Solar panels

[Dave_McNaughton]

Finished my install of my solar panels to run my fridge when I'm off grid. And easy to remove if I want to use cross bars for some thing else

 

[irish44j]

I've been considering similar, but what's the advantage here of panels rather than just having, say, a 500W Jackery to run the fridge at night and just run the fridge off alternator/main battery power during the day? Just less load on the alternator?

 

[smritte]

The Jackery is fine for a day or two. Base camp for anything longer and your wanting solar. I run 100 watts on my cruiser and 400 on my trailer with a 200 watt folding as a backup if I'm camped in the forest.
On my old trailer, my 150 watt put back whatever my fridge used over night and still had enough to run it during the day.

As for extra load on the alternator, if you used the alternator to recharge the Jackery, your still using the same amount of power. If I'm driving constantly then my alternator is my main. If I'm camping without sun, in just the cruiser, I have three days of battery before I have to drive to recharge.

 

[El-Dracho]

Finished my install of my solar panels to run my fridge when I'm off grid. And easy to remove if I want to use cross bars for some thing else

Looks good. Good idea to use the crossbars.

 

[El-Dracho]

I've been considering similar, but what's the advantage here of panels rather than just having, say, a 500W Jackery to run the fridge at night and just run the fridge off alternator/main battery power during the day? Just less load on the alternator?

A solar system in an Overlander rig is a step towards self-sufficiency. If you are on the road every day, charging the batteries via the alternator is usually sufficient. However, if you are on longer trips and have extended periods of camping somewhere without driving, you will need an additional power supply. But with a shore power connection, you are dependent on a certain infrastructure. A power pack will eat up space in the rig and needs recharging also anyway. A solar system, on the other hand, offers an independent power supply. Once installed, it usually does its job quietly for many years. And you have power without additional running costs, and the solar system itself is low-maintenance.

I have solar on my rig for around 15 years now and wouldn't want to be without it on my trips. Just 100 watts but that´s absolutely fine depending on my needs.

 

[Loanrangie]

Solar is a game changer, i have a relatively small battery at only 75ah which is enough for my 50ltr Waeco fridge and some LED lighting but i added a 160W panel for those times that we stay in place for a while without driving.
Panel is 1200mm x 660mm so still gives me room for a swag or one of my kayak's , victron bluetooth regulator lets me check the status from my phone or android car head unit.

 

[MOAK]

I've been considering similar, but what's the advantage here of panels rather than just having, say, a 500W Jackery to run the fridge at night and just run the fridge off alternator/main battery power during the day? Just less load on the alternator?

For us it was all about space and stowage room. Those portable juice contraptions are fine for a 2-3 day weekend, any longer it would just be a pita to be dragging around. We used a mounted solar panel 100 watts, and a sun chaser panel 100 watts with dual 100ah AGM batteries and a Renogy controller for over 12 years to keep two fridges running and topping off the batteries. Didn’t have to think about it very much, it just all worked. Now? As full timers we are cranking 250 watts mounted and a 200 watt sun chaser panels with 3 lithium batteries providing 485 ah. Yup, it’s a big system, but over the decades I have found that the longer you stay out, the more power is wanted, not needed, wanted, as having electric capacity at camp is, after all, a luxury.

 

[Loanrangie]

For us it was all about space and stowage room. Those portable juice contraptions are fine for a 2-3 day weekend, any longer it would just be a pita to be dragging around. We used a mounted solar panel 100 watts, and a sun chaser panel 100 watts with dual 100ah AGM batteries and a Renogy controller for over 12 years to keep two fridges running and topping off the batteries. Didn’t have to think about it very much, it just all worked. Now? As full timers we are cranking 250 watts mounted and a 200 watt sun chaser panels with 3 lithium batteries providing 485 ah. Yup, it’s a big system, but over the decades I have found that the longer you stay out, the more power is wanted, not needed, wanted, as having electric capacity at camp is, after all, a luxury.

Can never have too much solar or battery capacity, being able to get up in the morning and flick on an electric kettle for that first coffee or tea is priceless.

 

[Offroadnutz]

Here is the set up on my XJ
.


It is a 100W panel from HQST.
I have had 20 of these panels on the roof of my cabin for 5 years so I know quality is decent.
I dont use it for a fridge or running any equipment, its only wired to charge my starting battery when needed or to charge electronics via the usb ports on the charge controller..