I was giving 2 Unisolar panels, I need help to make a off grid system.

[ledmach11969]

i need help, I don't have a clue where to start. I was given 2 unisolar panels from an old man.

Unisolar
I been reading most of your post with other members on this forum I notice you give advice to other members what to do.

I wanted to ask you if you could help me. If you can, of course. I was given 2 unisolar panels from an old man.

Unisolar
Model PVL 136
Rated Power 136 Watts
Operating Voltage 33 V
Open Circuit Voltage 46.2 V
Operating Current 4.13 A
Short Circuit Current 5.1 A



I like it, I want to build a off grid solar panel with some batteries. I only want to use this to go camping the total use would be 5 hour use for lights and maybe to charge other equipment like cell phones and a Tablet.
My question is what type of charge controller should I get or you recommend. Also what type of inverter do you think is write for this type of use. Do I need any special batteries ?

[thastinger]

How long are the camping trips?
Even if you just went to down 1 panel and a single 12V RV/marine battery with a small 150ishW PSW inverter, that would be more equipment than I'd want to drag into the woods.

[ledmach11969]

How long are the camping trips?
Even if you just went to down 1 panel and a single 12V RV/marine battery with a small 150ishW PSW inverter, that would be more equipment than I'd want to drag into the woods.

My family and I, we go out for a weekend of camping. The kids complain because they don't have any lights in the tent, the only lights is several flashlights. I guess they want to feel more at home.

I been reading different post about the voltage and the amps, I don't really know what to get since this panels are 48 volts and above. Also, I was told by friend not to connect the power inverted directly to the solar because I could mess it up. I guess blow the fuse..

What would be a great setup for this 2 panels? I wouldn't mind carrying extra weight, it may come in handy.

[Amy@altE]

Those are basically 24V nominal panels (12V panels are really 21Voc). For camping, you should probably stick with a 12V battery bank, because anything you have that has a car charger would be able to be charged right from the battery and not need an inverter. You can also grab some 12V lights, radio, small appliances that are made for RVs to make the kids more homey.

You'll need an MPPT charge controller to charge a 12V battery from the 24V panels. You can wire the 2 panels in parallel, plusses together and minuses together, and wire them into a 30A MPPT charge controller, like the Midnite Kid.

Get a deep cycle battery, not a car battery, and you should have a good start.

[ledmach11969]

Those are basically 24V nominal panels (12V panels are really 21Voc). For camping, you should probably stick with a 12V battery bank, because anything you have that has a car charger would be able to be charged right from the battery and not need an inverter. You can also grab some 12V lights, radio, small appliances that are made for RVs to make the kids more homey.

You'll need an MPPT charge controller to charge a 12V battery from the 24V panels. You can wire the 2 panels in parallel, plusses together and minuses together, and wire them into a 30A MPPT charge controller, like the Midnite Kid.

Get a deep cycle battery, not a car battery, and you should have a good start.

Thank you, for your time And knowledge helping me. I'm going to look in to the midnite kid charge controller. I will post more information as soon as I assemble this project.

[mschulz]

My family and I, we go out for a weekend of camping. The kids complain because they don't have any lights in the tent, the only lights is several flashlights. I guess they want to feel more at home.

I been reading different post about the voltage and the amps, I don't really know what to get since this panels are 48 volts and above. Also, I was told by friend not to connect the power inverted directly to the solar because I could mess it up. I guess blow the fuse..

What would be a great setup for this 2 panels? I wouldn't mind carrying extra weight, it may come in handy.

Try these http://www.rei.com/product/888391/co...d|74537620840| They are lighter, cheaper and will run all week on a set of batteries.

For charging phones and tablets, try this: http://www.mophie.com/shop/powerstation-xl?a92=12 , it is light and will charge 3-4 phones, or 1 phone and a tablet.

[mschulz]

Try these http://www.rei.com/product/888391/co...d|74537620840| They are lighter, cheaper and will run all week on a set of batteries.

For charging phones and tablets, try this: http://www.mophie.com/shop/powerstation-xl?a92=12 , it is light and will charge 3-4 phones, or 1 phone and a tablet.

If you want all the creatures of home, why go camping? Isn't the point to get away from all this crap?

[ledmach11969]

Thank you for your information. My wife and I love camping, unfortunately kids now in day are better playing games inside the house, instead being outside playing games and enjoying the beautiful things God has to offer in earth. I guess is my fault for not making them do this at a earlier age. I wasn't there because I serve in the army for 12 years and I miss lots of special moments and now I'm trying to change things. I hope I do make a little difference.

[SunEagle]

Thank you for your information. My wife and I love camping, unfortunately kids now in day are better playing games inside the house, instead being outside playing games and enjoying the beautiful things God has to offer in earth. I guess is my fault for not making them do this at a earlier age. I wasn't there because I serve in the army for 12 years and I miss lots of special moments and now I'm trying to change things. I hope I do make a little difference.

Your heart is in the right place trying to get your children to love the outdoors. Providing a little of the comforts of home (electronic charging) may do the trick or may just help them keep focused on the wrong things.

Maybe look for something that is new and exciting that gets their interest yet has something to do with nature. If you just provide power for their "toys" they will quickly lose interest in the outdoors when the batteries run down.

I know it may be hard but look for a way to "cut the extension cord". Hope it all works out for you.

[Johann]

Thank you for your information. My wife and I love camping, unfortunately kids now in day are better playing games inside the house, instead being outside playing games and enjoying the beautiful things God has to offer in earth. I guess is my fault for not making them do this at a earlier age. I wasn't there because I serve in the army for 12 years and I miss lots of special moments and now I'm trying to change things. I hope I do make a little difference.

If you give those kids electrical power for TV, labtop. tablet or smart phone etc etc. That will be their babysitter while camping.
A simple light will do for nights and will come in handy and even a simple small radio. Bring a view board games for nights, hotdogs for an open fire, a ball and a Frisky, go fishing and maybe climbing, make a bow and an arrow with them and show them how to use it. Let them put marshmallows or hot dogs on a stick and let them hold it over the fire. Let the kids to be goofy.
Try to do different things with them and praise them and keep talking with them and listen.

I had my kids on and off because I went though divorce and my ex told my kids bad things about me. like I don't love them etc etc and worse.
So camping was one of the ways to express myself and gave the kids the opportunity to be themselves without influence. I never said anything bad about my ex in front of the kids nor did I use the kids. The kids figured it out in no time who the real deal was. Sadly they do not hang around my ex anymore, but are here with me on a regular bases. Kids really need both parents, but they do not need lies nor be used as instrument for personal gain.
Eventually your kids will come around when they get to know you better.

[Sunking]

For what you want to use it for, you have no need for Solar. Kids do not need TV, phones, games ect on a camping trip. Defeats the whole purpose and just as well stay home, vegetate staring a silly screen worshiping electronics. A good RV or Marine battery charged up at home is more than adequate to last several nights of camping and wil not need being charged while there.

Get those kids up at first light, work their butts off hiking, fishing, hunting, swimming, gather fire wood, cooking all day long and by sun down they will collapse into their bed rolls. That is what camping is all about.

[Amy@altE]

...or for $300 more, he can teach the kids about the science of solar.

[sdold]

There's always the chance they are enjoying camping even when on the games etc. I was writing some software once and not enjoying it at all, so I drove over to the coast and rented a beach house for a couple of days and sat there on the deck, overlooking the ocean, completely immersed in my laptop and writing code. Anyone else looking at me would have assumed I could have been anywhere and been just as happy, but just being there was so much fun even though I was buried in the computer. That was 20 years ago and still a great memory.

[J.P.M.]

...or for $300 more, he can teach the kids about the science of solar.

But first, keep the horse in front of the cart and have them read a $20 solar for dummies book or something similar so they may just understand what they're looking at and perhaps get more from the experience.

[Bucho]

What kind of camping are we talking about here? Are you setting a tent up right next to your car? Do you have some sort of trailer?