Opinions on this solar set up

I’m new to anything solar so was looking for input on this Renogy battery solar kit. I’ve read good things about Renogy products on here and elsewhere but this kit seems inexpensive considering it includes the battery. I will pretty much just be running a few LED camp lights and an Iceco fridge that draws about 40 watts. Any feedback appreciated.
Renogy 12V 100AH Deep Cycle Hybrid Gel Battery, Over 750 Cycles & 100 Watt 12 Volt Solar Panel Starter Kit with 100W Monocrystalline Solar Panel + 30A PWM Charge Controller + Adaptor Kit + Tray Cables

$353 Renogy 12V 100AH Deep Cycle Hybrid Gel Battery, Over 750 Cycles & 100 Watt 12 Volt Solar Panel Starter Kit with 100W Monocrystalline Solar Panel + 30A PWM Charge Controller + Adaptor Kit + Tray Cables

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BD43R8ZR

 

So I would upgrade to LiFePhos battery technology. It is a much more robust chemistry and you can use almost the entire number of amps on the battery. There are several chinese batteries that have gotten good reviews. I got a redodo. Consider adding some shore power functionality so you can top off the battery on cloudy days from an outlet.

Regards
Matt

 

Second the LiFe battery.

I like renogy for a lot of things, though to be fair I'm running a lot of renogy chinesium knockoffs (my battery monitor is a cheap copy of theirs).

My camper is currently running a 120 Ah lithium iron phosphate, which by itself will power my lights, radio, heater, phone charger, and fans for a solid 4 days, 7 if I don't need to run the heater. it's a lot. One of the advantages of lithium *(aside from being light) is usable discharge - You can regularly cycle through 80% of the battery capacity without excessive wear and tear, whereas a flooded lead acid its about 50% of capacity that's usable. Sealed lead batteries are somewhere in between, around 60-80% depending on internal design.

I'm using a 120W solar briefcase (foldable panel) to recharge, and realistically on a sunny day its putting a little over half of that back into the battery. On a cloudy day or if there is a tree within a square mile of my location, maybe a fifth. I'm currently looking to replace my panel with something a little bigger. On most days 6 hours of solar charging replenishes two days worth of consumption, so its at least self sustaining.


For you, I'd recommend skipping this kit and just getting the panel with controller. Then look into a good lithium and a better monitor (one that measures capacity through an ampmeter).

 

That battery weighs 63lbs.

 

Thanks for the info guys. I already have the EcoFlow River Pro(720wh)but saw this kit and thought I could use the solar panel to charge the EcoFlow and have the battery for backup but I guess I will skip it. Any suggestions for a solar panel and controller for the EcoFlow? I was thinking the EcoFlow 160 watt panel but am open to suggestions as I don’t know much about panels

 

Yikes! That’s heavy.

 

I would get 1 or 2 Rich solar panels they get good reviews and are dirt cheap. polycrystaline is like 100 bucks

Then get the right adapter for panels to eco flow

I think this is it.

https://www.earthtechproducts.com/m...HmUjzNJM40UongdMGr_rbRFmb1ge2qVBoCjrAQAvD_BwE

 

I would also get a mppt charger. I forget what it means, but I think its better than pwm.

Are you installing this in your truck?

Definitely second the LiPo battery. I have a chinese one for 8 months now, and no issues. It weighs 23lbs. Running bed lights, and an Iceco VL60 ProS fridge. This is what my setup looks like:

 

I’m just getting ideas, product info and prices in regards to adding a auxiliary battery. Gunna try a few camp trips with the EcoFlow then go from theres. Thanks for the info/pic

 

I’m planning to run this on top of my prinsu this summer to power my Bluetti.

$130 Renogy 100 Watt 12 Volt Solar Panel Starter Kit with 100W Monocrystalline Solar Panel + 30A PWM Charge Controller + Adaptor Kit + Tray Cables + Mounting Z Brackets for RV Boats Trailer Off-Grid System

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BFCNFRM?ie=UTF8&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9kZXRhaWwp13NParams

 

Renogy makes a couple of economical combo MPPT/DC-to-DC charger units: DCC30S and DCC50S. This is a very good video review of the 50A DCC50S. For your needs, the 30A charger would be sufficient. The DC-to-DC charger will charge your secondary battery while you are driving. This is especially beneficial when your solar panel output is limited due to adverse weather conditions. Even under the best of conditions, a 100W panel will only produce 65-80W.

 

I’m going to go with the Renogy Dcc30s controller and Chinesium lithium battery and probably the 175w Renogy panel.
Thanks for the advice, product info etc. it saved me time and probably some money

 

I was drunk amazonning last night and couldn't help but notice how cheap solar panels are right now.



I almost bought a 160w foldable with controller for $150, but then I spotted a folding "hardcase" 100w panel for $80. (Two years ago my 120w panel cost me $170)

So for $160 I bought two, giving me 200W worth of panels. Can't beat that price. I'm hoping that this will solve some minor annoyances I've noticed with my current setup. Having two separate units means that if I want to leave the camper and go hiking all day, I can set one panel up to catch the morning and the other to catch the afternoon. It also would make it easier to catch those tiny sun patches when camping under tree canopy.

That's my rationale for impulse buying, anyhow. My 120W does perfectly ok. I'd just like the convenience of having a faster, less "fiddly" panel when topping up the battery.

 

Which 160w panel for 160.00 were you looking at? Renogy has 100w on sale for 90.00 I was thinking of buying 2 but would prefer the simplicity of having just one but didn’t think about the fact that with two you could put them in different places

 

$154 DOKIO 160w 18v Portable Foldable Solar Panel Kit (22x21", 9lb) Solar Charger with Controller 2 USB Output to Charge 12v Batteries/Power Station (AGM, Lifepo4) Rv Camping Trailer Emergency Power………

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WX6L3V6

 

That you know of is there another company that makes a dual input(alternator and solar)controller? I’ve been looking and haven’t found anything

 

That I don't know. My +12 line (from alternator to trailer systems) is direct wired to the battery bank. (More or less. It goes through the fuse box first.) Being a lithium battery, the truck supply is not going to overcharge it, so I don't worry about putting a volt converter/controller on it.