Solar panel and regulator

[funpro]

I have a Cougar 244RSWE and want to add a portable 80watt solar panel (including regulator). I had one I attached to the top of my Fleetwood tent trailer and loved it!
Many of the prices I've seen online seem really high. Any suggestions for good sites with reasonable pricing?

We are brand new to the 5th wheel world after spending 7 seasons loving our Fleetwood tent trailer. Like many of you, I assume, we moved from a sleeping bag in a tent to the tent trailer and now UP to a 5th wheel.

An aside: A friend has an older panel and he attaches it to his batteries when dry camping by using a vehicle cigarette lighter (one end connected to the regulator wires and the other to his batteries).

[Maxzd]

Originally Posted by funpro

I have a Cougar 244RSWE and want to add a portable 80watt solar panel (including regulator). I had one I attached to the top of my Fleetwood tent trailer and loved it!
Many of the prices I've seen online seem really high. Any suggestions for good sites with reasonable pricing?

We are brand new to the 5th wheel world after spending 7 seasons loving our Fleetwood tent trailer. Like many of you, I assume, we moved from a sleeping bag in a tent to the tent trailer and now UP to a 5th wheel.

An aside: A friend has an older panel and he attaches it to his batteries when dry camping by using a vehicle cigarette lighter (one end connected to the regulator wires and the other to his batteries).

I bought 4 123 Watt panels in November all of them online.

3 were from Newegg.com (normally computers and electronics expertise) they were blowing them out.. 1 from Amazon.com which was still a good price relative to everyone else. I prefer to deal with someone who I am familiar with than a small company. If I bought the exact same panels in a local store, it would be $300 more for each panel!

Try searching for Sunforce branded solar kits that might be what you are looking for. Seems like solar panel pricing has gone up slightly. Might be fuel prices driving them up. Good luck with the search, hope you find a good deal!

[funpro]

Thanks for your comments and advice, much appreciated.
David

[Festus2]

I purchased an 85W Kyocera panel and a Morning Star Sunsaver 10-12v charge controller. Not sure, but I think if was from Wholesale Solar in CA. Instead of mounting the panel on the roof, I decided to keep it "portable" and mount it on a folding easel/sandwich board. When not in use or travelling, I store it in a track I made and mounted on "ceiling" of the storage compartment. It is out of the way and secure.
It is not as convenient as a roof-mounted panel, but I really didn't want to drill any more holes in the roof. When leaving the campsite for an extended period, I ensure that it is chained and locked or put away in the storage compartment - out of sight.
Works well in charging the 2 6V Trojans.

[funpro]

Hi, Thanks for the reply. The way you've done it kind of the way I've been thinking also. Did you buy the controller from the same site?

David



Festus2 replied:
Yes, both the panel and controller were bought from the same site.

[gmandi]

I picked a 45 Watt 3 panel system up from harbor frieght.