Portable solar panels for travel trailer

Hello,

Anyone have recommendations on some solar panels that I can store in storage on a travel trailer and setup at camp?

I bought two 12 sok batteries, planning on buying a growatt 24v 3000 watt inverter/charger unless people had recommendations for something else.

I will be running the fridge, lights, and water pump for sink and bathroom mainly.

Are the Uni-solar PVL-144 144w Amorphous Flexible Solar Panels on battery hookup any good?

Thanks for the help!

Sorry I can't help with a panel recommendation but I thought I'd make mention that the lights and water pump are DC and don't need an inverter. Depending on the fridge it may also be DC. A 3000W inverter may be far more than you need. Something to consider.

i recommend these and use these for a portable array;

100_watt_Portable_Lion_Wnergy_Panels

They are well built and can fold up and latch and now come with a case. I use these in series parallel, although that voids the warranty. I set mine up in the morning and take them down at night so they do not blow away in the winds that are rocking my trailer at night.

Those panels you linked look like they could be CIGs. Even if they’re not, they are make less power per area than other types of panels. that panels does claim Better shading capablilty, but I don’t know how that compares to a more efficient panel. RvWithTito used have something similar on his trailer roof, and then added more. They cost at least twice as much per watt than renogy’s do, which cost three times as much as bigger panels brought off Craigslist locally.

If it were my choice, I would put as many flat panels on the roof as I could.

i really suggest you do a real power audit before purchasing anything. Depending on what you want with the 3000 watt inverter like running AIr Conditioning, you’d need to fill the roof up and put as much as you can on the ground to get it too work, or perhaps you want to Run a microwave, so a 2000 watt inverter may work, with a half roof o panels, or 600 watts of panels may work.

The inverter is more for use as a bug out camper in the case of a fire near our house. I want to be able to power our electronics with 110v without hookups. I also like that it's one system for charging via 110v or solar and a pass through for 110v.

I have 2 of these for my camper :

https://www.amazon.com/SUNPOWER-Por...d=1655065291&sprefix=Sunpower+,aps,277&sr=8-3

A little pricey but very high quality and I regularly get 180W from them.

ryan373 said:

Amorphous

Click to expand...

Nothing with that word in it is a good thing. Adding the word Flexible is just another hit. Having the two words together is just asking for tears and misery.

You can always pop-rivet some velcro strapping to a pair of panels via the unused mounting holes and fold them up for stowage. Go with a solid panel, either Mono or Poly crystalline.

Like @Rednecktek said you could strap some 100 watt panels together and fold them up. If you want to go a little further, I started making a folding set like the following. 100 Watt Newpowa panels that I bought on sale for @ $85. Hinged one side and butterfly latches and a kayak handle on the other. Also added some self adhering childproofing padding on each corner.

Most already assembled you see like this have the cells facing out but come with a carry bag to protect. Decided to try this layout to protect the cell faces as I didn't want to make a bag for each set that I may build. Considering adding some aluminum 1x1 inch legs to prop the panels, but have not gotten around to it just yet.

Yes, you can take any pair of solar panels that fit in your storage space and install a hinge latch and handle - that's all the early portable-panel sellers did.
I got a pair back when they were under $200 for the whole setup, with carry bag and solar controller. Except a SCC shouldn't go on the panels, it should be next to your battery. Make up 10G leads with regular hookup wire at your desired length - mine are 25'.
The frames with the plastic corners help a little with ground contact, but not a deal-breaker. If I was to do it over again I would get 100 or 120W panels - but they need to be less than 24" wide in order to fit in my storage compartment.

I regularly get about 150 watts from my pair of 80W, now feeding a Tracer mppt 10A charge controller. Nice little augment to my roof-mounted 430W pair. The nice thing about portables is being able to orient them for direct solar exposure, something you can't do with flat-mounted roof panels.

A 1000W inverter might provide what you need - I installed a Xantrex 650W but wished I had gotten the 1000. It's a lot more money, and needs heavier wire, or I would change it out. I also bought a Ecoflow Delta Mini - it covers any high-watt accessories we would need in the RV - can charge it with the installed system. It makes a mean pot of coffee, or will run wifey's hair dryer. The Xantrex won't power either, but covers everything else - electronics and ebike charging, the original requirement. Once you have quiet power then you start thinking of more things to plug in. LOL

Browneye said:

Yes, you can take any pair of solar panels that fit in your storage space and install a hinge latch and handle - that's all the early portable-panel sellers did.

Click to expand...

Its not only the early portable-panel seller it appears. I got the idea of the kayak handle from the following.