Excellent, very clear and helpful video, thank you!

@ColoradoCamperman

5 жыл бұрын

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

150 watt Renogy on the bus for two years now to run frig. Glad your back.

@ColoradoCamperman

6 жыл бұрын

That is good to know, Renogy seems like the brand to go with and a big reason I chose them over others. That is great you can run a frig off your setup! Glad to be back, thanks for watching!

Great video. I use travel trailer leveling blocks to place under the bottom to reduce the angle to the sun.

@ColoradoCamperman

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip! I may have to do something like that in future trips.

Nice video. Very helpful. Thanks.

@ColoradoCamperman

6 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!

I have the same panel but a different charge controller. Love mine too!

@ColoradoCamperman

6 жыл бұрын

Good to hear! The reviews were great and it seems like a lot of youtubers have Renogy panels.

Been thinking about getting this one or the newest renogy one costing 388$ on Amazon now. Your presentation and reviews on earlier model, helped with my decision. I just ordered it for my trip coming up.

@ColoradoCamperman

5 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Glad to hear, it's been a solid panel so far. Hopefully yours works out well for you too. Thanks for watching!

Hi Brian great review. We have 2 panels on the roof and portable. The portable usually out performs the other 2 combined (probably better angle for our northern location) and it allows us to park in the shade when its hot. The roof panels give us that passive charging when the trailer is in storage or when we are traveling to the campsite. The combination along with 4 6 volt batteries has taken all of the stress of dry camping.

@ColoradoCamperman

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Thank you for the insight on the solar panels too. I always wondered how the two different ones would perform. That makes total sense though. I like how you have the combination of the two. That really has you covered all the time!

@evlainzizme4831

5 жыл бұрын

Can u just wire ? Hook up? The solar panels to a battery bank but with its own inverter?? Like a solar system just not on the roof .. only using the portable panel case as the main solar

@ColoradoCamperman

5 жыл бұрын

@@evlainzizme4831 Yeah, you definitely could. There are lots of different ways you could hook things up! Sorry for the delay in response, I was on a bit of a hiatus. Thanks for watching!

I was going to buy the Renogy but I called them for help and I was very disappointed in that call. The guy talking to me was avbsolutely no help and I am new to getting this solar set up on my winnie. I decided to buy the ACOpower instead and I got the 200 watt suitcase. They do as u mentioned have really good reviews

@ColoradoCamperman

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah, the Renogy has been good for me so far but I kinda wish I would have went with the ACOpower. Last time I looked they didn't sell the Renogy on Amazon anymore which is always a little concerning. I hope the panel works out for you!

I just followed your link and came away with more decisions to make but also more determination to get a kit! I was looking around and found the 200W Waterproof unit...hmmmm....

@ColoradoCamperman

4 жыл бұрын

Lol, sorry to confuse you! Depending on what you use your solar for, the 100 watt panel might do the job for you. After we upgraded our battery, this panel keeps us charged up and we don't have a need for a larger system. The only thing I would maybe add is another 100 watts on the roof. That way I can always have my battery charging and not have to worry about hooking this panel up constantly. This panel has been a champ so far though and we really like it!

Hi Brian, Thanks for the video. I just have quick question about how you mounted the controller. Did you have to drill any new holes into the panels at all with purchasing the waterproof controller separately or were they predrilled?

@ColoradoCamperman

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! The controller was actually already mounted that way straight from the factory. It works great and is very convenient to have on the hinges!

Thank you for an informative and calm evaluation! What about the clamp connection if the batteries are joined in series instead of parallel? Also, what is the difference between joining in parallel or in series Is there any advantage of one over the other?

@ColoradoCamperman

4 жыл бұрын

You're welcome! Good questions, I'm going to refer you to Renogy's website. They have a whole page dedicated to this topic, check it out: www.renogy.com/learn-series-and-parallel/ Thanks for watching!

Do you think you need 200W kit or is this one good enough? And if necessary does this charge controller allow a second set of foldable 100W panels?

@ColoradoCamperman

5 жыл бұрын

It all depends on your energy needs. All I use in my camper is my lights, radio, bathroom fan, and USB plugs to charge my phone/Go Pro. So for me, 100 watts is just fine. The charge controller could handle another panel, you would just need a few Y connectors. Hope that helps.

Nice panels, do you have cables hooked up to just one battery?, cause it looks like you need to have one hooked to the neg on one and the pos on the other to charge both batteries evenly. Just wondering.

@ColoradoCamperman

5 жыл бұрын

I've hooked it up to just one battery and on both batteries as you mentioned. I haven't noticed a significant difference in performance. Maybe slightly better when hooked up to both batteries. Thanks for watching!

@MrChadx1

4 жыл бұрын

When batteries are connected in parallel, it is definitely best practice to connect the positive to the first battery and the negative to the last battery. This ensures the charge voltage is identical between all batteries. If both cables are attached to the terminals of only one of the batteries, you can get voltage drop on the current going to the other batteries and long term, some batteries are undercharged. Always connect the positive to the first battery and the negative to the last battery. That is also how the load should be wired to your battery bank and it's for good reason.

I have a 100 watt panel on top of my van. Do you think I could run this type panel in sequence?

@ColoradoCamperman

6 жыл бұрын

Potentially, what brand is your solar panel? Does your existing setup say you could add more panels? I know the panel I reviewed said that you could add more panels.

@davidawoodringphotography4138

5 жыл бұрын

as long as you have a big enough charge controller you can do it

Do you know if an adapter is available so that I can hook to a portable solar generator that takes an 8mm plug-in?

@ColoradoCamperman

5 жыл бұрын

Sorry, I don't know if there is an adapter. There isn't an 8mm plug from the charge controller. You may be able to make your own if you know how to splice cables and solder. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful, thanks for watching!

I enjoyed your great review Brian; how is it holding up after two years and is the power output the same as when new?

@ColoradoCamperman

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it! The solar panel is still doing great! I would highly recommend it. It is producing the same power as it was 2 years ago. Well, sort of.....I ran over half of it with my truck so I only have a 50 watt panel now, lol! That happened a few weeks ago. So, up until then it was doing great, lol! Even the 50 watts is still doing awesome though. Thanks for watching!

@Spikestrip55

3 жыл бұрын

@@ColoradoCamperman Oh nooooo! Accidents happen I guess. I hope 50 watts is enough to top off your batteries while camping, but you'll probably buy another and have 150 watts! I wanted to play with solar and purchased a cheap 100 watt flexible panel off ebay with a 40 watt controller. I'm sure it's not the power or efficiency of a Renogy, Zamp or HQST, but I think it'll be fun to play with! Thanks again from Woodland Park!

@ColoradoCamperman

3 жыл бұрын

@@Spikestrip55 Lol, yep, just bought a 200 watt setup! I'm going for the roof mounted and then I'll still have the 50 watt. That's a nice little setup you bought, I'm sure it probably still produces a decent amount of energy. Some of the off brands are just as good as the major brands. Glad to have a fellow Coloradoan and someone just up the road from me watching!

great video I'm considering purchasing one of these....I see that (like me) you are you are using two 12-volt batteries wired in 'parallel'....so my question is: when connecting to your two 12-volt batteries, would it not be better to connect one alligator clip to the negative on one battery, and the other clip to the positive to the other battey? Please let me know your thoughts on this... thanks!

@ColoradoCamperman

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I have hooked it up both ways and have not noticed a difference one way or the other. Thanks for watching!

@MrChadx1

4 жыл бұрын

When batteries are connected in parallel, it is definitely best practice to connect the positive to the first battery and the negative to the last battery. This ensures the charge voltage is identical between all batteries. If both cables are attached to the terminals of only one of the batteries, you can get voltage drop on the current going to the other batteries and long term, some batteries are undercharged. Always connect the positive to the first battery and the negative to the last battery. That is also how the load should be wired to your battery bank and it's for good reason.

@dross24MA

4 жыл бұрын

@@MrChadx1 What about the connection if they are joined in series? Also, what is the difference between joining in parallel or in series *and* is there any advantage of one over the other?

Hi thanks for this video. I have to run my generator all the time with a charger on it because I do not have any solar. I wanted to ask you a question do you ever have to run your generator along with your 100 watt portable solar panel?

@ColoradoCamperman

6 жыл бұрын

You're welcome! The only time we ever run our generator is if we need to run the microwave or if we want to brew a pot of coffee. Otherwise the solar recharges the batteries no problem! I can even watch a movie on the TV (as long as the sun is out) and the batteries will stay charged easy. One thing that has also allowed us to do that is the fact that we changed out all of our light bulbs to LEDs - this has made a massive difference in the amount of energy taken from the batteries at night time. Have you switched your light bulbs over to LED?

@kavitadeva

6 жыл бұрын

Colorado Camperman hi thank you so much for getting back to me I have to go get the portable solar panel you have. I don't even use my lights at night I use Puck lights and I checked my two auxiliary batteries for the house and they're fine but I have to run my generator 2 hours in the morning two hours in the evening and all I'm running seriously is a 420 watt converter that I put into the 12-volt socket and I play a small radio off it and I charge my phone and before you know it my batteries are rundown. It's been a mystery to me but I just had my motorhome in the shop the guy does all the house appliances and everything and he checked and he said your batteries are great so the only other thing I run off the converter is a diffuser for essential oils but I never turn on lights and I have no computer I have no television so I just can't figure out what the problem is. but you solved the problem because if you're able to do what you're doing off that one panel that's really awesome I'm so happy for you. Again thank you for getting back to me it means a lot to me. Happy trails

@kavitadeva

6 жыл бұрын

Colorado Camperman hi there I just left you a long response to you getting back to me and thank you so much I hope you got it. I have another question for you I went on to Amazon and there were like 5 different 100 watt renogy portable solar panels starting from 168 going to $388. Can you please tell me the exact one you bought cuz I don't know which one you got looking at the pictures of everything. I'm going to get it right away and I just don't know which one to get thank you for getting back to me on this I really do appreciate it I hope you got my other response.

@ColoradoCamperman

6 жыл бұрын

That sounds like a weird situation. I wonder if you have something within the RV that takes energy without you knowing it. I know in our camper, our radio and LP gas detector will kill our batteries within a few days of not being hooked up to solar/shore power. Maybe you have something like that? Apparently the solar panel and charge controller I got is out of stock right now! Here is the link to the one I got: amzn.to/2tqRH51 it is the one with the water-proof controller. I almost bought the ACO Panel - amzn.to/2Kmxy7A It gets just as good reviews and has a case similar to the Renogy. The only difference is the charge controller. Hopefully you can get one of those that will work for you. It would be nice for you to not have to run your generator all the time. Thanks for watching and let me know how it goes!

@kavitadeva

6 жыл бұрын

Colorado Camperman hi thank you so much for getting back to me again and giving me a couple of choices on the solar panel. I really appreciate you taking the time to responding to my comments. You're absolutely correct my refrigerator has to go on and off by using power of my auxiliary batteries my radios on basically all the time and that's plugged into a 400 and 25 watt small converter that goes into my 12-volt socket and at times I'm running my fantastic fan so that's zapping power and you're right there's just things that are taking power that I wasn't really aware of. Either way I'm definitely going to get me a 100 watt portable solar panel I thank you so much for your video and I won't have to be running my generator so much or so often. Thanks a lot I have subscribed and you are on my notifications so I'll be watching all your videos and I look forward to it. Bye for now

I bought 200w suitcase w/o charge controller.. putting that and inverter inside. Got a dc to dc to charge while driving... I need to bring my Keurig and waffle iron. My 2 creature comforts I cant live w/o

@ColoradoCamperman

4 жыл бұрын

Have you tried it out yet? Does it run the Keurig or waffle iron? Not bad creature comfort choices!

@Addiezmom

4 жыл бұрын

@@ColoradoCamperman no have not tried it out yet... got behind due to neck injury. Reading on how to get it all mounted in van. Actually minivan, I chose due to ease driving (due to neck), mileage, stealth etc. I have Dodge Grand Caravan bought a couple months ago. Want to put it in front stow and go area.. I am learning a lot. How is your truck doing?

@ColoradoCamperman

4 жыл бұрын

@@Addiezmom Hope you're ok from your injury. What happened? That makes sense with the mileage and stealth capabilities. We don't know what the issue is with the truck yet, the shop hasn't even looked at it. They do a good job, but they are slow!

@Addiezmom

4 жыл бұрын

@@ColoradoCamperman 6 yrs ago I felt a lump between the C5/C6 vertebrae. My primary doctor felt it and sent my to a "specialist" who pretty much said I was making it up. After that the next 5 "specialists" wouldn't even do a thorough exam, following first diagnosis. After 5 yrs of insane migraines, no longer able to drive, do photography, work on laptop, or even do dishes w/o having to lay down due to pain at least 2 times. I was on the brink of ending it all, the pain was unbearable. Still they said I was making it up. They were going to fuse my spine just to shut me up. I said I want second opinion, my primary sent me to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. They found the mass within 30 seconds of exam, and in less than a week they remove a 1"×1.3"×.5" benign tumor from in between my 2 vertebrae. Life goes on, now my vertebrae are separating and protruding. Headed back to the Mayo. They have a team orthopedic, neurological, and psychological getting together again... the waiting game begins again. Sorry so long...

@Addiezmom

4 жыл бұрын

@@ColoradoCamperman forgot... I told ortho doctor that they were planning to fuse my spine he gasped. That said it all. They w now, had my primary not sent me to the Mayo. She had already tried to send me there 2 other times, but the "specialtist" report said I was making it up so Mayo denied me 2 times.

Cheaper on eBay

@ColoradoCamperman

4 жыл бұрын

Cool, thanks for the heads up and watching!