I Just got a waterproof medic box for extra batteries that I can mount on rack. I was thinking 3 marine deep cycles. I want to use them for inverted power on outings. Small lighting, charging gadgets, little heater, maybe one of those little grills, but I prefer fire, radio.....junk like that. What kind/size solar panel would I need to juice them up daily or is that even a good idea? I have 2 red tops under hood and a 200 amp alternator, if that info is valid. Just saw hf has a 1'x3' 45watt kit for $160. Is that good? Will it work?
Thanks

 

Watts / Volts = Amps. That would be a decent trickle charger if it was always sunny. Your alternator will get the job done much quicker. By the way, any resistance application like heating or grilling will use up your batteries in a real hurry. Plus with only 12 volts on tap you will still be cold and your food would be raw. Use fires for heat and cooking, or better yet get a room and order in.

 

So it would be a wasted effort? Ditch the project? Or 24 volt might work?

 

I have friends that use them on their sailboats. They work great there because they sit on a mooring all week getting charged. Then when they get on board and fire up the engine to motor out the channel, their alternator does 500 times the work in about 5 minutes. Even for phones or tablets, the payback on the charger price when compared to just plugging into the wall is something like 75,000 charges. That's once a day for 200 years.

Solar charges work well if you have very low draw systems but if you are really trying to get some power the panel size needed is just too big and expensive. You could get a small generator for less money. Plus it will drown out all those annoying sounds all of the creatures around you while out in the wilderness.

 

Okie dokie I shall dump the idea. Hate carting the generator for just that reason... Loud
Thanks for the schooling