper than Amazon for solar. My 160 watt Zamp suitcase was $699 and no tax. Discount Solar is the company. This is where I bought my Zamp suitcase.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[duckwonder]

The Solar place in Quartzsite has prices cheaper than Amazon for solar. My 160 watt Zamp suitcase was $699 and no tax. Discount Solar is the company. This is where I bought my Zamp suitcase.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks Blanch!  I wanted to ask you if you would mind sharing a little about what you get for that 160w beauty.  What are your energy needs like when boondocking?  Trying to get a feel for if I can be totally covered with a system like this and ignore my other 100w panel.

 

[jonsun]

I did miss Bob's thread....can you link it please.

it just tells you what I just told you. nothing is definite but it's a good possibility.

 

[Blanch]

Thanks Blanch!  I wanted to ask you if you would mind sharing a little about what you get for that 160w beauty.  What are your energy needs like when boondocking?  Trying to get a feel for if I can be totally covered with a system like this and ignore my other 100w panel.

I get about 40 or 50 amp hours a day from the 160 Zamp suitcase. I have two lead acid batteries, 12 volt group 24, 180 amp hours total. I run a small tv a couple of hours a day or more, lights, recharge my phone and iPad, if it is hot I run a fan in the window, it runs my mifi unit, water pump, electric fan in the bathroom vent. I have a 12 volt nebulizer I run about once a day. Oh, my cell booster also is running when I watch TV sometimes. I'm comfortable.

The heater runs on propane but requires a small amount of electricity. My frig is always set to propane when I boondock. My hot water is propane as well.

If it is dark and my readings show that I am down to 12.3 or so, I conservative with electric that night.

If I am not getting enough sun, like when I was camped near the PNW fires, I use my cheap 1000 watt two stroke generator to top off the batteries.

When in full sun I can watch tv all day. I always seem to have trouble finding something to watch, but when I get hooked on a series on Netflix, I binge watch using only solar.


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[duckwonder]

Thank you Blanch, that is Extremely helpful, so appreciate that!

 

[duckwonder]

lol, Blanch did not write that, I wrote that.  Couldn't narrow down the quotes - because it's ALL helpful - thanks again.

 

[duckwonder]

Pictures!  Name that part! Hehe.  What do I have here folks?

 

[duckwonder]

ya, can't get the pics to post. says file is too large. it's just a pic from my phone that i emailed to myself, downloaded, and attempted to attach here.  showed up in the attach box.  clicked add attachment then post reply.  no dice.

 

[sometimesido]

duckwonder, take a screen shot of your photo, on your phone. that will lower the quality. Then, email to your self to post.

android and iphone both is combination of buttons to take a screenshot

 

[duckwonder]

duckwonder, take a screen shot of your photo, on your phone. that will lower the quality. Then, email to your self to post.

android and iphone both is combination of buttons to take a screenshot

tried this, no dice.  thanks for a suggestion!

 

[highdesertranger]

set your camera for a lower resolution or cut the number of pixels down with a photo editor. 600x800 works well. highdesertranger

 

[duckwonder]

set your camera for a lower resolution or cut the number of pixels down with a photo editor.  600x800 works well.  highdesertranger

going to see if i can download a free photo editor and set pixels to 600x800 and size to 640x480, fingers crossed.  thanks!

 

[tx2sturgis]

In my opinion the BEST image resizer for Windows is this one:


http://www.bricelam.net/ImageResizer/


It's what I use. It's free. It works. It installs, and then it pops up as a menu selection when you right click images, singles or in batches, in your folders.

It doesn't have any ads, and it doesn't do anything else.

But it works and no app needed.

 

[highdesertranger]

in windows I just use paint. it's already there nothing to add. highdesertranger