I don't usually park for more than a couple days (and I have dual batteries). That being said, a friend (solar installer) is "recycling" some used panels. Is a single 75w panel worth bothering with? It seems it would be right on the edge.
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How long is your extension cord? Sounds like resistive voltage drop to me.
I'm just realizing I meant to post this in the Awesome new MPPT controller with bluetooth control for $99 thread so I appreciate you guys reply to this old thread!Something's wrong. At the end of your extension cord you have 19V X 4.38A = 83 watts. You are saying that the output of the Victron is 16.75V X 2.2A = 37 watts? Or is that at the input to the Victron? The power has to be going somewhere. The Victron is like 98% efficient. You're losing 46 watts. If you were dissipating that somewhere as heat you would know it. What is the state of charge of the battery when you took these measurements? Any potential loads plugged in?
Well I finally broke down and actually purchased a panel. Renogy finally makes a 100 watt panel that is small enough to fit “within” my roof rack. Simple bracket with Yakima “snap arounds” will even let me tilt it. Instead of drilling holes in the roof or snorkel and finding a good place for the charge controller, using a “temporary wire harness”
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@Cruiserdrew I have pretty much the same set up as you do the last 4 years and it works flawlessly. I run dual batteries and it keeps my group 31 topped off nearly all the time. I'll typically shut down my fridge at night when I sleep and I'll only see a 2-3 degree temp drop overnight saving my fridge and battery more juice.
It looks as if you have the 100w folding suitcase panels, is that right? Super heavy and bulky but really efficient. Other than just put them in the back of your rig, have you thought of any other methods to get them out of the rig for transportation? I'm a bit spooked about putting them on my roof rack during transportation.
I never bought the folding solar panel because I never wanted to take up space inside my Cruiser. I considered mounting the folder on my roof because it’s too large, the same can be said for the 47”x21” long 100w panel. The newer 42” by 20” 100w panel changed all that. It fits perfectly inside the framework of my roof rack‘s sunroof cut out and is level with front fairing. The only issue is to keep the wiring “portable“ or mount the ip67 controller a couple inches below the panel and run 6‘ of 10g to the battery) or mount the controller literally on top of the lead acid battery in the very tight battery box (where battery off gassing could pose a hazard) or the back side of the battery box which exposes the controller to higher engine temperatures. In cab mounting is not an option since house fuse block/distro is in engine bay. Roof to engine bay would be accomplished by running wire through the cheap China snorkel.@Cruiserdrew I have pretty much the same set up as you do the last 4 years and it works flawlessly. I run dual batteries and it keeps my group 31 topped off nearly all the time. I'll typically shut down my fridge at night when I sleep and I'll only see a 2-3 degree temp drop overnight saving my fridge and battery more juice.
It looks as if you have the 100w folding suitcase panels, is that right? Super heavy and bulky but really efficient. Other than just put them in the back of your rig, have you thought of any other methods to get them out of the rig for transportation? I'm a bit spooked about putting them on my roof rack during transportation.