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Wildman · 22-06-2008, 10:06 AM

solar panels connect in parallel via a charge controller to your leisure batteries. The inverter runs off of the batteries. Work out how many amp hours a day you use. Then make sure you have double that amount of battery storage x the max number of days you will be relient on power without a hookup. 60Watt solar panel will produce an average og 30W per hour to put back in the batteries. So make sure any heavy inverter use is during daylight hours to give batteries a chance to recover for the evening. Remember they produce no charge at night. A pair of 60W PLUS a charge controller!!!!!! and a pair of 120 amp/hr batteries should be plenty depending on how often you move and add charge via the engine. I go for a week or more wild camping and only had 10W solar but moved every day, never run out of power. However I don't use an inverter/hairdryer/microwave etc. TV an old BW job (soon to be obsolete) The panels are a good buy (if there are any left). As to the size of the inverter it depends on what you wish to run I now have a 300W to power a 45W tV or a 45W laptop. Again wok out what you are likely to use, does it have to be 240V are 12v versions available, if so use them. Don't forget to change bulbs for led bulbs as well and you should be all set. Finally only use what power you can replace.
Simple really, as a last resort run the engine or a generator. Good luck.

22-06-2008, 10:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
Wildman Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ilfracombe, Devon Interests: Motorhoming, smallholder, ham radio MH Type: coachbuilt MH Model: Mercedes Newlander Years Motorhoming: 44 Posts: 713 Blog Entries: 10 Thanks: 146 Thanked 130 Times in 110 Posts	solar panels connect in parallel via a charge controller to your leisure batteries. The inverter runs off of the batteries. Work out how many amp hours a day you use. Then make sure you have double that amount of battery storage x the max number of days you will be relient on power without a hookup. 60Watt solar panel will produce an average og 30W per hour to put back in the batteries. So make sure any heavy inverter use is during daylight hours to give batteries a chance to recover for the evening. Remember they produce no charge at night. A pair of 60W PLUS a charge controller!!!!!! and a pair of 120 amp/hr batteries should be plenty depending on how often you move and add charge via the engine. I go for a week or more wild camping and only had 10W solar but moved every day, never run out of power. However I don't use an inverter/hairdryer/microwave etc. TV an old BW job (soon to be obsolete) The panels are a good buy (if there are any left). As to the size of the inverter it depends on what you wish to run I now have a 300W to power a 45W tV or a 45W laptop. Again wok out what you are likely to use, does it have to be 240V are 12v versions available, if so use them. Don't forget to change bulbs for led bulbs as well and you should be all set. Finally only use what power you can replace. Simple really, as a last resort run the engine or a generator. Good luck. __________________ *best wishes from Roger, in sunny Devon* "lifes journey is easier when you hear a friend's footsteps beside you" Last edited by Wildman; 22-06-2008 at 10:13 AM.