The ultimate camping solar setup!

This is our camping trailer with 4 x 80w solar panels ontop and 4 x 130ah deep cycle batteries. I use a 20A regulator and a 1kw pure sine inverter. The panels generate around 20 amps in peak sun and around 120Ah per day, on average. The panels are mounted to the trailer top with stainless steel roof mounting brackets. I've got the angle of the panels set at around 15 degrees, but that could be a tad higher, especially in the winter with the sun being a tad lower in the sky as compared to the summer. While we're not camping we're still using the power from the panels. Right now the solar panels on the trailer are powering my office and the fridge/freezer in the kitchen. I wanted to build the ultimate solar panels for camping, and putting them ontop of the camping trailer seemed logical. There's no wires to connect when you get to the camp site. All you need to do is make sure the trailer has plenty of sunlight and preferably is north facing, and you just plug the lead into the trailer power point and away you go. Very simple. :)

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• solar panels
• renewable energy
• clean energy
• solar camping

[JVForums]

Great setup. I am looking into doing the same but maybe half size. If you don't mind me asking. What was the costing total?

5 Stars.

[enviergy]

The 4 80w PV panels were AUS$700.00 each. The 4 130ah deep cycle batteries were AUS$300.00 each. Regulator was AUS$130.00. 1kw pure sine inverter was AUS$750.00. Total cost was approximately AUS$4,880.00. Not exactly cheap, but I'll get at least 30 years use from those panels at least, so a long term investment for sure. :)

[JVForums]

Thanks for the answer. I am very impressed with the setup you have. While it is parked at your house you should hook it up to the house to back feed a bit. Good luck with any future projects.

[enviergy]

When we're not camping, it feeds my home office, so I've taken my office off the grid, powered by the solar powered camping trailer. I can't grid connect this unit, but powering the office is pretty good for when it's just sitting there. :)

[enviergy]

Trailer - AUS$2700.00

4 batteries - AUS$1200.00

4 panels - AUS$2700.00

20A Regulator - AUS$135.00

1000w pure sine inverter - AUS$750.00

I've added a 300w wind turbine too, and that was AUS$550.00

So not exactly cheap, but it's a tiny renewable power station that's portable, that never needs any fuel (other than sun and wind) and doesn't make any noise. :)

[thejesters1975]

cool!great set up.you could power a small cabin with that!

[enviergy]

Thanks. :) Our camping setup is pretty big with the 9m x 7m tarp and a 10 man tent under that. We have a bunch of lights and the camping fridge too. Then there's the laptops and kid's gameboy DSs and some portable DVD players. We need a bit of juice for all that. =)

[nomoreremakes]

I don't have a nice trailer like yours. I'll have to improvise and put mine on something like a shopping cart or a baby buggy. LOL

[troybrownrigg]

@enviergy Those cost have come down alot 40 watt panels are $109. ea and I use 395 amp hour batteries 6 vdc @ $350.00. It is a nice cleean set up. Service the batteries on a regular schedule. I use a pure sine wave 2500 unit and a aims 8k? 16 k unit for the farm. So far so good!

[ryanarchy422]

What kind of fuel efficiency loss do you see when you're hauling this rig? I'm not trying to criticize or troll or anything, because I do think it's pretty cool, especially that you're able to use it at home as well. It does seem like a heavy setup and I'm just wondering if it's able to offset the efficiency loss of carrying it. I would guess it would be inverse to how far you are going.

[anglo1saxon3]

Great setup I should invest in one :)

[nhralph]

Great video, I use solar to power my camping trailor. Keep up the good work.

[nicksnicknet]

@enviergy pretty inspiring mate. I just bought my first solar kit through a Primus ebay deal (60l fridge with bonus 80w solar panel for a grand). This makes me want to go bigger. Those batteries are pretty cheap in comparison to what I have been at - where did you source them? Cheers and keep posting videos. Maybe some voltage of charging etc (especially the wind turbine!)

[vidguy007]

I have a 1989 Tiger GT pop up motorhome. I have one group 27 battery and one 165 watt solar panel on top. It works perfectly.

I use my microwave, my lights, I can fall asleep with my 15 inch TV running on the inverter. hard to believe, but it is the perfect system.

Everyone I know has a lot more batteries and a generator, but are always complaining about how they don;t have enough power. I have more than I need and my only complaint is everyone else's generator noise.

[cbarsonfire]

Brother thats camping without leaving home...LOL

Well done.