It pays to get a quality controller. This controller has three modes: fast charge, slow charge, and float/trickle charge.
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| Adding a Solar Panel | ||||||||||
| We plan on doing some boondocking, so we need a power source. I bought a used, home-made 50w solar panel on eBay and converted it for use on our Scamp. | ||||||||||
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| I tossed the old wood frame and made a new one from plastic composite "trim" wood from Home Depot. | ||||||||||
| I got this 50w 13" x 50" off of eBay for about $250. The seller said its frame was damages but it worked fine. It turns out it was home-made, but it did (and does) work, generating 46 watts under full sun. | ||||||||||
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| The panel connects to the battery through this Sunsei CC-10000 10 Amp chrge controller, so I have room to grow if I add new panels later. It pays to get a quality controller. This controller has three modes: fast charge, slow charge, and float/trickle charge. |
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| The ribs are cut to match the contour of our Scamp's roof. | ||||||||||
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| The solar panel is held in place by nine stainless steel screws and tucks neatly behind the awning cover housing. You can't see it from the side unless you climb on a ladder or picnic table. | ||||||||||
| Here's an end view of our trailer. You can see the end of the solar panel housing, but it doesn't look like a solar panel. | ||||||||||