Solar power for camping/overlanding trips installed 6 27 2009

[expdtnoffroad]

It wouldn't be a problem to get you the proper plug jacks to use with your current panel. The 110 /220 is on the other side of the inverter. The nice thing is that you can run the AC and DC simultaneously.

IMG_8473_med.jpg

[Corey]

Thanks, that is nice that it has the 110v outlets on it too then.

I will get better pics later, but this pic from my first post shows the black cable from the panel going into a red cable adapter and then to the black receptacle that goes into my grille and then to the charge controller.

If you have an adapter that could mate right to the panels end plug to the 350 that would be great.
A good closeup picture will help I am sure.

I could see a lot of uses for the 350/inverter kit in camp.

[Corey]

OK, I got you some close-ups, hopefully you can find out from them if the cable from my Powerfilm panel can mate to the 350/inverter.

The 15' cable that plugs into the solar panel here is part number RA-7.
The plug end in the picture is the output end that would need to mate up to a plug from you to join to the 350/inverter.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Powerfilm-Ra-7-15-Extension-Cord/dp/B001RM9KCO"]Amazon.com: Powerfilm Ra-7 15' Extension Cord: Sports & Outdoors[/ame]

I then plug that cable now into an adapter cable that is a few feet long that then plugs into the receptacle that in in my grill, and that receptacle goes to the charge controller.

[expdtnoffroad]

We can just build a little adapter for the panel to use it with the 350. I'll post up with more info in a bit.

[Corey]

Looking forward to it.

[Hudson]

Corey, funny, I live just up the hwy from you, and just bought a fridge (national luna 50) and now looking at options to power it on 2-3 day camp trips. I had thought about doing a dual battery setup up, but it's not portable. The solar panel option completely intrigues me, but it does add significant cost (looks like about $800 plus the cost of a good battery and controller). The Goal Zero Extreme PP option seems very interesting too, and is very portable.

I'd like to have one (preferably portable) battery charged directly from a solar panel to run the fridge for 2-3 day trips. Any thoughts on the Goal Zero 350 extreme running on Goal Zero panels vs. a a Goal Zero Extreme 350 running off a foldable panel, vs. your original setup (foldable panel powering 2nd battery)?

[Corey]

Hey Hudson, I take it you are up further in South Auburn or Enumclaw?
You might see me tolling around sometime.

I know a 60 watt panel like I have is enough to power the fridge by itself, and the Extreme 350 battery pack should work.
However I would think you will need lots of sunlight during the day to keep it topped off so it can run the fridge at night too.

My rigs batteries obviously have more reserve capacity in them than the Extreme.
expdtnoffroad might know the answer to this.
Pretty sure my ARB fridge pulls around 1.7 amps when it is running.

Oh, I got the adapter cable too from expdtnoffroad, so I can now recharge the Extreme battery in the field via my Powerfilm 60 watt panel.
Very cool setup.

[Hudson]

Snoqualmie, actually.

The fridge pulls about 1.8 amps. Idea would be to have it run during the day from a high capacity aux battery, probably an AGM Type 31, which I could place in my dirt bike trailer's nose box. Battery would recharge from the panel during the day.

I like the portability of your setup, but since I do a lot of dirt bike camping, I'd hate to leave such an expensive piece exposed while recharging. Maybe better (and cheaper) to get a large 80 watt solar hard panel, and craft a mount, either on my roof rack or maybe on the trailer where I could position it better for max sun exposure.

From your post, I think I am talking myself out of the Goal Zero setup since its battery capacity is limited.

[Corey]

The current 60 watt panel I have hooked up directly to my main starting battery has not let me down when dry camping for five days at a time.
Even before I got the solar I camped weekends without starting up the rig at all and it fired right up when using the fridge and the tent light.
Also one time at home several years ago I ran the fridge straight for about five days with no starting, and it fired up when it was time to go to work.
A hair sluggish cranking over, but it still fired up.

That was with the stock factory Panasonic battery from July of 2006, and I am still on that battery today.