Winter vs. Summer Solar, Camping/Overlanding. VIDEO. Calculations & Tests, North/South Borders.

[Dave in AZ]

Made a video, should help folks figure solar output and help answer common question here, "I'm only getting 150W from my 400W oanels..." Truck camper or van size, used 460W of panels.

Winter vs. Summer Solar, Camping/Overlanding. Calculations & Tests, North/South Borders.

Video works, won't play embedded here, click "watch on Youtube " to see video. Additional info in video description. works, won't play embedded here, click "watch on Youtube " to see video. Additional info in video description.

How much solar power when Camping or Overlanding, in Winter vs Summer? Here I use 460W of solar panels, a good amount for popup truck camper or van size roof. I show the calculations using the government PVWATTS.COM site, for max solar power in both Phoenix and Boise, and Dec/Jan vs. Jun/Jul. Then I test the panels actual output at Noon on a perfect AZ November day, both flat as you'd have roof mounted, and also at perfect perpendicular sun angle. This is to show best case power production vs. actual roof mount.

Hope folks find this demo useful, of using pvwatts.com for solar output by location, and that the real AZ winter test gives confidence in results.

 

[JanisD]

Thanks for the video - very simple and hands on.
Maybe it could be pinned somewhere, as here is the answer to question I get way to often: "The system was set up in May. Everything was fine, but in October started to produce less. Is it dead already and how to apply for warranty?"

 

[Dave in AZ]

Thanks for the video - very simple and hands on.
Maybe it could be pinned somewhere, as here is the answer to question I get way to often: "The system was set up in May. Everything was fine, but in October started to produce less. Is it dead already and how to apply for warranty?"

Thx. Yah, I made the vid for my truck camper group, where folks are constantly complaining their Nov power output in Montana driving around has dropped, is something broken? Folks just don't realize the huge solar radiance drop up north, only 15% in Dec that they get in Jun.

 

[HRTKD]

Folks just don't realize the huge solar radiance drop up north, only 15% in Dec that they get in Jun.

More solar!!

Wait, aren't all these snowbirds supposed to migrate south for the winter where the sun is more plentiful?

 

[Dave in AZ]

More solar!!

Wait, aren't all these snowbirds supposed to migrate south for the winter where the sun is more plentiful?

Indeed!

I will toss in a few thoughts, as this thread will be in the minority in applying to truck camping/overlanding.

I get the impression that MOST of the folks posting here in the Vehicle Mounted Systems forum, are a completely different use case than me... I don't think my "outlook" for all thos really applies to many folks here.

It seems most here are Large RV and Trailer folks, who go sit somewhere off-grid without moving for days. I'd call this long-term boondocking. My use is a small popup truck camper, on a Tacoma, and I am driving around "overlanding" every day, then camping somewhere different each night.

This is really a completely different solar use case, the camping/overlanding thing.
1. I can only fit 600W max on my roof, most are limited to 300-400W.
2. Payload is EXTREMELY limited, my Tacoma has 1100 lbs... after 500 lb popup shell, 300 lbs wife and I, thats 300 lbs for ALL GEAR... camping, tools, solar, batteeies, water, fridge. I can't afford 40-100 lbs of solar panels with questionable power output.
3. I am driving around exploring in forests during sunlight hours, by time I camp in evening, solar output is gone. I would have to park and sit all day to get solar, rare.
4. Even if I DID park all day during sunlight... in AZ from Mar thru Nov, you can't park in the sun! Temperatures inside camper rapidly get 100-120f in the sun, you HAVE to park in shade here... no solar.
5. Weight. 200, 300, 400W panels weigh 10 lbs per 100W basically. 20 lbs for 200W. That 200W panel sitting in sun all day gives me 1000Wh in summer, 450Wh in winter. Maybe. For the same weight, 20 lbs, I can have a 100% assured 1280Wh from a small 12V 100Ah mini LFP, a way better use of weight, my limiting resource.
6. Driving around every day, a 500W dcdc alternator charger or powerstation charger (normal alternator charger that boosts voltage to 42 or so to more rapidly supply powerstations), in 2 hrs I can get all the power I would get from a whole roof of panels in winter. For sure. Without the weight or unsurety of solar and weather.
7. All of this drives me, and many overlanders/daily-campers, to either forego solar totally, or to use portable panels that can be placed in sun while parking in shade.
8. My personal setup has developed to 2500Wh to 4600Wh of battery, dcdc alternator charging, and 460W of portable panels... most trips I only take 130W portable, based on my driving/camping daylight plan.

Just some thoughts on truck camping differences

 

[HRTKD]

Your overlanding experience isn't too much different than when I do the tent camping thing. I might have 1000 watts of PV in the bed of the truck but it's not doing anything until I make camp and deploy panels.

I don't travel light.

 

[0truck0]

LoL, you are at the wrong website.
Yes, driving every day while camping is the easy way to charge batteries. Why would you even own solar panels?
I think whether you need solar panels or not , knowing that you need them is kinda a pre-requisite for having active interest in solar panel forums....
You are not alone. It is always so interesting when the Class A owners chime in and tell us, for every answer, that they just crank up their generator anytime they need power.
You are right, people on this forum mostly need solar for reasons that do not include gas motors.
Anyway, is interesting to see the difference is solar power from summer to winter.
I just did a few cold and rainy days of camping and can report that the fridge barely ran as compared to a visit to Sedona when temps were 95-100 degrees. Batteries hardly even depleted and I had the solar panels turned off for 3 days straight. The cold at least saves needing fridge and fans....

 

[Dave in AZ]

LoL, you are at the wrong website.
Yes, driving every day while camping is the easy way to charge batteries. Why would you even own solar panels?
I think whether you need solar panels or not , knowing that you need them is kinda a pre-requisite for having active interest in solar panel forums....
You are not alone. It is always so interesting when the Class A owners chime in and tell us, for every answer, that they just crank up their generator anytime they need power.
You are right, people on this forum mostly need solar for reasons that do not include gas motors.
Anyway, is interesting to see the difference is solar power from summer to winter.
I just did a few cold and rainy days of camping and can report that the fridge barely ran as compared to a visit to Sedona when temps were 95-100 degrees. Batteries hardly even depleted and I had the solar panels turned off for 3 days straight. The cold at least saves needing fridge and fans....

Oh no, I'm definitely at right forum
Right now am in Michigan deer hunting, slow morning w rain... I have 3 panels set up with a scc to charge 2x 12v lead acid. We use them to charge phones, and run a fan at night to keep hot air from wood stove, from pooling up in rafters. That makes huge temperature and comfort difference. Anyways, those panels actually keep up with all needs, cloudy Michigan, 4 years now!
And then I have 6kWh batteries and some panels for the occasional power outage, to keep a fridge and freezer running in house. Working on house solar too.
But yeah, for most mobile I do, don't use panels a lot. BUT, you know 50% is apocalypse planning anyways lol, then I'll be ready!