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[someguyincanada]

Hello All
My name is Jay and I am a scout leader for beavers. we have realized that when we go camping we have no way to charge our cell phones cameras and other small items. Being a scout group we have to keep things as cheap as possible. Everything that you see in the crate has been donated by members of the group. We are using 14 gauge wire and the inverter has 10 gauge wire. The inverter is a 400 watt eliminator from Canadian tire. We are currently looking for a solar panel.

 

[MisterSandals]

Looks like someone pieced together a nice little system. I'd just add a 100w panel something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Newpowa-Polycrystalline-Efficiency-Module-Marine/dp/B00L6LZRXM/

The 2 USB ports on the SCC are super handy. I have several of those same chargers and they are super easy to setup and surprisingly reliable.

You might be able to find a cheaper 100w panel on craigslist in your area. But $75 is hard to beat delivered with Amazon Prime.

 

[MisterSandals]

Just be certain to connect the battery to the SCC first. This is what sets the system voltage (charging at 12-14v for your 12.8v battery). If you connect and energized panel producing 20v, it "might" switch to 24v charging which will eventually cook your battery (volts will keep going up over what a 12v battery can handle).

Keep the battery voltage at or above 12v to keep from damaging it.

42ah x 12.8v = 537wh
Lead acid batteries allow 50% discharge to 12v so ~265wh usable power in battery

100w solar x 5 hours = 500wh (will fully recharge battery in ~3 hours).
5.5wh per iPhone 10 (just for reference)

Hope this helps.

 

[someguyincanada]

Would this good?

 

[MisterSandals]

Would this good?

Looks good! You will need to either cut off the MC4 connector ends and splice on longer wires (10awg likely) or get some connector cables to extend from your panel (in the sun) to your crate (probably in the shade):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V3L4FQQ/

 

[someguyincanada]

Even cheaper!

 

[Steve_S]

Chiming In. Check out https://www.solarshoppingmall.com/
They have New, Used & New Old Stock panels at good prices as well as several bits quite fairly priced, especially for us in Canada.
FYI, Renogy is KRAP ! Avoid that pile... Some like them but the overwhelming complaints, issues and horrible support says it all.

 

[someguyincanada]

Steve it was decided to go with the cheapest option. Reason was what if a child knocks it over and shatters it. They would rather spend 100 vs 2-300 on replacing it. This is a want, not a necessity item in our group.

 

[someguyincanada]

This is the stand that I'm working on right now.

 

[MisterSandals]

This is the stand that I'm working on right now.

Looks pretty deluxe.

Seriously, you could prop up the panel with a stick. A fancy stick would be a piece of PVC pipe. A couple pieces of PVC pipe of different lengths give you a little adjustability to match the angle of the sun.

 

[someguyincanada]

Somewhat completed.

 

[MisterSandals]

Let us know how it goes when you find some february sun in canada!

You're not shading any part of the lower cells in the corners are you? Just a little shade degrades the
output a surprising amount.

 

[someguyincanada]

The styrofoam bumpers are so I don't scratch up the wife's table. We bent the angle iron so it hooks the bottom of aluminum panel.