Lazy Daze Owners' Group

"Solar rocks. Generators suck."

Amen!

"Our rig is too old to upgrade"

Perhaps you're thinking that you don't want to invest thousands of dollars (which is what a good solar power system used to cost in the Bad Old Days) in an older rig. But solar power no longer costs a mint. And as Huskerblue points out, with a suitcase-style system you can move the whole kit 'n' kaboodle to another rig at the drop of a hat. In short, I can't see why any rig would be too old for solar power.

If you want an off-the-shelf, no-installation-needed system, you can get a 100 W Renogy suitcase for about $265. Clip onto your batteries, set the panels out in the sun, and you're done. These suitcase systems are a great starter solution for someone with modest needs and a budget to match. You pay more per watt than if you put together a custom system, but for many people the convenience is worth it.

A step up is to get a couple of 100 W panels. For example, begin with Renogy's $170 Solar Bundle Kit, then add a second 100 W panel for another $140. For just over $300 you can have 200 watts of solar power. You can lay the panels out on the ground, which gives you flexibility (park in the shade but put the panels in the sun), at the cost of the minor hassle of putting them out and taking them in when you move. Or mount them on the roof and just let them work for you.

All the setups just mentioned use low-cost "PWM" (pulse width modulation) charging controllers. If you want to milk the maximum power from your panels, you can step up to an MPPT (maximum power point tracking) controller. There are affordable models from Blue Sky, Victron and others.

You get the point. There are plenty of solar options, starting at less than $300. You don't need to permanently install anything on your older rig. Unless you do all your camping at places with electric hookups, it's hard to imagine why you wouldn't go solar.

Should you put a solar system on an older unit?

We put a full-up solar system on our 1985 TK when we bought it in 1991. When we sold it to Andy ten years later, he added considerably to the system. When we purchased our 2005 RB in 2009, we again added a full-up system utilizing the many talents of AM Solar.

Would we do it again?

Probably not.

But this is because the way we RV has changed, not because the system does not work sufficiently. We did just fine for an entire week of dry camping a few years ago, running the generator twice a day trying to return the batteries to 100%, which was probably overkill, during those sessions.

Although hope springs eternal that we will be able to give it another go here pretty soon (c'mon cooler weather!), we have really not tried it out since. Our plan is to travel one short day, and then stay put for a day (possibly two) for the driver to rest up. There should be plenty of solar power to accomplish this - at least that is our fervent hope! If not, I will drag out all the apps on the iPhone that tell where the campgrounds with electrical outlets are located! ;->

The goal is Santa Fe - 500 miles away. Don't laugh, but we hope to make it there in two weeks of travel time.

Wish us luck!

Virtual hugs,

Judie

Adventures of Dorrie Anne | Photographing the West

Today: Bastille Day Commemoration

Todd,

While you are enjoying your coffee at your local "caffeine" shop check out the "Wynn's". They are very active Class A enthusiasts that have been mentioned here at LDO many times.

They have some good insight on solar and have modified their systems over the years. Cute couple and educational videos to boot. You tube "GoneWithTheWynns" if you haven't already.

Enjoy, 
Kent

2015 27' RB "MissB.Haven"

But I confess to an aversion to drilling into our thus far watertight LD roof.