Bobbo
Wherever I park
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swimmer_spe wrote:OP here.
Many of you are posting without knowing what my trailer is equipped with. The questions about the battery, panel and other electrical questions do not help. I am not looking for someone to do math. I can do that.I am looking for someone who has one and knows what it can and cannot do.
I am glad you found a forum specific for your model of RV because without the answers to the questions asked about the battery, panel, and other electrical items, we have no idea. Asking for this help without that information is like saying to a mechanic "my car won't run, what's wrong with it?"
Bobbo and Lin
2017 F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab w/Max Tow Package 3.5l EcoBoost V6
2017 Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB
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Pbutler97
Midwest
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Boon Docker wrote:Pbutler97 wrote:Join the Forest River owners forum where you may get your answer and probably
find someone with the same trailer. You won't get it here. There are a hundred + threads about solar here, and all are a mashed up pile of back and forth arguing about things where the participants are mostly wrong to begin with, basically BS.
Why don't you give us your expertise on the subject then. ![[emoticon]](https://forums.goodsamclub.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin")
Why would I? I don't have the same rig as the OP and have no idea what components Forest River installed on it, how they are connected or configured, so on and so forth. Most of what I read on this board are generalities with a lot of info gleaned from the net that anyone can get no matter if it's correct or not.
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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We have the same model but a 2021.
With a single battery and the fridge, expect it to be running low by morning.
We picked up a second battery and that handles the fridge overnight usually at 50-60% state of charge by morning.
The 50w panel won't replace that so if you are stationary for multiple nights, plan to break out the generator in the morning to top up and the panel can do the last few %.
You will likely need around 150w of panels if you want to run the fridge. If you are also running the furnace and it's running a significant percentage of the time at least double that. This assumes you are judicious with other power consumption.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV
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swimmer_spe
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
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valhalla360 wrote:We have the same model but a 2021.
With a single battery and the fridge, expect it to be running low by morning.
We picked up a second battery and that handles the fridge overnight usually at 50-60% state of charge by morning.
The 50w panel won't replace that so if you are stationary for multiple nights, plan to break out the generator in the morning to top up and the panel can do the last few %.
You will likely need around 150w of panels if you want to run the fridge. If you are also running the furnace and it's running a significant percentage of the time at least double that. This assumes you are judicious with other power consumption.
Thank you.
For some reason, I thought the panel was a 250w one.
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Dusty R
Charlotte Michigan 48813
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I read once that Michigan rank 47th out of the 48 continental states of available sunshine. Which makes me wonder if Solar panels are worth using here in Michigan?
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Dusty R wrote:I read once that Michigan rank 47th out of the 48 continental states of available sunshine. Which makes me wonder if Solar panels are worth using here in Michigan?
At best out of date.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_Michigan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Insolation.png
![[image]](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRLxeTmJBXFrdheJNJVJMWROwRwIGnRJOLE1P8ZQL8R-Q&s)
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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swimmer_spe wrote:Thank you.
For some reason, I thought the panel was a 250w one.
Maybe they upgraded for the 2023 models.
It would certainly make more sense except, 250w of solar is a lot for a single 12v battery.
How big is yours? Ours is around 18" x 18".
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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Dusty R wrote:I read once that Michigan rank 47th out of the 48 continental states of available sunshine. Which makes me wonder if Solar panels are worth using here in Michigan?
If you are talking year round numbers, not so great.
In the winter, you have short days and Michigan tends to be particularly cloudy.
In the summer, when most people are camping, it's actually pretty good with 14-16hr of daylight (assuming you aren't camped in the woods).
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swimmer_spe
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
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valhalla360 wrote:swimmer_spe wrote:Thank you.
For some reason, I thought the panel was a 250w one.
Maybe they upgraded for the 2023 models.
It would certainly make more sense except, 250w of solar is a lot for a single 12v battery.
How big is yours? Ours is around 18" x 18".
I haven't been on the roof yet, but the end at the front that I can see that it looks about 2 feet wide. I figured it was rectangular.
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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swimmer_spe wrote:
I haven't been on the roof yet, but the end at the front that I can see that it looks about 2 feet wide. I figured it was rectangular.
Haven't actually taken a tape measure to it. Just looking from the edge as I check the rubber roof from a ladder, so it might be 2ft.
If it's 2ftx2ft, no way it's anywhere close to 250w.
I think the rule of thumb is around 14w/sft (unless very high end panels), so figure around 15-20sft to get 250w.
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