Anyone running solar?

[mr_manny]

Just got back from the Rubicon trail, and noticed lots of solar.
I'm thinking of adding a panel onto the b2, and curious how you guys are handing wire management.

Didn't see any B2s on the con, but I did spot this ranger

 

[Snatchsquatch]

My house and shop are 100 percent solar (off grid) it's about 3500w worth of panels and a dozen L16 batteries that feed a 220v inverter.
I had a flexible panel on the cap of my 2016 F250. It was about 150w and I had a small charge controller inside the cap. I ran a pos and a neg wire through some loom directly to the battery with an inline fuse. That setup was a bit overkill for keeping the start battery up but it worked great.
I want to get an in bed tool box for my ranger, put a panel on top, and relocate the battery to the box eventually.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

Are you talking about auxiliary battery setups or just solar on your start battery? I'm running about 180 amp hours of AGM auxiliary battery, a DC to DC charger,and a 100w solar panel. Most I've seen it put out was about 80w but still sufficient enough to run my DC fridge on trips. Both my solar and alternator tie into the DC to DC charger, then feeds to my auxiliary battery bank. It's been a pretty sound setup for the past few years.

 

[mikkelstuff]

I keep a solar powered trickle charger on my '75 Ranchero. Does that count?

 

[bobbywalter]

I keep a solar powered trickle charger on my '75 Ranchero. Does that count?

it does

 

[bobbywalter]

Just got back from the Rubicon trail, and noticed lots of solar.
I'm thinking of adding a panel onto the b2, and curious how you guys are handing wire management.

Didn't see any B2s on the con, but I did spot this ranger

View attachment 130634

that is a member iirc.




i have two 440s ordered. still up in the air on the batteries and new controller. i burned up my siemans 5k when i hot linked it not paying attention pumping out my swamp.. so we will start over.... going to a champion generator set up for natural gas and likely a renogy control system with 4 battery bank tied into the genny to keep up pumps and freezers and hvac at house.

the 5k ecoflow delta for the money is very tempting though for bare minimums. i have a powerboost 150 for my wife since 21 that has been keeping the house alive but i may be done with those so i need to make my own portable and base setups.


for the last 10 years or so i run 1 or 2 25 watts on my ranger usually, they were recently destroyed in a storm (big storm, why i was pumping swamp) and my 3 group 31 batteries in the ranger i do not think are coming around ever again. so that is going to be expensive. the way it failed it sucked the batteries right down and they were getting weak anyway..


eric photo and several other members have systems in operation on thier rigs...erics is still in development but really well done. i will be copy catting some of that stuff.

 

[Curious Hound]

I'm running what I consider a fairly extensive system. Details in the last few pages of my build thread plus video walk-around linked below.

Basically, two 100Watt solar panels on the roof. Only one sees the sun while traveling. Two group 31 marine batteries under the bed. 2000Watt inverter for AC power when needed. Most wiring and components are behind the seat. It's a squeeze to get all that in a single cab Ranger.

 

[mr_manny]

Just became a subscriber, thanks for sharing.
Nice setup you have there.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

I'm running what I consider a fairly extensive system. Details in the last few pages of my build thread plus video walk-around linked below.

Basically, two 100Watt solar panels on the roof. Only one sees the sun while traveling. Two group 31 marine batteries under the bed. 2000Watt inverter for AC power when needed. Most wiring and components are behind the seat. It's a squeeze to get all that in a single cab Ranger.

Yes sir that's a nice setup you have there. Glad it's all working out. You should be setup for some serious boondocking now man.

 

[Curious Hound]

Yes sir that's a nice setup you have there. Glad it's all working out. You should be setup for some serious boondocking now man.

You played a big part in it. Thanks.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

You played a big part in it. Thanks.

All I did was let you raid my garage of fun stuff haha. You put it together. Turned out nice. I'm super glad to help.