The product can be purchased on eBay for the same price & eBay doesn't have any SHIPPING charges. You'll pay close to $80.00 shipping charges on amazon I just placed my order on eBay. Will add my thoughts/comments AFTER I receive it. I Rec'd it 13 June - Here are several things you should know: The FEET on the legs- Renogy has no replacements if they slip off & you lose them. If you decide to return your Solar Suitcase to Renogy that you bought from Renogy, they have a 10% restocking FEE. I added a 25' SAE connector type extension cord, got rid of all the MC 4 connectors. I have ring terminals connected to the battery, a 10 amp fuse, & SAE connector with dust cover that I plug my 25' SAE connector extension cord into. Don't put a lot of lateral force on the legs which have rather flimsy connections to the solar panel. I put sandbags on the legs after setting it up so gusty winds won't blow the solar panel over & possibly breaking one or both.
Thanks for sharing your experience and additional modifications you have made for your set up. We didn't pay ANY shipping charges on Amazon (just checked and it shows as free shipping) and we do have Amazon Prime. We noticed the price has reduced a couple of times on Amazon since we purchased ours. Just checked now and it's currently $380 (have seen as low as $360) amzn.to/2ssW50Q - also checked ebay and noticed that the units for sale there are probably returns/refurbished as they were not necessarily all new - need to check the details to be sure of what you are getting first. Restocking fees are not unusual for many products. Always pays to check the returns policy on any purchase to avoid surprises. Good idea re the sand bags to prevent wind gusts blowing it over. We've never had any issues with ours being blown over even during winds but it is certainly possible during extreme winds. Being so low to the ground helps reduce that risk too.
*Awesome solar panels accessory for the electric **Generater.Systems** lightweight easy to carry and set up love it love the set up thank you very satisfied*
I'm glad you talked about various people and their power needs. I too, have low needs for power. After much research and a detailed energy audit, I opted for a minimum of 200 watts. I boondock most of the time when I camp. Camping solo, I use between 40 and 50 amp/hrs a day. Renology's suitcase design is great for portability and for ease of setup. Unfortunately, 100 watts is below what many people need. After talking with many RVers, I have concluded that it isn't unusual for people to use 100-125 amp/hrs a day. (My best estimate) In addition, the charge controller is connected to the panels. If you want a different charge controller? NOPE. Can't do it. Also, check the documentation. That charge controller is not even weather resistant. (let alone water proof.) If you get caught in a good soaking rain, you'd better be fast at getting the suitcase back inside before it gets wet enough to destroy the charge controller. Of course, you'll get soaked while doing that, and if the charge controller is damaged, you ave to buy a whole new suitcase. No replacing just the controller. The controller manufacturer will recommend that the unit be located in a temperature controlled environment. On the back of those solar panels in full mid-day sun is not my idea of temperature controlled. I simply bought a pair of 100 watt panels (And a matching charge controller which I mounted just inside the door of my rig.) and then I used about $30 of 1X2 boards, strap hinge, a latch, and a handle to build my own suitcase. I ended up spending about the same amount as I would have to buy the Renology product with half the wattage. Yes, it's a bit larger package than the Renology suitcase, but everything is a trade-off. I accept the extra size and weight to get the extra power. Even with the extra size and weight, an out of shape 60 year old like me has no problem moving it around. I connected the panels in parallel, thereby keeping the voltage the same and adding the amperage together. In full sun, the output is 11 amps. 8 hours at 11 amps is 88 amp/hrs. (That's a best case scenario. More likely one should figure 4-5 hours of full sun to account for average conditions.) If you use 75-100 amp/hrs a day, then the 200 watt array won't (or will barely) sustain your daily needs. 100 watts would be insufficient. The 100 watt suitcase outputs 5.5 amps max. (Check the specs) 8 hours at 5.5 amps is 44 amp/hrs. Of course, if you only want to supplement your other battery charging methods, a 100 watt array should do fine. It'll probably take about 2 days to put back the amount of power you use in just one day. Since my power usage is low and I keep a fairly large battery bank, (400 amp/hrs) the 200 watt array is enough to sustain me almost indefinitely when boondocking. With only 100 watts, I would be limited. The additional wattage also helps me recover from days without sun when my battery bank gets drained a little deeper than usual. When going solar, the most important part of the system is your battery bank. The more storage you have, the more you can do with solar. Remember: You'll probably use most of your power during times when the sun isn't shining. Storage is essential, and the more, the better. To those of you looking to go solar, good luck in whatever decision you make. Perhaps Renology will begin offering a more robust suitcase system in the near future.
Thank you Clyde for sharing your experience! You are so right about the battery bank, that's the heart of the system right there. And good point about weather resistance - we haven't ever been boondocking in the rain so haven't had that problem, we would bring our portable unit in out of the weather in that case. A more robust system to make it more weather resistant would be good for Renogy to offer in the future.
I'm glad to hear that you haven't gotten caught in rainy conditions. (Yet, that is-LOL.) Here in the corn belt where I usually camp, it isn't uncommon to have "pop-up" thunderstorms on a summer day. Within just a few minutes, it can go from sunny to a good soaking rain. If I'm away from my rig when that happens I don't worry because my charge controller is tucked away safely inside the rig. I hope your Renology suitcase is working well for you and is in line with your needs. It's a good product, but it doesn't fit the needs of some people.
P.S. I just saw another video about the Renology 100 watt suitcase. I'm happy to report that they have updated the design to include a fully waterproof charge controller. Although they haven't increased the wattage of the PV array, they have significantly improved the product. Maybe more changes are coming soon?
We love our Renogy 100w portable panels. We have added a 15ft extension using the Mc4 Pv plugs and then added a plug mount to the trailer for more flexibility, quick hookup and tear down. We find it good enough to run keep our batteries charged when there is bright sun but do have to watch elec use when cloudy. We normally run a tv for a few hours, (movie, some news, a cartoon or two), a few led lights on when needed at night, water pump, and charging devices such as phones, cameras and laptops. So in short we have gone for a couple weeks at a time without hookups and still have all the accessories that make things nice. Well done info in the video, you will love the new accessory.
Great, thanks for sharing your experience! We like the idea of an external plug for easier hookup and an extension as well... but understand with an extension some of the power would be lost in transit. As light power users (especially when boondocking) this portable system is working great for us! Appreciate your positive feedback!
Were still running generators for our batteries though. Looking to do solar and looking at this one exactly. We run a regular type fridge. So maybe 2 of these?
Totally agree with your basic assessment on the limitations on solar. Your best bet is to limit your loads, and just think of this as a means to extend battery life for a little extra weight and cost. Trying to go all in on solar is a fools errand. Before you know it the whole roof is panels, a few more on the ground, 8 batteries, wires all over the place, and so on. Just pack a 100w panel and a generator and save yourself all that mess. A 2k inverter generator goes a long way for little cost, low weight, small size, easy maintenance, little fuel, and low noise. You dont have to run it all day. A couple hours in the morning and a couple hours in the afternoon plus the 100w panel will keep your batteries topped off. If you cant manage that, you are doing it wrong.
It really is just a math problem, and the math says you need a lot of solar panels and batteries to maintain even a minimal existence if you want to do this with electric loads. Having a 2k inverter generator, less panels, and less batteries just works out better, and will be more reliable day in day out. But, hey, to each their own.
Part of the realization is that you cannot possibly be 100% covered for electrical power needs for every single scenario. Yes, there are some places where you cannot use a generator, or are limited to certain hours. There are also a bunch of situations where solar is not going to work at a all, or will be limited. For example, cloudy days or its really hot out and you want to park under good tree cover rather than out in the open. So, what do you do. You figure a way around it. Park under the trees, and run the panels aways a bit where there is sun. Ways around it, too, with a small generator. There are people that have built semi-permanent quiet boxes into their rigs that, seriously, you could be standing right next to it and not know a generator was running. It sounds like a refrigerator or the furnace or something else besides a generator. I would totally use that in a "city parked" situation, and most everywhere else aside from the most strict guarded places. Alternatively, just stay away from no generator places. Ive seen plenty of people go all in with the solar idea, and its just a mess.
Just bought it based on your video! I have a Renogy 100w on my roof, but I also wanted portable to give me the flexibility depending on sun situation, thanks to you I decided to go ahead and order the suitcase! Fair Dinkum Mate!
FYI - I just purchased the 200 watt suitcase and instructions say “WARNING Always connect battery to controller first and then connect the solar panels to the controller!”
you can easy add 2 or 3 or more together. I go tent camping. I do have s similar setup. We use a electric scooter battery U1 AGM 2X run laptop tablet charges handycam lights more. even a 12V coffee pot. all you need is some 8Ga power cable to extend the power . like the video. great points about how well it works.
I also sow this positively reviewed by another RV guy Nomadic Fanatic. I am contemplating in the future the RV living style, this is very, very helpful to see more than just one positive review.
We love ours .. (same model but with 2014 technology - slightly larger and heavier) ... works for us! Your reviews are very thorough .. thanks for sharing!
Glad you talked about the weight, one big reason we went for diesel pusher. Also, one of the big advantages of LiFePO4 batteries. The weight savings over flooded can offset the weight of the panels.
Great point re the batteries and weight savings Wayne - yes many people don't even think about their RV weight, so we hope it draws more attention to this very important issue
Once you get your new Renogy 100 Watt Solar Suitcase make sure you remove the four plastic blocks which the arms connect to, I guarantee that they will break fairly quickly. To prevent future beaking the easiest method to prevent this is to apply JB Weld (the steel mix one) and generously apply the JB around the inside of the blocks and be sure to not get it in the threads or on the surface where the blocks slide back into the panels channeling. Otherwise I'm very happy with my solar system.
Nice review, thanks. Regarding connecting the solar panel to the batteries with the alligator clips, it is safer to connect the positive first and negative last. When disconnecting, unclip negative first and positive last. This minimizes sparking.
Interesting, I purchased the same Renogy 100-watt Monocrystalline Solar Suitcase last year and it looks much different. Mine is 27"x20" and came with a 10amp EPSolar ViewStar charge controller. The recent changes to the product may be why the instructions you found on line didn't quite match up with what you received. While I am very happy with ours, I have to say the build quality of yours looks a little nicer, and the Renogy charge controller looks like higher quality then the one we received. Also ours did not include the temp sensor or the additional voltage monitor leads. Like I said, ours has been great, and it looks like yours is even better.
Great feedback - thanks for sharing your experience. Yes, that would make sense why the materials didn't line up. I wonder if the price changed much from when you bought yours? We actually don't even use the temp sensor or voltage leads and don't expect we will. Cheers!
I just checked and the prices do seem to reflect the upgrades. My unit was $258 when I purchased it on amazon last June. It seems strange that they are now equipping the 100W panel with a 30-amp charge controller. A single 100W panel wouldn't exceed 8 -amps, and I typically only see 5 to 6-amps. Does yours have any connectors to daisy chain in additional panels?
I have Furrion solar connection already installed. I would change out the alligator clips to the one that would accommodate the Furrion connection. your thought on this.
Great review! Thanks for the video, just purchased this same setup for the exact reasons you said in your video. I'm new to solar power and I have a very small teardrop camper that doesn't need much. Thanks for the reassurance!! No idea what type of battery I have in my camper, but I'm sure I can figure that out :) Thanks again!
looking to get this , as im burning 1 gallon per hour at idle to charge my bat... and gas is over 3.50$ pg , thanks good vid, wonder now , how long did they last , 4years gone by
I wish you had talked about the information in the little booklet that says to be sure to connect the controller to the batteries before connecting the controller to the panels. This doesn't appear to be an option with this, since it's all connected. Mine is sitting until I get this answered.
I want to have the battery unit inside a structure or vehicle and only have the solar panels outside exposed to the sun are you limited to the 10-foot cord or is it possible to use longer substantially longer thanks for any input
We are just about to leave for Alaska. I bought a 100 watt Renogy panel and charge controller and cables for about $225.00 from amazon. It's not brain surgery... just watch some youtube videos. You can do it...
I have a small class C motorhome that has a compressor refrigerator. The 2 12v RV lead acid batteries will last maybe 1 day, and then I have to use the generator to give them a bit of a charge. Will this system charge both batteries and about how long will it take on a regular sunny day. This system seems to be what I need, or should I go for a 200 watt system. Thanks for the video.
Sue, go find out what kind of battery you have asap - if they are flooded (like ours) you will need to top them up regularly with distilled water to avoid damaging them, they should not dry out.
I notice you already have your batteries linked together. What if you had a stand alone battery to the solar panel and a stand alone battery to the Coach? I have a class c with one house battery . Would I just put the negative on the solar battery and the positive on the coach battery? Need help! I have the exact same solar panel 100 watt suitcase. Thx
I have a 100 watt panel that came with my camper and want to add another 100 watts. We have a solar controller that was installed with the camper. I have a solar hookup on my camper. Do you know if this is an ok addon?
A 100amp Lithium battery weight is about 13 Kg or 28 Lbs, and you can use up to 80% of the amps before a recharge is needed, only draw back is the cost of one, about $1500.
Yes we now have lithium batteries (600ah) and roof mounted solar panels on our new to us RV/ The batteries ate under $1,000 each from Battleborn - you can see the components of our lithium/inverter setup here rvlove.com/BBBVictronSetup and more about our off-grid setup and how we powered our off grid RV renovation here rvlove.com/rvmakeoverep5
Great review. Did your coach originally come with LED lights or did you swap them out? If you did swap them out, how big a difference did they make with regards to power consumption and lighting?
Great Video. I kept thinking how many of these get stolen each year. Thanks for the chain suggestion. I also thought well at night I can put it back in my Van... duh? or do I want to chain it up? So, I am doing a van. I will have to buy more than just this panel kit right? Batteries, Inverter, and??? I have been doing so much research that my brain cannot handle anymore and is starting delete information in my head.... lol
Hi Jim - the case is a very firm, structured case that is perfectly adequate for protecting the panels. In fact we regularly move it from between our coach and MINI for travel days and so it gets moved around a lot more than usual and we are very confident in how well it is protected. It's kind of a flexible hard case if that makes sense. Hope that helps.
Not sure what you mean by working on your dashboard, but I think you mean could you plug into things on your dashboard. What this does is charge your deep-cycle battery. But then you can use your battery for anything you want, run wires anywhere. Like to some cigarette lighter/dc ports, hook up whatever you want. Best thing is to get an inverter so you can plug in AC and USB devices. Renogy has some very nice ones.
My question. I have a small hard side pop up and do not wish to run my air conditioner while boondocking, but I do wish to have my alt/curr 115v outlets active. I want to have a 100w solar panel charging a small 300w solar generator/inverter. I wish to connect my generator to my campers power plug. I hope that my campers power supply to keep my campers 12v battery charged in addition to give me 115v outlet usage. It this possible? If it is, can I have the solar generator/inverter charging at the same time that it is plugged into the campers power supply.?
That would vary from RV to RV so we would not know. We are sure there would be some optional attachments/connectors available in need if it didn't fit directly
As you said the instructions and online video are confusing, it would have been nice for you to show how to actually set up and start using the solar panel.
Good one Don. We way we look at it, one can always add more solar later if they need it, but you will always have a need for this smaller portable suitcase regardless
This panel can put out close to 100 watts ruclips.net/user/postUgkxOqI2yqX0XVrhR2BMJciTWrHJpG8FhJyg when positioned in the appropriate southernly direction, tilted to the optimal angle for your latitude/date, and connected to a higher capacity device than a 500. The built in kickstand angle is a fixed at 50 degrees. Up to 20% more power can be output by selecting the actual date and latitude optimal angle.The 500 will only input 3.5A maximum at 18 volts for 63 watts. Some of the excess power from the panel can be fed into a USB battery bank, charged directly from the panel while also charging a 500. This will allow you to harvest as much as 63 + 15 = 78 watts.If this panel is used to charge a larger device, such as the power station, then its full output potential can be realized.
Do most solar panels come 'plug and play' setup enabled? (Both for this company and others.) One of the reasons I ask this, the last 3 times in a row when ordering electronics from 'a certain country' everything came wrong. I ordered an egg incubator that was made in ....'said country', and it came broken. Then I ordered security cameras because we had yard prowlers and instead of sending me actual security cameras they only sent wall jack holders for them. Then again this happened for the third time with something else. People aren't really sure how much assembly is required with solar panels. And some of us are worried it will be some huge headache like ordering anything out of 'a certain country' where you end up having to order parts 3 or 4 times before you even have anything working. Hope someone can reply me on this.
Likely, but would depend on your battery you have, and of course how much sun you have. IF cloudy or shaded, or if you don't have much battery storage to offset highs and lows it may not be enough.
Our Class A coach shown in the video had a twenty gallon tank. We usually only fill the propane tank a couple times a year, but if we spend extended time in cold temperatures, we might empty a tank in a month.
Thanks for this review! We’re getting ready to hit the road full time in June and are in the market for some solar. Are you still happy with this product? Would you do anything different or add anything to your setup? Any info would be great! Thank you!
Yes Suzanne, we are still happy with our Renogy solar kit, it's worked well to keep our batteries topped up, very affordable and perfect for our needs. The only thing we would change at this point is when we change to another RV with more capacities, we will upgrade to a bigger solar setup, and still use the portable panel to move around to catch the max sun's rays. This is a great solar panel to get started with. Hope that helps!
why dont you just put some mc4 connectors on the charge controller outout cable, and on the battery as well? If its easier to use, you will use it more.
Thanks I heard you say “negative cable first”. Is that essential, some people have told me not to worry? Also nice panel, but I’d be inclined to use some stakes ( like tent stakes ) to hold it to the ground in high winds.
absolutely brilliant, so looking forwards to getting mine off amazon prime, looks a lovely bit of kit! rather expensive for what size it it, but its fold-able and comes with a nice case, and the solar controller too. thanks for sharing ;-) *****THUMBS UP***** SUBSCRIBED
Great video... I was wondering, Have you installed a through the wall power plug in port to simply plug your solar charger into? I'm working on building me a rather large suit solar suitcase. I have two of the Renogy 150D panels, I plan on putting them together with aluminum hinges so they will open up into one rather large panel. I have also thought of installing a through the wall power plug so all I have to do is just plug in my panels. The plug on the wall on the RV will be wired directly to my battery bank. I think this would be a great idea for you, that way you wouldn't have to bother with opening the battery box every time you needed to connect your solar suitcase. I already set up two 100 watt panels with the hinges, and they open and close real easy. the hinges are made of thinner Aluminum, but yet they are very strong... Anyway, I just wanted toss this out there... thanks for the great videos and be safe out there...
Thank you - yes we've thought about it but we only boondock about 20% of the time so it's not that often we have to do that. But always good to consider ways of making things easier. Thanks for sharing your setup! Safe travels!
when you quickly showed an rv rally you were at you video very quickly showed an rv with what looked like two of those solar panels hooked up out side an rv can you hook up more than one of those panel in series ?it looked like the 10 min 11 sec part of youre video
HI Bob, that depends, if you already have trouble getting your battery over 11.0 at any time it may mean that it has already gone too low and is damaged. The lowest we will let our batteries go before charging is 12.06 as that is 50% and you shouldn't let flooded batteries go below 50% or you will damage the battery. A fully charged battery will be at 12.6 v (yet only 12.06 is 50%, confusing eh?) Hope that helps.
hi folks umm took me 2 times watching this clip now i think i have it i need portable steep climb to where i am at and in the middle of nowhere i am just trying for the first time become solar energy wise may i also ask if you ever tried windpower like on boats for me its the less heavy system of the two as i must hump it all uphill so dont know much about either system thanks folks
I bought the Lycan generator and 3 100 panels with no charge controller. Can only hook up one panel and can't find any info on how to hook up 3 panels.
Not sure if you bought these same panels, but don't think they are meant to be wired together. Generally you would need a charge controller, and need to decide if wiring in series or parallel depending on system. Adding multiple panels wired together can change a lot in how you set up a solar system.
We found this unit to be a great economical entry into solar. Especially since the price has dropped on them. Units that are higher wattage might not be as easy to store. Always pros and cons, but we have been super happy with this.
Can you do a review of the Windy Nation 100-watt 12-volt Polycrystalline starter kit? I just bought one from Home Depot. I have not received the shipment yet.
Hi Eis, Julie here and yes. I was born in Australia, now live in the USA - and my mother is actually from Holland! This portable solar panel is a great way to get started - get your feet wet as you say - to see if you like solar before investing in an expensive upgrade. Cheers!
Why do you think they have such a huge charge controller on these? 30 amps??? That's enough for 360 watts! No doubt, this is a much nicer set than some fold out sets but that stood out as an interesting option. Perhaps the answer will come later in the video...
I don't know how the propane furnace works on your RV but the propane furnace in mine has an electric fan. So assuming yours does to, you are wrong in thinking it does not use electricity to run
The reason I was asking is wondering if too many amps would either go to the batteries or charge controller if the generator was running at the same time? I don't have a solar system so I was hoping you could answer this.
I am not an expert but I think you just hook this system to the battery. Your RV should have a controller to limit charging current to the battery just like the solar controller limits charging current to the battery. It is one battery or two batteries, or whatever number, in one location which is/are being charged
Weight is not a problem with lithium ion battery. They may cost more initially, cost per amp.they are much cheaper over the long run. You can get 2 to 4 batterys with 2 or 4 solar panels. And the weight is less than the lead acid you will be replaceing Plus u get 90% + power. Over the 50% max power of the lead acid. The power draw is much better and the life span is 5x + .etc.
Thanks for the feedback. We agree that Lithium batteries are awesome. When we switched to a new coach, we knew we were keeping longer, we invested in Lithium and larger solar.
I got the Renogy 100 Watt suitcase and connected to the battery on our camper, but all I got from the controller was it just flashed and showed b01. Tried to troubleshoot it. Instructions are about as clear as mud. No tips on what to do about "errors," long and short of it was it didn't charge battery, and couldn't change anything on the controller. Hoping this is all operator error
I believe you could connect two of these panels to your batteries. Not sure if you would be able to wire them in series. That question is probably best for the manufacturer.
A question. Thanks for doing the video. It was great but I have one question. I ordered this setup after I watched your video. I ordered partly because of the MC4 connectors I saw just upstream of the alligator clips on the battery wires, I want to be able to use the mc4 connectors after I disconnect the clips and plug into the z-amp connection on the wall of the RV. Does this make sense? Thank you both.
This solar suitcase connects to the batteries of your RV, boat or car and then you would plug your laptop into the 12v charger, as long as you have sun on the panel, should be plenty of power. This panel keeps our RV batteries well charged for running the house lights, charging all of our devices etc when sunny. Hope that helps.
Im totally confused. I bought this suitcase from renogy. They said charge controller is included in it. It does not have that box you showed with the digital numbers. It has two cords coming from it. I bought it to connect to my phoenix solar generator. I have no idea how to connect it. They renogy said buy the suitcase and i can connect to the phoenix.
Good luck, your furnace forces air will kill your battery’s by morning. Been there done that moved on to buddy heater killed the furnace circuit I bought a real inverter to run the lights I needed. The built in equipment suck when off the grid.
We haven't had this problem yet but if boondocking in colder temps we probably would... but we try to avoid boondocking in extreme temps. Heard good things about the Buddy! Our coach doesn't have an inverter but our next coach will. Cheers!
What is 'boondock'? Never heard of this in UK does it mean wild camp? American really is another language. We and the rest of the planet use Celsius and other SI units.
Here's a link to the Renogy 100 Watt Solar Suitcase with Charge Controller:
amzn.to/2o209rq
The product can be purchased on eBay for the same price & eBay doesn't have any SHIPPING charges.
You'll pay close to $80.00 shipping charges on amazon
I just placed my order on eBay. Will add my thoughts/comments AFTER I receive it.
I Rec'd it 13 June - Here are several things you should know:
The FEET on the legs- Renogy has no replacements if they slip off & you lose them.
If you decide to return your Solar Suitcase to Renogy that you bought from Renogy, they have a 10% restocking FEE.
I added a 25' SAE connector type extension cord, got rid of all the MC 4 connectors. I have ring terminals connected to the battery, a 10 amp fuse, & SAE connector with dust cover that I plug my 25' SAE connector extension cord into.
Don't put a lot of lateral force on the legs which have rather flimsy connections to the solar panel. I put sandbags on the legs after setting it up so gusty winds won't blow the solar panel over & possibly breaking one or both.
Thanks for sharing your experience and additional modifications you have made for your set up.
We didn't pay ANY shipping charges on Amazon (just checked and it shows as free shipping) and we do have Amazon Prime. We noticed the price has reduced a couple of times on Amazon since we purchased ours. Just checked now and it's currently $380 (have seen as low as $360) amzn.to/2ssW50Q - also checked ebay and noticed that the units for sale there are probably returns/refurbished as they were not necessarily all new - need to check the details to be sure of what you are getting first. Restocking fees are not unusual for many products. Always pays to check the returns policy on any purchase to avoid surprises. Good idea re the sand bags to prevent wind gusts blowing it over. We've never had any issues with ours being blown over even during winds but it is certainly possible during extreme winds. Being so low to the ground helps reduce that risk too.
*Awesome solar panels accessory for the electric **Generater.Systems** lightweight easy to carry and set up love it love the set up thank you very satisfied*
I'm glad you talked about various people and their power needs. I too, have low needs for power. After much research and a detailed energy audit, I opted for a minimum of 200 watts. I boondock most of the time when I camp. Camping solo, I use between 40 and 50 amp/hrs a day. Renology's suitcase design is great for portability and for ease of setup. Unfortunately, 100 watts is below what many people need. After talking with many RVers, I have concluded that it isn't unusual for people to use 100-125 amp/hrs a day. (My best estimate)
In addition, the charge controller is connected to the panels. If you want a different charge controller? NOPE. Can't do it. Also, check the documentation. That charge controller is not even weather resistant. (let alone water proof.) If you get caught in a good soaking rain, you'd better be fast at getting the suitcase back inside before it gets wet enough to destroy the charge controller. Of course, you'll get soaked while doing that, and if the charge controller is damaged, you ave to buy a whole new suitcase. No replacing just the controller. The controller manufacturer will recommend that the unit be located in a temperature controlled environment. On the back of those solar panels in full mid-day sun is not my idea of temperature controlled.
I simply bought a pair of 100 watt panels (And a matching charge controller which I mounted just inside the door of my rig.) and then I used about $30 of 1X2 boards, strap hinge, a latch, and a handle to build my own suitcase. I ended up spending about the same amount as I would have to buy the Renology product with half the wattage. Yes, it's a bit larger package than the Renology suitcase, but everything is a trade-off. I accept the extra size and weight to get the extra power. Even with the extra size and weight, an out of shape 60 year old like me has no problem moving it around.
I connected the panels in parallel, thereby keeping the voltage the same and adding the amperage together. In full sun, the output is 11 amps. 8 hours at 11 amps is 88 amp/hrs. (That's a best case scenario. More likely one should figure 4-5 hours of full sun to account for average conditions.) If you use 75-100 amp/hrs a day, then the 200 watt array won't (or will barely) sustain your daily needs. 100 watts would be insufficient. The 100 watt suitcase outputs 5.5 amps max. (Check the specs) 8 hours at 5.5 amps is 44 amp/hrs. Of course, if you only want to supplement your other battery charging methods, a 100 watt array should do fine. It'll probably take about 2 days to put back the amount of power you use in just one day.
Since my power usage is low and I keep a fairly large battery bank, (400 amp/hrs) the 200 watt array is enough to sustain me almost indefinitely when boondocking. With only 100 watts, I would be limited. The additional wattage also helps me recover from days without sun when my battery bank gets drained a little deeper than usual.
When going solar, the most important part of the system is your battery bank. The more storage you have, the more you can do with solar. Remember: You'll probably use most of your power during times when the sun isn't shining. Storage is essential, and the more, the better. To those of you looking to go solar, good luck in whatever decision you make. Perhaps Renology will begin offering a more robust suitcase system in the near future.
Thank you Clyde for sharing your experience! You are so right about the battery bank, that's the heart of the system right there. And good point about weather resistance - we haven't ever been boondocking in the rain so haven't had that problem, we would bring our portable unit in out of the weather in that case. A more robust system to make it more weather resistant would be good for Renogy to offer in the future.
I'm glad to hear that you haven't gotten caught in rainy conditions. (Yet, that is-LOL.) Here in the corn belt where I usually camp, it isn't uncommon to have "pop-up" thunderstorms on a summer day. Within just a few minutes, it can go from sunny to a good soaking rain. If I'm away from my rig when that happens I don't worry because my charge controller is tucked away safely inside the rig.
I hope your Renology suitcase is working well for you and is in line with your needs. It's a good product, but it doesn't fit the needs of some people.
P.S. I just saw another video about the Renology 100 watt suitcase. I'm happy to report that they have updated the design to include a fully waterproof charge controller.
Although they haven't increased the wattage of the PV array, they have significantly improved the product. Maybe more changes are coming soon?
A pair of snips and a connector or two and some wire and you could move the charge controller off of the panel and into your van...
A very good site for beginners solarlife.network/
We love our Renogy 100w portable panels. We have added a 15ft extension using the Mc4 Pv plugs and then added a plug mount to the trailer for more flexibility, quick hookup and tear down. We find it good enough to run keep our batteries charged when there is bright sun but do have to watch elec use when cloudy. We normally run a tv for a few hours, (movie, some news, a cartoon or two), a few led lights on when needed at night, water pump, and charging devices such as phones, cameras and laptops. So in short we have gone for a couple weeks at a time without hookups and still have all the accessories that make things nice.
Well done info in the video, you will love the new accessory.
Great, thanks for sharing your experience! We like the idea of an external plug for easier hookup and an extension as well... but understand with an extension some of the power would be lost in transit. As light power users (especially when boondocking) this portable system is working great for us! Appreciate your positive feedback!
We live in a 30ft 5th wheel offgrid. Since we dont move it anywhere we just got done installing a woodstove. Im in heaven
Were still running generators for our batteries though. Looking to do solar and looking at this one exactly. We run a regular type fridge. So maybe 2 of these?
Totally agree with your basic assessment on the limitations on solar. Your best bet is to limit your loads, and just think of this as a means to extend battery life for a little extra weight and cost. Trying to go all in on solar is a fools errand. Before you know it the whole roof is panels, a few more on the ground, 8 batteries, wires all over the place, and so on. Just pack a 100w panel and a generator and save yourself all that mess. A 2k inverter generator goes a long way for little cost, low weight, small size, easy maintenance, little fuel, and low noise. You dont have to run it all day. A couple hours in the morning and a couple hours in the afternoon plus the 100w panel will keep your batteries topped off. If you cant manage that, you are doing it wrong.
Great comment. Excellent points and logic. Agreed that for most RVers, that is a great path.
It really is just a math problem, and the math says you need a lot of solar panels and batteries to maintain even a minimal existence if you want to do this with electric loads. Having a 2k inverter generator, less panels, and less batteries just works out better, and will be more reliable day in day out. But, hey, to each their own.
Part of the realization is that you cannot possibly be 100% covered for electrical power needs for every single scenario. Yes, there are some places where you cannot use a generator, or are limited to certain hours. There are also a bunch of situations where solar is not going to work at a all, or will be limited. For example, cloudy days or its really hot out and you want to park under good tree cover rather than out in the open. So, what do you do. You figure a way around it. Park under the trees, and run the panels aways a bit where there is sun. Ways around it, too, with a small generator. There are people that have built semi-permanent quiet boxes into their rigs that, seriously, you could be standing right next to it and not know a generator was running. It sounds like a refrigerator or the furnace or something else besides a generator. I would totally use that in a "city parked" situation, and most everywhere else aside from the most strict guarded places. Alternatively, just stay away from no generator places. Ive seen plenty of people go all in with the solar idea, and its just a mess.
Just bought it based on your video! I have a Renogy 100w on my roof, but I also wanted portable to give me the flexibility depending on sun situation, thanks to you I decided to go ahead and order the suitcase! Fair Dinkum Mate!
Tracy... if you had to choose between the suitcase or the one on the roof, which would you pick? Cheers!
I love my Renogy suitcase. I bought a longer extension in case I parked in the shade and had to move the suitcase out further to find sun.
Great idea! A longer extension is on our list too! So far this is proving to be enough to keep our RV powered while boondocking.
FYI - I just purchased the 200 watt suitcase and instructions say “WARNING Always connect battery to controller first and then connect the solar panels to the controller!”
Thanks for this excellent review!
you can easy add 2 or 3 or more together. I go tent camping. I do have s similar setup. We use a electric scooter battery U1 AGM 2X run laptop tablet charges handycam lights more. even a 12V coffee pot. all you need is some 8Ga power cable to extend the power . like the video. great points about how well it works.
Thank you
I also sow this positively reviewed by another RV guy Nomadic Fanatic. I am contemplating in the future the RV living style, this is very, very helpful to see more than just one positive review.
We love ours .. (same model but with 2014 technology - slightly larger and heavier) ... works for us! Your reviews are very thorough .. thanks for sharing!
Thanks Michele :)
Glad you talked about the weight, one big reason we went for diesel pusher. Also, one of the big advantages of LiFePO4 batteries. The weight savings over flooded can offset the weight of the panels.
Great point re the batteries and weight savings Wayne - yes many people don't even think about their RV weight, so we hope it draws more attention to this very important issue
Once you get your new Renogy 100 Watt Solar Suitcase make sure you remove the four plastic blocks which the arms connect to, I guarantee that they will break fairly quickly. To prevent future beaking the easiest method to prevent this is to apply JB Weld (the steel mix one) and generously apply the JB around the inside of the blocks and be sure to not get it in the threads or on the surface where the blocks slide back into the panels channeling. Otherwise I'm very happy with my solar system.
Thanks for sharing your tip
U should install Anderson plugs on battery and solar
That way u don't need to worry about stepping on cables and damaging your stuff
Nice review, thanks. Regarding connecting the solar panel to the batteries with the alligator clips, it is safer to connect the positive first and negative last. When disconnecting, unclip negative first and positive last. This minimizes sparking.
Thanks for the tip Michael!
Great job guys. We’re headed for the desert from the BlackHillsPower of South Dakota. Looking at one of these.
Hope you had a great trip!
Interesting, I purchased the same Renogy 100-watt Monocrystalline Solar Suitcase last year and it looks much different. Mine is 27"x20" and came with a 10amp EPSolar ViewStar charge controller. The recent changes to the product may be why the instructions you found on line didn't quite match up with what you received.
While I am very happy with ours, I have to say the build quality of yours looks a little nicer, and the Renogy charge controller looks like higher quality then the one we received. Also ours did not include the temp sensor or the additional voltage monitor leads.
Like I said, ours has been great, and it looks like yours is even better.
Great feedback - thanks for sharing your experience. Yes, that would make sense why the materials didn't line up. I wonder if the price changed much from when you bought yours? We actually don't even use the temp sensor or voltage leads and don't expect we will. Cheers!
I just checked and the prices do seem to reflect the upgrades. My unit was $258 when I purchased it on amazon last June.
It seems strange that they are now equipping the 100W panel with a 30-amp charge controller. A single 100W panel wouldn't exceed 8 -amps, and I typically only see 5 to 6-amps. Does yours have any connectors to daisy chain in additional panels?
I have Furrion solar connection already installed. I would change out the alligator clips to the one that would accommodate the Furrion connection. your thought on this.
I think it is great to use more permanent quick connects.
Excellent review! You guys didn't leave anything out and now you make me want one of these portable units! Thanks for sharing!!
Great review! Thanks for the video, just purchased this same setup for the exact reasons you said in your video. I'm new to solar power and I have a very small teardrop camper that doesn't need much. Thanks for the reassurance!! No idea what type of battery I have in my camper, but I'm sure I can figure that out :) Thanks again!
Nice bus, wow, enjoy :)
looking to get this , as im burning 1 gallon per hour at idle to charge my bat... and gas is over 3.50$ pg , thanks good vid, wonder now , how long did they last , 4years gone by
I wish you had talked about the information in the little booklet that says to be sure to connect the controller to the batteries before connecting the controller to the panels. This doesn't appear to be an option with this, since it's all connected. Mine is sitting until I get this answered.
great job guys ordering one today
Thanks for the good information. We have been looking at some and are going to purchase soon. The Renogy looks really good. Thanks again.
You're welcome! Ours has been great.
I want to have the battery unit inside a structure or vehicle and only have the solar panels outside exposed to the sun are you limited to the 10-foot cord or is it possible to use longer substantially longer thanks for any input
Great Introductory Video! We just bought one, and it looks like you gave us solid guidance. Thanks.
you are welcome
Terrific video! I am looking at this system, so this was perfect watching for me. Safe travels, my friends!
Hi Mike - thanks, glad you liked it. Safe travels to you too!
We are just about to leave for Alaska. I bought a 100 watt Renogy panel and charge controller and cables for about $225.00 from amazon. It's not brain surgery... just watch some youtube videos. You can do it...
Have a great trip!
I’ve got 2 batteries do you hook positive and negative on one battery or positive on one and negative on the other
If they are linked, you would put positive on one and negative on the other. Apologies for the delayed reply!
I have a small class C motorhome that has a compressor refrigerator. The 2 12v RV lead acid batteries will last maybe 1 day, and then I have to use the generator to give them a bit of a charge. Will this system charge both batteries and about how long will it take on a regular sunny day. This system seems to be what I need, or should I go for a 200 watt system. Thanks for the video.
Agree with you on the instructions. I'm not sure what kind of battery I have! (Newbie)
Sue, go find out what kind of battery you have asap - if they are flooded (like ours) you will need to top them up regularly with distilled water to avoid damaging them, they should not dry out.
I notice you already have your batteries linked together. What if you had a stand alone battery to the solar panel and a stand alone battery to the Coach? I have a class c with one house battery . Would I just put the negative on the solar battery and the positive on the coach battery? Need help! I have the exact same solar panel 100 watt suitcase. Thx
I have a 100 watt panel that came with my camper and want to add another 100 watts. We have a solar controller that was installed with the camper. I have a solar hookup on my camper. Do you know if this is an ok addon?
A 100amp Lithium battery weight is about 13 Kg or 28 Lbs, and you can use up to 80% of the amps before a recharge is needed, only draw back is the cost of one, about $1500.
Yes we now have lithium batteries (600ah) and roof mounted solar panels on our new to us RV/ The batteries ate under $1,000 each from Battleborn - you can see the components of our lithium/inverter setup here rvlove.com/BBBVictronSetup and more about our off-grid setup and how we powered our off grid RV renovation here rvlove.com/rvmakeoverep5
Dose it come with a separate cord for solar ready plug on side of trailer
Very informative. Thank you!
Thank you
Great review. Did your coach originally come with LED lights or did you swap them out? If you did swap them out, how big a difference did they make with regards to power consumption and lighting?
Great Video. I kept thinking how many of these get stolen each year. Thanks for the chain suggestion. I also thought well at night I can put it back in my Van... duh? or do I want to chain it up? So, I am doing a van. I will have to buy more than just this panel kit right? Batteries, Inverter, and??? I have been doing so much research that my brain cannot handle anymore and is starting delete information in my head.... lol
Is it ok to connect the panels first to your scc? Or its the battery first?
we would connect to the scc first. Not sure how much it matters?
Excellent review. Thanks for taking the time to make this video.
Glad you found it helpful!
Is the case hard sided or soft? Wondering if the solar cells would be adequately protected while in storage?
Hi Jim - the case is a very firm, structured case that is perfectly adequate for protecting the panels. In fact we regularly move it from between our coach and MINI for travel days and so it gets moved around a lot more than usual and we are very confident in how well it is protected. It's kind of a flexible hard case if that makes sense. Hope that helps.
what kind of batteries do you recommend to use for this product?
Can you charge the Goal Zero 1250 (from the back) using an Alligator Clamp that comes with the Renogy 100 watt solar panel?
Excellent Review, can't wait to see your month averages on the solar. Bet it will save $$$Bucks .
would this work on my dashboard inside my truck under the windshield?
Not sure what you mean by working on your dashboard, but I think you mean could you plug into things on your dashboard. What this does is charge your deep-cycle battery. But then you can use your battery for anything you want, run wires anywhere. Like to some cigarette lighter/dc ports, hook up whatever you want. Best thing is to get an inverter so you can plug in AC and USB devices. Renogy has some very nice ones.
My question. I have a small hard side pop up and do not wish to run my air conditioner while boondocking, but I do wish to have my alt/curr 115v outlets active. I want to have a 100w solar panel charging a small 300w solar generator/inverter. I wish to connect my generator to my campers power plug. I hope that my campers power supply to keep my campers 12v battery charged in addition to give me 115v outlet usage. It this possible? If it is, can I have the solar generator/inverter charging at the same time that it is plugged into the campers power supply.?
My camper comes with “solar prep” do they come with the appropriate plug for the solar prep plug on the side of the RV?
That would vary from RV to RV so we would not know. We are sure there would be some optional attachments/connectors available in need if it didn't fit directly
As you said the instructions and online video are confusing, it would have been nice for you to show how to actually set up and start using the solar panel.
How do you charge your AC power divises? If I d'ont have a former solar system I guess I will have to buy an inverter too?...
Thanks...I believe this is the way we will go to get started. Good Info!
Good one Don. We way we look at it, one can always add more solar later if they need it, but you will always have a need for this smaller portable suitcase regardless
This panel can put out close to 100 watts ruclips.net/user/postUgkxOqI2yqX0XVrhR2BMJciTWrHJpG8FhJyg when positioned in the appropriate southernly direction, tilted to the optimal angle for your latitude/date, and connected to a higher capacity device than a 500. The built in kickstand angle is a fixed at 50 degrees. Up to 20% more power can be output by selecting the actual date and latitude optimal angle.The 500 will only input 3.5A maximum at 18 volts for 63 watts. Some of the excess power from the panel can be fed into a USB battery bank, charged directly from the panel while also charging a 500. This will allow you to harvest as much as 63 + 15 = 78 watts.If this panel is used to charge a larger device, such as the power station, then its full output potential can be realized.
Do most solar panels come 'plug and play' setup enabled? (Both for this company and others.)
One of the reasons I ask this, the last 3 times in a row when ordering electronics from 'a certain country' everything came wrong. I ordered an egg incubator that was made in ....'said country', and it came broken.
Then I ordered security cameras because we had yard prowlers and instead of sending me actual security cameras they only sent wall jack holders for them.
Then again this happened for the third time with something else.
People aren't really sure how much assembly is required with solar panels. And some of us are worried it will be some huge headache like ordering anything out of 'a certain country' where you end up having to order parts 3 or 4 times before you even have anything working.
Hope someone can reply me on this.
Can i run a 40 watt camp freezer and a few essentials laptop etc? Great video
Likely, but would depend on your battery you have, and of course how much sun you have. IF cloudy or shaded, or if you don't have much battery storage to offset highs and lows it may not be enough.
How big are your propane tanks? How long does a full propane tank lasts on regular use? How much does it cost to full your propane tanks?
Our Class A coach shown in the video had a twenty gallon tank. We usually only fill the propane tank a couple times a year, but if we spend extended time in cold temperatures, we might empty a tank in a month.
Great review. Thanks
you are welcome
Thank you for the outstanding instructional video, I just ordered one.
thank you
Thanks for this review! We’re getting ready to hit the road full time in June and are in the market for some solar. Are you still happy with this product? Would you do anything different or add anything to your setup? Any info would be great! Thank you!
Yes Suzanne, we are still happy with our Renogy solar kit, it's worked well to keep our batteries topped up, very affordable and perfect for our needs. The only thing we would change at this point is when we change to another RV with more capacities, we will upgrade to a bigger solar setup, and still use the portable panel to move around to catch the max sun's rays. This is a great solar panel to get started with. Hope that helps!
Road Gear Reviews that is so helpful! Thanks SO much for your reply. Really helps us with our decision.
why dont you just put some mc4 connectors on the charge controller outout cable, and on the battery as well? If its easier to use, you will use it more.
That is a good solution for more frequent use, yes
Thanks I heard you say “negative cable first”. Is that essential, some people have told me not to worry? Also nice panel, but I’d be inclined to use some stakes ( like tent stakes ) to hold it to the ground in high winds.
positive cable first is probably fine too. I don't think it really matters much.
Can you show in more detail how you locked this kit when you were away?
Used a bike lock and looped it around the RV steps and the Renogy riveted handle.
absolutely brilliant, so looking forwards to getting mine off amazon prime, looks a lovely bit of kit! rather expensive for what size it it, but its fold-able and comes with a nice case, and the solar controller too.
thanks for sharing ;-)
*****THUMBS UP*****
SUBSCRIBED
you are welcome, sorry for the delayed response, yes a bit expensive for the size but we paid for the portability and convenience
Great video... I was wondering, Have you installed a through the wall power plug in port to simply plug your solar charger into? I'm working on building me a rather large suit solar suitcase. I have two of the Renogy 150D panels, I plan on putting them together with aluminum hinges so they will open up into one rather large panel. I have also thought of installing a through the wall power plug so all I have to do is just plug in my panels. The plug on the wall on the RV will be wired directly to my battery bank. I think this would be a great idea for you, that way you wouldn't have to bother with opening the battery box every time you needed to connect your solar suitcase. I already set up two 100 watt panels with the hinges, and they open and close real easy. the hinges are made of thinner Aluminum, but yet they are very strong... Anyway, I just wanted toss this out there... thanks for the great videos and be safe out there...
Thank you - yes we've thought about it but we only boondock about 20% of the time so it's not that often we have to do that. But always good to consider ways of making things easier. Thanks for sharing your setup! Safe travels!
when you quickly showed an rv rally you were at you video very quickly showed an rv with what looked like two of those solar panels hooked up out side an rv can you hook up more than one of those panel in series ?it looked like the 10 min 11 sec part of youre video
Thanks so much for this review. I will be buying one.
Glad you found it helpful!
with this panel will it bring a deep cycle marine battery up to 12.6 from a current 11.0 reading over time ?
HI Bob, that depends, if you already have trouble getting your battery over 11.0 at any time it may mean that it has already gone too low and is damaged. The lowest we will let our batteries go before charging is 12.06 as that is 50% and you shouldn't let flooded batteries go below 50% or you will damage the battery. A fully charged battery will be at 12.6 v (yet only 12.06 is 50%, confusing eh?) Hope that helps.
hi folks umm took me 2 times watching this clip now i think i have it i need portable steep climb to where i am at and in the middle of nowhere i am just trying for the first time become solar energy wise may i also ask if you ever tried windpower like on boats for me its the less heavy system of the two as i must hump it all uphill so dont know much about either system thanks folks
Nice review, wonder why there showing a 20 Amp charge controller now on Amazon, instead of the 30 Amp.
not sure.
Most of the rv's that have the factory "solar on the side" installed are 20amp, with SAE connectors, also it helps keep the price lower
I bought the Lycan generator and 3 100 panels with no charge controller. Can only hook up one panel and can't find any info on how to hook up 3 panels.
Not sure if you bought these same panels, but don't think they are meant to be wired together. Generally you would need a charge controller, and need to decide if wiring in series or parallel depending on system. Adding multiple panels wired together can change a lot in how you set up a solar system.
would it be more economical to buy a unit that produces more wattage?
We found this unit to be a great economical entry into solar. Especially since the price has dropped on them. Units that are higher wattage might not be as easy to store. Always pros and cons, but we have been super happy with this.
Can you do a review of the Windy Nation 100-watt 12-volt Polycrystalline starter kit? I just bought one from Home Depot. I have not received the shipment yet.
We can add it to the list!
I have 200 watt suitcase. Somewhat heavy for solo female but managing
Hope that works for you! This isn't too heavy... fortunately you probably don't have to carry yours too much. Love seeing solo women RVers - you rock!
It seems to me one of best options if you want to "get your feet wet" so to speak. Btw...is the lady from down under? Greetings from Holland
Hi Eis, Julie here and yes. I was born in Australia, now live in the USA - and my mother is actually from Holland! This portable solar panel is a great way to get started - get your feet wet as you say - to see if you like solar before investing in an expensive upgrade. Cheers!
Thanks guys ..... awesome video.. looking into one for ourselves...😊👍👍👌👌
Thanks Nos - glad you found it helpful :)
I might have a problem with this I have sealed battery and i have a deep cycle that is not sealed.
Why do you think they have such a huge charge controller on these? 30 amps??? That's enough for 360 watts! No doubt, this is a much nicer set than some fold out sets but that stood out as an interesting option. Perhaps the answer will come later in the video...
has the ability to accept more panels to create a larger array
Can this be used for a home
The panel could be used for a home, but wiring it in would be a challenge, unless you use 12volt batteries in your home.
question, where do u plug in a USB or 110v plug for devices on this thing????!!!
This unit is for charging larger 12V batteries, you would need an inverter our USB outlets in your vehicle to get power out.
excellent info! thanks!
Glad it helped!
I don't know how the propane furnace works on your RV but the propane furnace in mine has an electric fan. So assuming yours does to, you are wrong in thinking it does not use electricity to run
Does the unit need to be unclipped from the batteries if you want to run your generator to use the microwave or AC?
The reason I was asking is wondering if too many amps would either go to the batteries or charge controller if the generator was running at the same time? I don't have a solar system so I was hoping you could answer this.
I am not an expert but I think you just hook this system to the battery. Your RV should have a controller to limit charging current to the battery just like the solar controller limits charging current to the battery. It is one battery or two batteries, or whatever number, in one location which is/are being charged
Can you please tell me how much it cost for this one?
Thanks
Notice never says how much????
Weight is not a problem with lithium ion battery. They may cost more initially, cost per amp.they are much cheaper over the long run. You can get 2 to 4 batterys with 2 or 4 solar panels. And the weight is less than the lead acid you will be replaceing Plus u get 90% + power. Over the 50% max power of the lead acid. The power draw is much better and the life span is 5x + .etc.
Thanks for the feedback. We agree that Lithium batteries are awesome. When we switched to a new coach, we knew we were keeping longer, we invested in Lithium and larger solar.
even better = graphene batteries but are expensive to manufacture.
I got the Renogy 100 Watt suitcase and connected to the battery on our camper, but all I got from the controller was it just flashed and showed b01. Tried to troubleshoot it. Instructions are about as clear as mud. No tips on what to do about "errors," long and short of it was it didn't charge battery, and couldn't change anything on the controller. Hoping this is all operator error
try calling renogy. I found they have helpful staff to help troubleshoot.
can you connect two sets in series to increase wattage output, and would this be a safe set-up?
I believe you could connect two of these panels to your batteries. Not sure if you would be able to wire them in series. That question is probably best for the manufacturer.
A question. Thanks for doing the video. It was great but I have one question. I ordered this setup after I watched your video. I ordered partly because of the MC4 connectors I saw just upstream of the alligator clips on the battery wires, I want to be able to use the mc4 connectors after I disconnect the clips and plug into the z-amp connection on the wall of the RV. Does this make sense? Thank you both.
Would this be enough power to charge a laptop all day while I work?
This solar suitcase connects to the batteries of your RV, boat or car and then you would plug your laptop into the 12v charger, as long as you have sun on the panel, should be plenty of power. This panel keeps our RV batteries well charged for running the house lights, charging all of our devices etc when sunny. Hope that helps.
The best thing I've found on the net was plans from Avasva .
Im totally confused. I bought this suitcase from renogy. They said charge controller is included in it. It does not have that box you showed with the digital numbers. It has two cords coming from it. I bought it to connect to my phoenix solar generator. I have no idea how to connect it. They renogy said buy the suitcase and i can connect to the phoenix.
Are you sure you bought the same solar suitcase as shown in this video? Have you tried calling Renogy customer service?
Are they made in the U.S. ?
Canada!
Solar cells made in Germany
Is the controller water proof?
not sure, but the way it is mounted, would need massive rain to get it wet.
How much do you pay for whole kit
The price can vary but usually between $300-$400. From memory I think we paid closer to $400 in 2017 but the price seems to have come down since then.
Here is the amazon link - seems there is a coupon code at the moment saving $11 amzn.to/2o209rq
Ooh. Bicycle lock looped around the solar panel legs that are screwed on......
duh.....
Haha - we loop the bicycle lock around the handle attached to the case frame.
Good luck, your furnace forces air will kill your battery’s by morning. Been there done that moved on to buddy heater killed the furnace circuit I bought a real inverter to run the lights I needed. The built in equipment suck when off the grid.
We haven't had this problem yet but if boondocking in colder temps we probably would... but we try to avoid boondocking in extreme temps. Heard good things about the Buddy! Our coach doesn't have an inverter but our next coach will. Cheers!
What is 'boondock'? Never heard of this in UK does it mean wild camp? American really is another language. We and the rest of the planet use Celsius and other SI units.
$400 for 100 watts are you crazy. That is way too much cash
We paid for the portability and convenience. They have come down in price now. Worked great for us for our purposes.
please i need one please
It's very handy