Solar RV Battery Tender

What is everyone using?

Small unit to directly plug into batteries?

Larger unit or array of panels and a charge controller?

I have 4 batteries in my RV and they are all 100% new, I want to keep them up and running and not spending $500/year replacing them.

-Todd

I have 660ah worth of AGM batteries. I feed them with a group of 5 panels of various sizes. Total output in direct sun is about 17 amps. I use a Trace C40 controller. Have been using that system for about 12 years now.

I won't get into a discussion of battery types etc, but for the most part, get a good 3 stage controller, set it carefully and forget it.

Nomad

wag more, bark less.

So with that controller and 5 panel array you basically leave it hooked up all the time, and it charges when it needs to as much as it needs/can output, and then it trickles when it needs to / batteries are full... ?

I'm pretty sure the batteries are deep cycle marine from NAPA... the RV pretty much fell into my lap, and was not known me to when I even did my last RV related post. (Ironic, eh?)

Thanks Nomad!

-Todd

Camping World, Todd will become your new best friend...

and your wallet's worst enemy.

If you find a setup you like, please let me know. Currently my RV is stored in my shop and plugged in all the time with built in battery tenders. In the near future I am going to have to move to a new outdoor storage, and will need a similar arrangement.

"So with that controller and 5 panel array you basically leave it hooked up all the time, and it charges when it needs to as much as it needs/can output, and then it trickles when it needs to / batteries are full... ?"

Yes. However the controller I have is not the only one out there. I have had mine for 13 years now and there are some better ones. Depends on what you want.

Deep cycle batteries will last about 300 deep cycles. How you use the batteries will control how long they last.

There is a lot if information on the net. I just saw a bunch of articles flow through my mail but I did not read any. I will try to find some and post links. Using solar is not rocket science, but there are some technical issues that need to be considered.

Unless there are others interested, perhaps we should take this to direct e-mail instead of this forum. It is a bit off topic.

Nomad

Thanks Desperado & Nomad!

From the little I did last night it seems the C40 is still pretty popular for charging control / DC power control.

Time to start searching again...

For what it's worth, I'd be interested in learning more about this topic and would vote for the thread to stay public.

+10, please keep teaching us!

-Blast

I`ll post all I find here, and hope Nomad and Desperado continue contributing their expert experience knowledge

One thing in mind with lead acid batteries is using a desulfinator. Part of the battery process creates sulfur on the battery plates. This is what typically shortens the battery's lifespan. The desulfinator injects a signal into the battery and slowly breaks down the built-up sulfur.

I've never seen a solar powered unit but I've also never looked.

There are commercial models but this is the one I built for my aircraft batteries (and also use on my car batteries):

http://www.barkeraircraft.com/eaa79parts.html

More info on desulfating and how to build the board:

http://www.barkeraircraft.com/files/Pulse3_web_layout_.pdf

Several folks have said they are interested in RV solar so I will put something together. I had been planning to do that anyway for another venue. It might be a week or so before I reply, but hang in there and I will begin posting. I will post a note here and then begin another thread. Look for "Solar Electricity, A RV'ers Perspective".

KTOA, Thanks for the information about desulfating. I have friends that use them but nobody had any idea how it worked.

Nomad.
wag more, bark less.

Awesome Nomad! Looking forward to it.

I have posted the first two sections of "Solar Electricity, A RV'ers Perspective" as a new topic.

Take a look and give me some feedback.