Portable Power – Solar more connected than Kevin Bacon
2015 Update: We have an all new improved solar set up. Click the button to see our most recent upgrades:
Rooftop solar is awesome (and we have plenty of it) but sometimes you just need to park it in the shade, especially when it’s 95+ degrees outside, which means the rooftop solar isn’t going to work so well. This is where a portable solar kit comes in to save the day.
We have the GoPower! 120watt portable solar kit and have come to two conclusions:
- If you don’t have any solar, a portable kit is the perfect (least expensive and invasive) way to start.
- If you have rooftop solar and don’t have a portable kit, you need one.
Here’s why:
You can park in the shade and still get the juice. When a random heat wave hits (or you willingly endure 100+ temps to experience Burning Man or an Arizona Summer) you shouldn’t have to choose between melting with power or staying cool with no power.
It’s the early bird and night owl all in one. When the sun is super low on the horizon (like early morning and late evening), you can tilt and angle the panel in any and every direction to catch all of those power producing rays! It’s also a great addition during the winter months when the sun sits lower on the horizon.
It has wicked self control (unlike our drinking habits). The nifty built in 10 amp charge controller makes sure your batteries never over charge (which can lead to serious damage, much like drinking).
It’s more connected than Kevin Bacon. Ok, maybe not, but the kit does come with 15’ of cable and several types of connectors (clamps, direct wire, hard wire…) and the optional trailer adapter and extension cables (available in September) give you multiple degrees of connectivity. So whether you want power for tent camping, car camping, RV’ing, ATV’ing, boating or all the above, it goes where you go.
Size does matter. They’re compact, come in a durable case and there’s three different sizes 120, 80, and 40 watts (40 watt available in August). With all of our camera gear and computers for work (yes, we actually work sometimes) we opted for the big daddy 120 watt kit. It keeps all our gear charged no problem. If you’re a tent/car camper, or if you simply want to charge the batteries while you’re rig is in storage, the 40 watts should be more than enough.
If you want to research (or purchase) we’ve found the cheapest rates on are Amazon, here’s a link to our portable solar panel: Go Power! 120W Portable Kit
How to connect More than one PSK to a battery bank
We received several questions about connecting 2 or even 4 portable panels to one battery bank. Of course this type of install would be helpful for those who don’t want to install solar on the RV roof, or for those who camp in the trees and still want to get a solar power. Anyway we asked GoPower to draw a quick connection “map” and here’s what they drew for connecting 2 Portable Solar Panels to a 2 12v battery bank.
Here’s a little more detail from GoPower about the drawing:
In the drawing it is two 12 volt panels in parallel. We are connecting the 2 PSK’s to opposite ends of the battery bank. The reason for this is we are able to use the battery bank as a voltage buffer so the solar controller on PSK #1 does not get fooled by the voltage coming from PSK #2.In a series set up (two 6-volt batteries in Series) we are not able to connect to different sides of the battery because there is only one positive that you can connect to and one negative. Putting two six volt batteries together in series essentially make one big 12 volt battery. You cold however connect to four 6-volt batteries that are in a series parallel set up. You would connect the same way I have suggested in the drawing (just think of each set of 6 volt batteries as a single 12 volt battery.
So, there you have it. Got questions or comments? Post them below in the comment box!
Disclosure: Go Power! provided us with a complimentary panel for review purposes and helped fund the production costs of this video. As always, we are free to say whatever we want and have only written our honest opinions. If we didn’t love it, we would give it back and tell them to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine…but we do love it and they can’t have it back.
Ross Cornell
As always, great article and super-helpful. Question for you guys: is there any issue connecting your portable panel directly to your batteries when you have your rooftop solar kit hard wired with its own charge controller?
Ron
Good info I am hoping to buy a smaller rv and you have helped me in what to look for rr
tim
Quick question about the portable panel .On the go 120 watts system the controller is on the back of panel. How does this give you real volt level at the batteries ? Is there not a volt drop going through the wire? How do you know batteries are at full charge? Is another controller needed at batteries?
The uRamblers
Now that you have an army of roof-mounted solar panels, would you be interested in selling your portable GoPower unit? 🙂 Please email us if so. Thanks!
Nikki Wynn
We already sold it to some fellow traveling friends this summer and they are loving it. Sorry.
Debbie
Hello Nikki & Jason, just have to tell you that, your blog & “Wheeling It” are my favorite blogs! Not only entertaining but informative as well! We are planning out FT adventure & are saving for solar investment. I would like to have 800-1000 watts of panels, enough battery bank, everything else we need. Do you feel $10,000 is a rough estimate to save for. I understand lithium batteries are more expensive. I just want a ball park figure to shoot for! We really want the freedom of wild camping & not depend on crowded, noisy parking lot campgrounds! Thanks, Deb
Richard Voyles
Hope you trip has gone well since I met you at the county park outside Chattanooga – spring ’15. I’m en-route to PEI – Prince Edward Island.
In your diagram of connecting to batteries – with everything so interconnected anyway, does it really matter to which + and – you connect ? ? If so – what’s the criteria – power must flow through the entire system ie positive on one end countered by neg. on the other end of the system ? If this does matter – would the inverter connection also make a difference ?
Thanks for your input !
DAVID PHILPOTT
It really doesn’t matter, electricity they are the same points just different ends of the strap.
Martin Innes
Nikki,that set up1 is so cool 1 can you tell me where You got the solar setup! I’m north of the 49thNo! We don’t all live in igloos! lol But even if I can get hold of the manufacturer and the retail store between the two I should be able to find out if I can purchase the setup! from them or they may have a distributor in Canada. Thx. Martin
Nikki Wynn
Hey Martin, it is a really cool set up that we have really loved. The company info with links for pricing and details are all in the info above. They are actually a Canadian company so you can get one shipped to you no problem!
Jim Burden
I have been planning a independent motor home house boat for about 20 years now. Today it is two seperate units, next comes integration from the ground up. Go anywhere, no plug in or hook ups or gas pump required.
The goal is solar based electric propulsion as well. Bought 28 KW of panels to divide up between three houseboat and motor home. I am including sails for the houseboat.
I am working on full roof top tracking or lay flat on road use, full roof to width panels. track while stationary. Side awning panels insulate windows while under way, spread out stationary.
Lots to tell, few people to talk to about the details. I would like to find a future manufacturer of a all new physics optimized house vehicle system. Looking at evac panel insulation as home made actively evacuated panel wall structural Monique construction.
Burke
How long of a cord do you recommend to the portable panel? I have a little teardrop camper I park under trees, so want the panel to be able to go out in the sun. I’m thinking 50′ (I will size for less than a 2% voltage drop). Thoughts?
Jenn
hi guys! First, thanks so much for your website. You’ve helped inspire us to go full time. We’re about a month in and we’re loving it.
I have a solar question for you…
We have an existing 100 Watt (one panel) roof-top system from Zamp Solar. And we bought the 120 Watt Go Power Portable kit. I emailed Go Power about using both together and it seems like we can but they sent me this diagram for using the Portable Kit with the existing solar and I’m hoping not to have to do it this way:
http://gpelectric.com/files/gpelectric/Docs/General/PSK-Solar-Kit-Installation.pdf
I see in your video that you guys just plug it into that little plug on your RV. Can you explain to me how you guys connect your portable kit to your roof top system? I’d like to have that type of plug installed if possible, since that seems super easy.
I also have the seven pin adapter but I don’t think I can use this type of connection (I’m waiting to hear back from go power to confirm).
thanks again!
Jenn
Jason Wynn
Jenn,
The diagram they sent you is correct. You need to use the “ring terminal” connector plug that came with your PSK. Attach the ring terminal connectors to the opposite posts that your current solar is connected to, then install the plug somewhere so you can just “plug in” the PSK. Does that make sense?
Jenn
I think that makes sense 🙂
The ring terminal connectors attach to the batteries (opposite posts) and then the plug attaches to those so I can then just plug in the PSK.
I’m going to have the guys who installed our solar do it since we’re totally not handy, I just wanted to make sure I understand too.
Thanks again!!!
"...nice man from Germany"
You guys just crack me up….!!! 🙂 Bernard
bryan k
hello,
I understand that the Excursions have a membrane/rubber roof on the exterior. Is it difficult to mount the panels up there ?
tks, Bryan
Jason Wynn
Bryan,
The portable panels aren’t mounted to anything, if you’re referring to our flex panels which we discuss in this article: https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/flexible-solar-panels-rv we asked Fleetwood and they recommend the Sikaflex-221 for adhering the panels to the membrane roof.
John
Mr and Mrs Wynn, what type of inverter would you recommend for a 100 watt solar panel with 2 12 volt batteries
Jason Wynn
What do you want to run?
Pam Wright
Jason, we have an electric refrigerator. Would the larger portable solar panel give our batteries the needed charge to leave the frig on all the time? Where can we go to understand all the electrical terms to see if we can figure out how to use solar with our frig? The whole watt, amp thing is confusing.
Thanks,
Pam
Nikki Wynn
It might but I doubt it. It really depends on how efficient your fridge is. I would use Go Powers power calculator http://gpelectric.com/go-power-calculator , you can type in the appliance, apms and such to get how much solar and battery power you need. If you still don’t understand, give them a call and ask. They are super helpful.
Pam Wright
Thanks so much, Nikki!
Bill Cole
Aahhhh ha…a power calculator, just what I’ve been looking for. This will go a long way toward helping me determine how much SOLAR power I need
Mike
That looks great but surely the wiring is too small to do any effective charging?
Jason Wynn
Charges pretty darn well in full sun. Obviously the thicker gauge wire the less resistance, but the cables seem to work just fine. I only use the extension when I need to get the panel away from the RV, but most of the time the included wire is plenty long enough.
Pamela
Can you use more then one portable 120w kit at a time? Because of the places we camp we would rather have all our panels portable instead of mounted on our roof. So we would be interested in using 3 or 4 at a time. Is that possible?
Nikki Wynn
Honestly, I am not sure, but I will forward your question to Go Power! and have them give you a solid answer.
Jami
Love your site! Did you ever get a response on this? I am wondering the same thing.
Jason Wynn
Pamela,
We spoke with GoPower! and they said it is possible to string multiple panels but it must be wired in a very specific way in order to work.
They claim linking 2 panels is pretty easy, I’m waiting on a drawing to show the wiring.
Helen
Has Go Power provided the additional info about connecting multiple portable solar panels together yet. Awaiting the schematic on that question!
Jason Wynn
Thanks for the reminder, I’ll ask again.
Jason Wynn
Pamela, Jami, and Helen,
I have updated the post with the correct wiring for putting 2 Portable Panels on 1 battery bank (you can find it towards the bottom of the post in the toggle). Hope this helps. GoPower! does not recommend connecting more than 2 portable panels.
The Breaux's
What a wonderful couple you guys are! I mean this sincerely, we have been looking for bipartisan advice regarding our upcoming RV adventure and I find myself checking in a couple times a day to read older blogs regarding your lifestyle decision (some people may find this creepy, lol). We are a family of 5; my wife and I, 3 boys ages 7, 5 and 4, and a 135lb Bullmastiff puppy). We are also hippies and treehuggers living more natural lifestyles then most people are accustomed to 🙂
Now that we have introductions out of the way, we purchased a 32 foot bunkhouse travel trailer as our “starter” home on wheels and plan to upgrade to a bigger RV down the road (Class A or C, really undecided). I plan on boondocking quite a bit with the family but our budget is small to start.
My question for you guys is two-fold; 1-Do you guys recommend boondocking on generators to start while we build up to take the solar plunge? 2-I saw on amazon.com that Go Power offers some what of a starter kit for around $1600 but is more designed for the weekender. Do you think this would be a good starter kit to kickstart this RV lifestyle?
We are super-duper excited about our decision and look forward to your advice…Thanks for all you do…The Breaux’s
Jason Wynn
Hello Breaux Fam!
We’re happy to provide a little insight and inspiration for your upcoming adventure. Here’s my take on your questions:
1. Boondocking on Generators – I personally feel you should have a gene on board no matter what! You might want to see if your Gene has an “auto genstart”. This will keep your batteries from dropping below a set value, the less you drain your batteries the longer they will last. I do not like running the generator because it’s noisy, smelly, and it can annoy your neighbors and create unwanted attention. No matter what you should look into a good converter/battery charger, often times the charger that comes from the factory is extremely inefficient at charging, especially when charging from a Generator.
Here’s a link to the charger we have: Go Power! GPC-75-MAX 75 Amp 4-Stage Converter/Battery Charger
1. Solar Install – I would recommend purchasing the Portable 120 watt kit. There’s no install and it’s easy to use. We call it the “gateway solar drug”, once you have it you’ll want more! Here’s the link to our portable solar post: https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/portable-solar-kit
Hope this helps get you started!
The Breaux's
Jason, thanks for the prompt response! Our TT did not come with a generator but we were looking into one.
Would there be anything special that would nee to be to the TT to prep for purchase of the portable solar kit or does it just connect to the battery?
Jason Wynn
Our pleasure to help guys. Super Easy to connect, in fact I believe they recently launched a trailer connection so you have literally ZERO install product # GP-PSK-7PIN and while you’re ordering get the extension cable, it will make life easier product # GP-PSK-X30.
Make sure you purchase from Amazon, it’s much less expensive than a dealer: Go Power! GP-PSK-120 120W Portable Solar Kit
Kent Williams
THanks for this post. Nice to meet you today in the Alabama Hills. After reading this article and watching the video we went out and purchased the same 120 Watt portable panel. Our first. It really works well and seeing how you connected it to the underside halped us in figuring out same for our RV.
Jason Wynn
Kent it was so nice to meet you both, glad you’re dipping your toes into solar…we love our portable kit.
Lin
I’ve loved reading about all of your solar power. Would love to convert. This would be a great wy to “dip my toe in”.
Jason Wynn
Lin, this is the “gateway drug” for solar as we like to call it.
Patricia
Hello Wynns, I envy your life! Thanks for all the info on solar. I’m a big believer.
I blog about micro living and one of my reader’s comments got me interested in mobile micro-living.
Can you tell me is it possible to power an RV solely by solar power, without gas? I notice you use gas for driving and solar for everything else. Right?
Thanks, Patricia
thetinyapartment.com
Jason Wynn
As far as we know there are no options for a totally solar powered RV. There might be stories of people outfitting their Prius or something, but it’d be difficult to live full time in such a small space. I think the main issue is the sheer weight of an RV. I do know an RV company named Thor was testing a hybrid RV a couple years back however they scrapped the project due to the immense costs. On another note some towns are using Bio Diesel Hybrid buses for public transport, specifically towns like Eugene, OR and Breckenridge, CO. There is a small van conversion company that is currently making a “green” RV called the Roadtrek RS E-Trek, I personally don’t know much about it but it might shed some light on the topic for you.
We do live completely off the Grid while staying in BLM or National Forest, but when we stay at a campground with power we plug in, especially when it’s extremely cold or hot, which is the beauty of an RV: when it gets hot you go north and when it gets cold you head south.
I hope this helps get you started.
Randy Bruhn
Hi Guys, I enjoy reading your articles and find them very informative as well as your videos. Regarding the 120w portable solar panels, I would prefer to plug in and not use the battery clamps. I have a 30amp plug on the outside of my van, what would I need to do to use the plug in supplied on the panel kit?
Thanks,
Randy
Jason Wynn
Randy,
We didn’t like the clamps either so we installed the direct connect plug that you saw in the video. All you need to do is screw the wires onto the battery terminal and mount the clip somewhere on your van. As far as I know you cannot just plug the solar panel directly into your 30a plug…although that would be extremely convenient.
CC
Can u run your A/C via solar, inverter and batteries??
Nikki Wynn
CC, the a/c pulls way to much intense constant power to try and run it off of batteries. Most batteries are not made for that kind of draw. That being said, if you are willing to do the research and invest in some sort of crazy battery bank, anything is always possible.
Phil
What happened to the logos on the side of Windy? Was this video made before you got them?
Jason Wynn
Nice catch Phil, we made this video right after we picked up Windy from service at the Monaco factory in Coburg, OR. She had some paint and body work that had to happen so we lost the logos for a few weeks. Don’t worry we got her all fixed up now so she’s not naked anymore.
Roy H
Jason
Solar power works as I use a solar cover on my pool and 100 feet of black warmed by the sun gives me extra 6 0 to 90 days use of pool. Looking foward to visit with you and Nikki!
Grandpaw
mike
Good post on solar. Have you ever considered wind power? I’ve been thinking it could be an option for dreary days, but haven’t seen that many people doing it.
Jason Wynn
We have considered wind in the past however you will need to run a pole over the tree line (10′ – 20′ high). This means building a telescoping pole that you would drive over to stabilize, I’ve seen it done but it’s a crazy setup. Also a turbine won’t pull in as much power as solar so the value wasn’t quite there for me at the time of research (which was 2 years ago, so maybe things have changed?!?).
Stephanie
don’t know if you can get into this but how do you connect the portable solar panel to connect with the RV, I have a Roadtrek 170 versatile . Or can you refer me to a good article to learn if i can do it… I’m mechanically challenged…
Nikki Wynn
Hey Stephanie, have you ever jump started your car battery? The panels come with battery clamps just like jumper cables, so you just attach red to red and black to black and you are charging! It’s super super easy so you don’t have to be mechanically inclined to make it work. That’s what makes them so great, there is no instillation needed! They come ready to go!
Stephanie
thanks so much, i can handle that!!
Jason Wynn
Stephanie,
there is a very basic video on their website and some additional content that shows how to connect the Portable Solar Kit: http://gpelectric.com/products/portable-solar-kits
Trust me, adding a portable kit is super easy. If you can have someone install the direct connect plug like we did, it will make connecting the panel is as easy as plugging in a toaster!
Happy Camping!
Dick Epler
Doesn’t seem like there’s any way to lose. So I just ordered a GP-PSK-120 portable solar kit from Go Power for my Vesta motorhome. That should open up more boondocking opportunities for our upcoming trip this winter. Even where commercial power is available, however, this should save money as last year we were paying about 17 cents/kWhr.
Based on your experiences, I’m still considering a compost toilet …
Anyway, Jason and Nikki, thanks for providing a very useful service to us snowbirds.
Jason Wynn
Thanks Dick. We have been playing the plug and unplug game ever since we had our kit installed. When we have shore power we keep the RV unplugged and rely on our solar…until it gets too hot…then we plug in and run the A/C. It’s amazing how much less shore power we are using now.
Sarah F
This may sound silly – do you ever worry about someone stealing the portable solar unit because it’s so portable? Anyway, thanks for the video, it’s extremely informative and fun to watch!
Nikki Wynn
Great question Sarah! We feel it’s no different than all the satellite dishes and cubes sitting outside of peoples rigs. Anyone could of course walk up and take it, but we haven’t met anyone yet that has had one stolen. If we leave and don’t feel comfortable, we just put it inside while we are gone but, 90% of the time we are either so far out in the boonies wild camping and feel safe or in a great campground that has plenty of eyes watching.
Gary
This was the best video ever. You guys just make me laugh so much on the positive side of course. Great editing Jason. Thanks for making my day.
Jason Wynn
Thanks Gary, glad you enjoyed the video. We did our best to make this educational/informational video casual and fun…best part is we really enjoyed putting it together! Have a great week!