Hi:
Allow me to express my goals--or at least what I think are my goals--in the hopes that those in the know (thank you in advance) can recommend products to accomplish this. Links are greatly appreciated.
I own a Jeep Wrangler that has a roof rack that's rarely used. It's got three equally sized metal panels (actually each 1/3 section has two panels, for total of six) of which I can install, at anytime, anywhere from zero to 3 of these pairs .
They look like this https://www.lodoffroad.com/products/jk-jl-destroyer-roof-rack-aluminum-floor-kit-2-panels-per-kit- and I am happy at your request to fill one or more of them with solar panels you recommend, flexible or rigid. I'm thinking that no one solar panel be more than 200 watts because that's a size, particularly with a rigid panel, that could fit on each roof panel pair--although I think when you hear me out you'll believe I don't need that many watts of power (maybe not.)
I live in a four season climate at 41 degrees latitude. Need I tell you that the solar panels in this application, unlike on a sloping home roof, sit parallel with ground to the extent that that, and cloudy days, and other factors, compromise their abilties at producing power. I park outside in some degree of shade in the warmer months when foliage is on my property's nearby trees.
I wish one or more solar panels to accomplish two independent tasks. One is to trickle charge the dual (we'll call them starter) batteries when the vehicle is parked, I have under my hood, which are connected in parallel:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/au...MIgNqsw7yIhAMVu2VHAR2xmAn9EAQYASABEgKAwfD_BwE
and
https://www.partsgeek.com/wbg7d53-j...MIi5yEgL2IhAMVjExHAR2_YwwSEAQYAiABEgK7bfD_BwE
as their amp hours and cold cranking amps I assume would be relevant to you to help me size this endeavor.
The second task I wish the solar panel(s) to accomplish, through an intermediary house battery of your size choosing--although I am leaning towards it being of AGM (absorbent glass mat) lead acid type given my exposure to freezing temperatures, is to power a dual dash camera while in standby mode, which according to its specs requires a mere 4.2 watts of power (at 12 volts.) I've read that they (AGM batteries) are safe in the cabin and don't off gas. Perhaps (educate me) a LiFePO4 battery might pack more power for size here, and some even have battery warming technology, but I have ample room in the cargo area of my Jeep to store an AGM battery that seems to only need to be relatively tiny for this one dash cam powering task.
When the vehicle's engine is cranked (assume) that dash camera will be powered by the starter batteries, themselves of course back filled with power by the vehicle's (smart) alternator.
I'm fine with solutions that include Renogy's DCC50S or DCC30S, or not.
https://www.renogy.com/dcc50s-12v-50a-dc-dc-on-board-battery-charger-with-mppt/ that combine this task into one, additionally trickle charging the starter batteries when the house battery is charged, or the house battery when the engine and alternator are functioning, or not. I'm fine for this to be a single or two systems.
I have no problem bringing the MP4 cables from solar panels into the cab.
I'd probably consider some Redarc stuff a bit pricey for my taste here, although "buy once cry once" I realize may apply. I'm fine spending the $ on MPPT charge controllers versus PWM ones.
Being able to monitor this with a Bluetooth TM app would be nice.
Tell me what else I'm missing that's relevant to share with you.
Again, thanks.
Allow me to express my goals--or at least what I think are my goals--in the hopes that those in the know (thank you in advance) can recommend products to accomplish this. Links are greatly appreciated.
I own a Jeep Wrangler that has a roof rack that's rarely used. It's got three equally sized metal panels (actually each 1/3 section has two panels, for total of six) of which I can install, at anytime, anywhere from zero to 3 of these pairs .
They look like this https://www.lodoffroad.com/products/jk-jl-destroyer-roof-rack-aluminum-floor-kit-2-panels-per-kit- and I am happy at your request to fill one or more of them with solar panels you recommend, flexible or rigid. I'm thinking that no one solar panel be more than 200 watts because that's a size, particularly with a rigid panel, that could fit on each roof panel pair--although I think when you hear me out you'll believe I don't need that many watts of power (maybe not.)
I live in a four season climate at 41 degrees latitude. Need I tell you that the solar panels in this application, unlike on a sloping home roof, sit parallel with ground to the extent that that, and cloudy days, and other factors, compromise their abilties at producing power. I park outside in some degree of shade in the warmer months when foliage is on my property's nearby trees.
I wish one or more solar panels to accomplish two independent tasks. One is to trickle charge the dual (we'll call them starter) batteries when the vehicle is parked, I have under my hood, which are connected in parallel:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/au...MIgNqsw7yIhAMVu2VHAR2xmAn9EAQYASABEgKAwfD_BwE
and
https://www.partsgeek.com/wbg7d53-j...MIi5yEgL2IhAMVjExHAR2_YwwSEAQYAiABEgK7bfD_BwE
as their amp hours and cold cranking amps I assume would be relevant to you to help me size this endeavor.
The second task I wish the solar panel(s) to accomplish, through an intermediary house battery of your size choosing--although I am leaning towards it being of AGM (absorbent glass mat) lead acid type given my exposure to freezing temperatures, is to power a dual dash camera while in standby mode, which according to its specs requires a mere 4.2 watts of power (at 12 volts.) I've read that they (AGM batteries) are safe in the cabin and don't off gas. Perhaps (educate me) a LiFePO4 battery might pack more power for size here, and some even have battery warming technology, but I have ample room in the cargo area of my Jeep to store an AGM battery that seems to only need to be relatively tiny for this one dash cam powering task.
When the vehicle's engine is cranked (assume) that dash camera will be powered by the starter batteries, themselves of course back filled with power by the vehicle's (smart) alternator.
I'm fine with solutions that include Renogy's DCC50S or DCC30S, or not.
https://www.renogy.com/dcc50s-12v-50a-dc-dc-on-board-battery-charger-with-mppt/ that combine this task into one, additionally trickle charging the starter batteries when the house battery is charged, or the house battery when the engine and alternator are functioning, or not. I'm fine for this to be a single or two systems.
I have no problem bringing the MP4 cables from solar panels into the cab.
I'd probably consider some Redarc stuff a bit pricey for my taste here, although "buy once cry once" I realize may apply. I'm fine spending the $ on MPPT charge controllers versus PWM ones.
Being able to monitor this with a Bluetooth TM app would be nice.
Tell me what else I'm missing that's relevant to share with you.
Again, thanks.
Last edited: