"How I Do" - DIY Solar Suitcase Build - Full Time RV Living

[@michaelbrown2443]

Nice work. The stand arms look great. Note that your 50ft cable is carrying the 12V charge current, not the much higher PV voltage. With 100ft round trip of #14, you are losing up to 61% of your power in the cable (when the panels are putting out maximum wattage.) To get the losses down to a more reasonable level, MUCH thicker wire is needed, e.g. #6. A much better solution (which we did) is to put the charge controller in the RV, and run high voltage/low current direct from the panels through a much thinner extension wire. In that case, 100ft round trip of #10 wire would yield about 3% power loss. A cannibalized #12 extension cord, doubling up the green wire with one of the other conductors, would work also. Solar is great!

[@amygrooters5043]

I know this is a 4 year old video, but anyone thinking about emulating this build, please pay attention to this comment! Putting the charge controller on the panels doesn't make sense because you'd need a much larger wire ($$$) to carry the 12V from your controller vs the ~ 45V coming directly from two 100W panels in series. I'm having a hard time believing this set up actually charged your batteries. You purchased a really nice charge controller but are wasting lots of watts by wiring it up this way.

[@attilarivera]

24:37 My 15" TV 5v work on 5v/800mA And... ma'am you look too much younger without sunglasses 👍😊 God Bless America! Everything there look very affordable. Here in brasil i'd have tork 4 months to pay for that single solar pannel, plus nother 2 months to buy the charger controler. lol 👏👏👏👏👏 👍😊 Thank you for the video!

[@captlynhall]

Love this idea. Also kudos to all the comments that tweaked the wiring, fusing, connector set ups. We all learn from each other.

[@OWK000]

Like your choice of leg prop material. I can't get with pvc pipe. But you also want to make sure you do not damage the white backing.

[@ambulingadventures-stan1050]

Very informative. Love the "McGyver" ability of do it yourself! All of your videos are very enjoyable to watch. Thanks for sharing!

[@twebster1948]

Thank you so much from Colorado Springs. My wife and I are doing the same setup for our popup tent trailer. We spend our time mountain camping, so this is what we are building. Good tips from you friendly people. Maybe we will see you out there sometime. Blessings to you - Wayne and Sharon

[@denniscoyle4791]

I wanted to thank both of you for this video. I followed your directions (not much variance) and had to reverse polarity (thanks zamp) for the plug in but I rarely use my generator anymore. I have 4 6volt batteries and as long as I have sun, I keep them charged no problem. I get asked lots of times where I came up with this and I refer folks to your channel. Thanks again

[@TheMcMillanExpress]

TJ is the man with a plan!

[@EmbracingDetours]

Haha! You know it 😉

[@Townsonbck]

Nice, thank you. I'm in the process of doing something like this. I love it.

[@bdv861]

The best place for the controller is next to the battery. The voltage is much higher between the panels and the controller than between the battery and the controller. That is better for long wire runs. Plus, it keeps the controller out of the heat.

[@EmbracingDetours]

Yep, we plan to make that change soon and will release a video update. Thank you for the info, Ben! We like how simply you explained that, it makes it easier for us noobs to understand 😊👍

[@hardtruth2039]

Outstanding build! I am currently building a 200w suitcase for our 5th wheel. I used a Stainless piano hinge and lined the whole perimeter with of my panels with the 1” aluminum tube and pop riveted it every 6” hoping that the extra material will go towards making it more robust. I went with the victron controller as well but went with the 100/50 so the can add 5 more panels to the roof in the future if we see the need for them. I mounted my controller at my batteries and use the Zamp bulkhead connector on our rig to plug my suitcase panels. We currently have one 100ah Battleborn battery and plan to add 3-6 more over time depending on how much we enjoy boondocking. We are also considering switching to a composting toilet.

[@RomeoEdward]

I'm just starting out with solar and you put a ton of great information out on your video. This is helping me big time. Thank you!

[@EmbracingDetours]

Absolutely, we're so happy to hear our video was helpful! Make sure you read through the comments for suggestions from people more knowledgable than us, we made a mistake with the placement of our controller. Best of luck with your solar endeavors!

[@Sparr0]

You say you're connecting in series for higher line voltage so you can use thinner wires. But then you run the long wire from the controller to the battery, not from the panels to the controller. The controller-battery wire is only ever going to have 12-14V on it, no matter how high the voltage is between the panels and the controller. Your higher voltage is only running on the short wires.

[@chrispycriter6682]

just got my solar panels and planed on doing this and found this very helpful, thank you very much

[@stubby4317]

I appreciate that you are out long enough to test it and are familiar with the load that is on your batteries. I built a similar panel. My controller is mounted in an old steel first aid kit box. One panel with one leg. Similar reason for keeping it portable. I have taken it out in the field and used it on tractor batteries! As you mentioned the furnace can be a huge drain, especially in our area. We have been using a portable medium sized catalytic heater when needed and the panel keeps up with everything else. Thanks again for sharing.

[@shannonmurphy9790]

Thank you for this wonderful video. I especially love that you start out by saying that you really are not pro's and could be making mistakes. I have recently purchased everything I need to make a portable system and feel so uncertain of my ability to put it all together. Your video and reading through some suggestions below bring me one step closer to confidence in my ability to "try." I've now subscribed to your channel and look forward to watching a few more videos. Happy travels!

[@EmbracingDetours]

You're so welcome, we're glad you found us and we are able to help you with your own DIY solar suitcase! I'm also very glad to hear you heeded our warning about not being experts and then read through the comments, as it appears we may have made a mistake with wiring our charge controller. We have ordered the new cables to rerun the controller and plan to film an experiment soon on that. Best of luck on your project and thanks for watching, commenting, and subscribing - we're happy to have you along for the adventure!

[@rxonmymind8362]

I have 200 watt Zamp Solar works absolutely wonderfully. Been through two seasons with them. It absolutely works just enough from sundown to 10 pm just running the lights and maybe a tiny furnace shot for the trailer. I've rarely turn on the generator. Next up is lithium batteries to go further with the battery.

[@NorthCountryOutdoorGuys]

Ideally, you want you solar charger controller near to battery. And make sure you always connect you controller to the battery before connecting your solar to the controller.

[@ImASurvivorNThriver]

Great information. Thanks for sharing.

[@SKYGUY1]

Well done video... concise, thorough enough, good camera angles, good ideas. Thanx.

[@MtyQuinn69]

Great job! I really like the high quality of your build. I just finished building a 200 Watt Solar Suitcase myself, but I made a mistake and fried to controller....lol

[@joshhaas2410]

Great video. I am thinking of their production 200w suitcase (non-eclipse model is available now) but may do a DIY instead to put the panels and separate controller together separately. The last part of your video was really great to give everyone a sense for how you're using it and your average usage. Very helpful.

[@darrellgunn2610]

Just started watching your videos great job. We have the Zamp suitcase and added L brackets to the legs and use tent stakes to secure to the ground.

[@EmbracingDetours]

Zamp was one of the solar companies we looked closely at, they have a great reputation for being a quality product. Smart of you to add the L brackets to stake it down and keep it secure. Thank you for watching and commenting! 😊

[@BeAmbitiousNotContent]

Great job! Very detailed, and I learned a lot of needed information!!

[@EmbracingDetours]

Glad to hear it, thank you!! Make sure to read through the comments, we made a mistake with where/how we connected the charge controller.

[@glennbeattie6172]

I have enjoyed a few of your videos. Thank you for your hard work. I have had a bit of experience with solar. I would recommend a couple small changes to your set up. I would fuse the power into and out of the solar controller. I would permanently mount the solar controller near the batteries. Redo both ends of your extension cord with the mc-4 connectors and add pigtails off the solar controller with mc-4 connectors. Finally I would move the hinges around on your panels, so when they fold in it protects the glass from getting scraped up. It is totally great that you have solar that works for you! Happy travels!

[@EmbracingDetours]

Thank you for both watching and your suggestions, Glenn. We have actually already added a circuit breaker and quick disconnect to replace the alligator clips, and we originally hinged it to close with the glass out because we were planning to store the controller inside the panels. That didn't work out, but we always store the panels in the box with protective foam when not in use but we may consider flipping the hinges to further protect the glass. Thank you again for taking the time to comment and your great ideas, we really appreciate it!! 👍

[@Sylvan_dB]

The controller should be mounted near the batteries, and could be permanently mounted there. Being close to the batteries gives it a better reading of the state of the battery for better control during charging. Keep the glass outward on your panels. It is a nice, sturdy tempered glass, and the most fragile part of the panels is the back *not* the glass. I was cringing watching you drill and the sharp corners of your legs approach the back. It is a very thin and flexible plastic fabric covering the back of the cells, which are very thin and brittle. Protect the back of the panels when in storage. The glass could use a padded case or maybe just bit of canvas or cardboard to protect against abrasion, but remember the glass is designed for exposure to the elements including taking high impact from hail and etc.

[@redwards2006]

Embracing Detours - Yes, I’ve read the solar controller should be close to the battery. Thanks for sharing

[@673Piper]

Great project. Going the same route I think.

[@christinamcmillan6814]

GREAT video. So informative! You guys made that look too easy. Glad you’re getting good use out of solar and the generator to fall back on is always good. I’m betting you’ll make your money back soon with some boondocking!

[@EmbracingDetours]

Thanks, Christina!! The magic of editing makes everything look easy 😉

[@aceallenk]

Have you done a follow-up video with system changes? Like a solar panel MC4 fuse placement and size between each panel? Plus if you added an additional fuse and size between the controller and the battery!!! I also want to build a 200W .

[@EmbracingDetours]

We have not, we're still using the suitcase exactly how we built it and it's working really well for us (dry camping as we speak), but we have the parts to make the changes and hope to get to that soon!!

[@JHA6100]

Nice work on creating your own portable collection system.

[@grantstockdale9848]

Very clever setup suitcase. Thanks

[@EmbracingDetours]

You're welcome, Grant! Thank you for watching and commenting!! ☺️

[@jeffl8246]

Great video you two. We also use Renogy panels setup with hinges and rivets. Two sets of 50 watt for 200 total. Your kickstand design, especially after adding the inside legs and cross supports looks very solid. As heavy as these suitcases can be, a good gust of wind can still turn them over. Consider running real PV cable with MC4 connectors from the panels into the rig. Get that charge controller out of the weather and closer to the batteries. "Anderson" plugs are cheap and rated to 50amp. Makes connecting the panel leads to the hard-wired charge controller inside easy (and safe). An in-line fuse between the batteries and charge controller is also something to consider. Leave the charge controller hard-wired to the bank. Sorry for the long post - have enjoyed your recent content and look forward to the next one!

[@EmbracingDetours]

Thank you so much, Jeff. We’re very happy with our Renogy panels so far. Adding the inside legs with cross supports was definitely needed, I don’t think it would have taken much to collapse that suitcase without that added support. We did not permanently mount the charge controller because our intention is to use it for the van and Airstream interchangeably. I’m sure we’ll reassess that after a few months and if we’re never using it for the van we’ll mount it permanently near the batteries as suggested. We actually already installed a circuit breaker and quick disconnects from the charge controller to the battery. Thank you for taking the time and effort to send along those suggestions, we really appreciate it and, of course, thanks for following along!

[@jeffl8246]

Hey guys, thanks for the great reply. I did not consider a plug and play into the van, which makes lots of sense and a good idea. I'll be re-engineering my kickstand legs to your design in the spring. My wife and I enjoy your videos and appreciate everything you do and share. Cheers!

[@CousinBrad]

Quick question on warranty on the setup, as I'm looking to mirror your setup. On Renogy flexible panels I believe if you screw into them or put a hole in the surrounding plastic frame they may void the warranty. Did you check to see if that was an issue with these panels i.e., screwing the hinges in the side?

[@randeldeatherage9761]

Jeff L o

[@MRHEAT20]

As usual a great talk 👍

[@MstrRo1]

Dielectric grease is an insulator. A conductive grease would be better on your solar connectors.

[@Brian-xp4cn]

A cabinet pull makes a good handle. That's what I use on my solar briefcase.

[@twowheeledsmurph]

Great tutorial - and you have a gorgeous Brittany Spaniel! We have two Brits and they're the best dog ever. :) Cheers from Alberta.

[@OldManandtheSuperC]

If you connect your panels to the solar controller without connecting to your battery first you can fry your controller. Just beware. The eclipse is down to $178. They are not the same. The eclipse will give you a higher output especially in lower light conditions. The ‘rated’ output of 100 watts is ‘ideal conditions’. If you decide to put panels on your airstream you will appreciate the eclipse panels smaller footprint.

[@joelbarrios2865]

Just came across your video and it is awesome for a beginner like me. It is easy to understand, and I believe to following. I am trying to figure out my budget for this project and was wondering if you would be able to list the equipment you used. This would be much appreciated if possible. Thanks again for the info.

[@draysfordayz2743]

Great job guys.....Awesome video!👊🏾

[@EmbracingDetours]

Thank you so much, we appreciate it!

[@romanamerlene8554]

My works too. Used Avasva handbooks and build it with no problems.

[@Blues2cool]

Hi guys nice little dyi build. For a travel trailer perfect. I could make a few suggestions however if it's working don't fix it! We are running 1000 watts, 600AH of lithium, split into two 500 watt systems fused on the solar side and breakers on the battery side. Two midnite solar charge controllers on a 40 ft tiffin allegro red. We are good for a little over 40 hours. Now all this being said we do boondock about two months out of the year. The system is pricey but awesome just remember the bigger the battery bank the more solar you need. But not running the 8k generator is awesome. Once again good job. M

[@GaetanHobby]

Thanks guys for another great vidéo 😉

[@EmbracingDetours]

Thank you!!

[@dacrazycard7086]

Great idea. I am going to use this as an addition to my roof top panels. Is there a benefit of having the charge controller with the panels instead of next to the battery? Mine is already installed permanently within a few feet of my battery.

[@kettlienicolas5413]

Thanks for sharing guys!🙏👏👍

[@davidloose]

Nice, I’ve been waiting for this video! Maybe I’ll put this together for my own Christmas present! :)

[@EmbracingDetours]

Yes, it's been a long time coming. We have you to thank for putting the idea in our head 😊 Building our own allowed us to pick the exact components we wanted and we couldn't be happier with the result. Merry Christmas 😉

[@rorymax4904]

Hi Folks, Really happy that I chanced upon your video, I am in the planning\purchasing stage of constructing a 200w solar suitcase. Like you I will use 2 X 100w panels (monochrystaline), and an MPPT charge controller, I only need a 20amp controller as I do not intend to expand on the system). I opted for the monochrystaline panels as I found a very good deal, the polychrystaline options were only a few quid cheaper per panel. I will mount the controller inboard next to the battery compartment, so slightly diffirent from your setup. I appreciate your honesty in making your video, it has been very very helpful for me, thank you; and if you have any further videos on the subject then I will be sure to watch them. Best Wishes to you both :)

[@normp.3657]

i really enjoyed this video. i learned alot from it. thanks

[@rogueIT]

Great video, thanks for making it! I saw where you were told over and over that your controller was in the wrong place. Did you ever move it, and if so, could you post a quick video about how you have this set up now? If you didn’t move it, have you noticed degradation in performance and if so, was it not enough for you to consider moving it? Thanks again

[@TerryManitoba]

For me sorting out the electric/battery/solar in my self built van was a minefield of uncertainty. It took me about 18 months of ownership (7 months traveling) to figure out what we wanted.

[@EmbracingDetours]

Couldn't have said it better ourselves. We're very happy with our decision with this suitcase, we have some experimenting to do to determine if we're losing power with our controller placement, we may add a couple panels to the RV roof and expand our battery bank one day, but this was the perfect way for us to get started. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@davemcnew6591]

We are looking to add a solar suitcase and I am glad there are several to choose. Very good video, thanks, I appreciate your skill level. I put together the cost of the parts, and it looks like I can save about $200. The choice of controllers is hard because of the high cost of the one you chose.

[@EmbracingDetours]

Thanks for watching, Dave, we're glad you found our video helpful! Yes, that's about the savings we calculated also. We went with the Victron MPPT 100/30 controller for several reasons... 1) we already had a Victron battery monitor installed in our rig and wanted to stick with the same brand 2) Victron has a good reputation 3) MPPT is currently the most efficient 4) we wanted the ability to expand our solar using the same controller. We also struggled with that decision a bit, everyone should chose the controller that works best for them.

[@leannebyrd6863]

We just found your channel. Love the videos especially the central and western states. Please keep it up

[@GoatZilla]

Would have made it where the active panel surfaces are protected when closed up. Means the hinges go on the front side; VHB tape would probably do it.

[@waynert69]

If I understood, you have the controller near the panels and run the extension cord to the batteries. This negates the advantage of the higher voltage you get by wiring the panels in series since the controller drops the voltage to the battery charging level. A better solution is to plug the series panels into the extension cord, carry that higher voltage (lower current/ less power loss) to the controller which is as close to the batteries as practical. You can do this since you built your own whereas it wouldn't make as much sense for the manufacturer of the suitcases. Hope this makes sense. Should be pretty easy to try, may need to get a couple of MC4 connectors.

[@EmbracingDetours]

Thank you, Wayne 👍 We're intrigued and plan to run some experiments and test what our voltage is at the end of that 30' run with the charge controller in the two different locations. As we mentioned, we are total newbies with solar and appreciate your input, this makes a lot of sense and is something we will definitely try. We were wanting to not permanently mount the controller to the trailer as we want to ability to use this setup for both the van and Airstream, but swapping which end of the extension cord we put the controller on should be an easy change.

[@waynert69]

One thing to understand is that the voltage drop in the long section of wiring has two effects that are important. One is just the waste of power which assuming adequate size wiring is just inefficient and not harmful, but the other is that the solar controller does not see the voltage at the battery it is trying to charge. This generally results in undercharging the batteries which can lead to premature battery failure with lead-acid batteries as well as simply having less reserve in them for when the sun isn't shining. Higher end charging systems will often include a separate very low current wire to sense the battery voltage to help with this problem. As you said there is no need to permanently mount the controller near the batteries if you want to use it in to different rigs, but it is a very good idea to have the controller near them. If you do the test you described remember that when the controller is near the panel the voltage in the long cable is approx the battery voltage, whereas in the case that the controller is near the batteries the voltage is that of the panels, probably 35-40V for two in series.

[@IDVDalot]

@@waynert69 man you sure know a lot. Do you have your own channel too?

[@waynert69]

@@IDVDalot Thanks Chris. No channel and not an expert. Follow someone like DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse if you want really good info.

[@glennbishop-smith9957]

Something odd here. You wired your panels in series, so they would put out more voltage, so you could get away with 14 gauge wire. But then you put the charge controller right next to the panels. Isn't the change controller reducing the voltage to 12? Don't you then need bigger wire across that 50 feet? Seems like your charge controller needs to be at the other end of that long extension cord.

[@raystallings3432]

You are correct, they did this exactly the wrong way.

[@JTSOUTDOORLIFE]

Thank you so much for this info about the panels, we are debating on which way we want to go with solar. You brought up great points about parking in the shad and such.

[@kennethbarli4469]

The solar controller must be at the end of the thin cable. The controller converts the current to 12v, then the amp becomes higher, then the cable becomes too thin. Redo this, getting much more power to the battery. Then you get 36v in the thin cable instead of 12v, amps in the cable also gets 3 times lower. Do this, and you have enough power to watch TV, maybe run the refrigerator at 12v, if you have enough battery

[@EmbracingDetours]

You are definitely not the first to make us aware of this, we really need to get around to doing it! We plan to shoot a video once we make this correction and will post it to the channel. Thanks for the heads up!!

[@brucefilbert5758]

Great video

[@EmbracingDetours]

Thank you, Bruce!

[@dalewatkins9889]

Excellent video! We've thought of purchasing one of the suitcase style solar panels ourselves, as our needs are higher in that we currently have Lithium batteries, but also we have a residential fridge, which is pulling power constantly. So, we need to figure out a plan as to 'if' the suitcase style will fit the bill, or if perhaps X amount of roof, plus X amount of suitcase! I see this particular video was made quite some time ago, and I'm unsure if you've updated what you currently have here, or if you've found it to be enough now that we're that much further along here in 2020? I've watched some of your newer video's, realizing your situation aka 'Covid' in Washington...and love your hikes and scenery images, so once you're on the road again, hopefully you may have another video with a little content on how your solar is working out! Stay safe you two!!

[@hatethevandals]

I just sold my 100 watt solar suitcase, and was able to buy these same 100 watt panels and a Renogy controller for the same price. Thanks for the ideas on the foldable legs!! My solar suitcase had an additional slotted brace for additional support making the leg look like an "A", but it looks like yours are plenty sturdy and don't try to fold up in the wind?

[@EmbracingDetours]

That's awesome! Glad we could help :) It's been over a year and we're still using the suitcase regularly as it's shown in this video and have never had a problem with the sturdiness of the legs, we haven't seen a need for the additional support you mentioned. Hope that answers your question, let us know if you have any others and have fun building your new suitcase!

[@hatethevandals]

@@EmbracingDetours My summer elevation here in the mountains of Idaho is 20 degrees..... almost flat, so my legs are going to be super short :)

[@rustyvaughn8818]

Hi Guys, Enjoyed the vlog. I noticed the date on this video. Now that you've had the panels for more than a year, are you still enjoying your solar panels? I Love the simplicity of the design.

[@EmbracingDetours]

Thank you, Rusty 😊This set up has worked amazingly for us. We did recently shorten the length of our cord(to 25') and up the wire size between the charge controller and the batteries to #10 to help mitigate voltage loss. We really like the ability to move the panels so they are always facing the sun, allowing us to maximize their input. We have been dry camping in Arizona for 3 weeks without needing to use the generator. We'll be releasing an update video soon. Thanks for watching.

[@rickpitz2520]

@@EmbracingDetours you can run your AC with 200 watts from solar?

[@320dak]

Nice Job!!! I am on the same path that you were on. Great info on the build and really appreciate your experiences. Subscribed to your channel for future videos. Thanks!

[@EmbracingDetours]

Thank you so much for the kind words and for following along. Safe travels.

[@214steveg]

Thanks .. nice detailed video.

[@EmbracingDetours]

You're welcome, Steve. Thank you for watching!!

[@nautiquecowboynautiquecowb5317]

Been thinking about solar like your set up if I do it this will be it thank you

[@EmbracingDetours]

You're welcome. It's been a great solution for us, we love the portability of the suitcase. We may decide to expand one day and add a few panels to the roof, and because we built our own, our solar charge controller has room to add two more panels.

[@bobmontgomery6549]

I going through all your videos. But I was wondering how you store the solar panels for travel. :)

[@EmbracingDetours]

We built a cubby in the back of the van for them to slide into. Thank you for watching and commenting 🙂

[@cheapthrillsII]

Great video. Followed his blueprint and built my own suitcase. CAUTION! The 45° angle iron CUT at the top bracket looks like a 45° in the video but is more like 75°. Cut your bracket all the way down around the nut and bolt. Any corner here will wear thru the back of the solar panel. My stands cost approx. $60 for two panels. Thanks Embracing Detours. Question: Did you find any canvas bags or other containers to slip your panels into when, not in use, or do you transport them exposed.

[@EmbracingDetours]

We're glad you found our video useful, you're welcome!! Good tip on making sure that angle on the bracket doesn't rub the back of the panel, thank you for mentioning that. If you read through the comments, someone gave several good options for makeshift bags for the panels. We ended up building a rigid box that the panels slide into (in our van) that keep them protected when not in use. We plan to do a follow up video in the future to address some wiring concerns mentioned in the comments, we'll also show our storage solution in that video.

[@bobgoes2thestore]

I'm subscribed! Great job, you've inspired me. One concern. Did you have any worries about the hinged end of the leg hitting and damaging the back of the solar panel if it traveled too far? I thought a length of small chain or wire to limit the angle that the leg could travel would prevent that from happening. I recently ordered a Renogy 4 panel 400 watt kit with 40 amp controller from Walmart for $582. I intend to put 2 on the roof of the RV and build a suitcase to supplement when needed. I'll let you know how it goes.

[@WhiTor1]

Excellent video. Thank you. You mention a 12 volt charger for your computer. Do you have a link for what you are using or similar? We have similar usage as you and planning to also do 200 watts portable. My dilemma is my laptop and was thinking I need to get small standalone inverter/power station but very curious about a 12 volt charger but unclear on how that works. I see you reference now in another video that you have standalone inverter so also wonder which works best, that or the 12 volt charger. Thank you. Just found you today. Look forward to watching more of your videos.

[@davidroddy2012]

Hey TJ I’ve just ordered everything to duplicate your solar setup would you please comment on how and where you store the solar panels. We have a 25fbtw airstream tt. Thanks David.

[@EmbracingDetours]

Hey David, we made a simple wooden case to store the folded panels in the back of the van.

[@IDVDalot]

Since you dont use an inverter are your panels hooked directly to your battery?

[@EmbracingDetours]

Panels go through a solar charge controller, then to the batteries.

[@CarlGeers]

What size rivets are used? Can you find a part number or info on your hinges? I just ordered some panels after watching your vid and can't wait to build my own suitcase on the cheap. Thanks for the effort to help an old codger like me out.

[@EmbracingDetours]

I believe this was the hinge -www.lowes.com/pd/Gatehouse-2-1-2-in-Polished-Brass-Mortise-Door-Hinge-2-Pack/1000514369 . I only used brass because I was unable to find stainless. Rivets were 3/16".

[@mfhairstream6812]

Is there anything u can't do? Good job you make it look easy.

[@EmbracingDetours]

Haha! Shhhhh, we don't want him getting a big head 😉😆 Thanks!!

[@gerardhoward5321]

Very informative....Thanks

[@darrylt5300]

Great job looks good and should work better than the suitcase model.

[@EmbracingDetours]

Thanks, Darryl! 👍 We really liked the idea of being able to pick the components we used rather than settling for what was available. We love the way it turned out and it fits our needs perfectly!

[@darrylt5300]

@@EmbracingDetoursI have the solar mounted to the roof and Lithium batteries and when I get under tree it can be a problem so I think you did the right thing

[@EmbracingDetours]

That was exactly our concern. A combination of roof mounted and a suitcase would be ideal, we do like that the roof mounted (in the right conditions) is just working without you having to do any setup. There are pros and cons to everything.

[@TheDismayed]

I'm considering going with a similar setup, thanks for putting together such an informative video. Renogy also sells a single 200w panel which is more expensive than than the two 100w panels you went with. Besides price, are there other considerations for going single 200w panel vs 2 100w panels? - Thinking space saving... Would love to get your input. Thanks from a fellow DIYer - Put about 8000 miles on my RPod last summer and I hear you on the generator struggle - can't wait to try this..

[@reichardtgroenewald8884]

Hi James, I see this is an old post but maybe some points to consider. The main benefit of 2X100w vs 1x200w PV panel is that you can get higher voltage at a lower amps. E.g. 1x Cinco 200W 72 Cell delivers 36v @5.5amps vs. 2x Cinco 100W 72 Cell each delivers 36v @2.7amps. In parallel this is the same. 2 x 2.7amps = 5.5amps @ 36v =200w However if connect them in series you have 72v@ 2.7amps, this is beneficial becuase it is lower amps wich over long distances between solar panel and charge contoller translates to less losses. Note: Be careful of high voltages (over 40v) and ensure that your charge controller can handle the voltages. A 100 30 Victron can handle 100v max PV input and deliver 30 amps on the 12v side.

[@gordonwearsch2381]

How is your setup going after 2 years?

[@EmbracingDetours]

This setup has been working great! We have made some minor wiring changes, thanks to some of the viewers comments but otherwise it has been perfect for our needs. Thank you for watching and commenting 🙂

[@warrendejager1273]

From South Africa.... Adding the extra pop-rivett on each hinge for very little extra effort, wuold increas the strength of the mount by a whopping 30% why did you not use 6 rivetts per hinge?

[@charlestait5303]

50 feet of 14 gauge wire will give you a 2.53 voltage drop at 10 amps!

[@anthonymarino4260]

smart move

[@8800081]

What about air conditioning? You have to have that and that's got to be on the electric?

[@biges1947]

Now this is 100 watt solar panels right?? What batteries y’all using?? And where do you have them??

[@EmbracingDetours]

Our set up is 200 watts total(2 - 100w panels). We used 2, group 31 agm batteries label by Duracell but manufactured by Deka that are mounted in the Airstreams original battery box on the tongue.

[@biges1947]

That’s what I’m looking for.....I was wondering if two agms would be enough.......

[@tommcarthur2013]

Very good video. Thank you. Do you have one or two batteries? If you have two, how are you connecting them with two alligator clips? Thanks

[@EmbracingDetours]

Thank you, Tom. We have 2 12V 105AH AGM batteries which we have wired in parallel, which basically creates one larger capacity 12V battery. We attached the alligator clips to the positive terminal on one battery and the negative terminal on the other battery which charges them both evenly. We have since installed a quick disconnect connector and a 30A breaker to the battery terminals so we no longer need to use the alligator clips. We linked those parts in the description below the video. Hope that makes sense, let us know if you have any other questions. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@Smapdi60]

Where were you when you filmed? Is the charge controller water proof? How do you secure the setup when you are gone during the day?

[@EmbracingDetours]

We were in Salt Lake City, UT. The Victron charge controller is not advertised as waterproof, however, Victron is known as a marine brand and we figured this controller had to be built tough to hold up to the salt water a lot of boats see. We have a bike cable lock we use to lock the suitcase to a picnic table, grill, the trailer tongue, whatever works when we leave - it's just a deterrent, it would be easy enough to steal if someone really wanted it. Thankfully, that's never been an issue for us.

[@stevensam8834]

Great Video!! I'm planning to DIY your build. Just had a question about the extension cord. At 50ft, did you still get the maximum amp pulling from the solar panels? I appreciate your time in advance. Thanks!

[@toddramsay977]

Exactly check out what you are getting for your money per watt if it is $1 or so you are doing well.

[@EmbracingDetours]

Thank you, Todd. We had heard the $1 per watt comparison before and are pretty happy with where we ended up cost wise. We looked for many months trying to find a great deal on some used panels but never could find what we wanted unfortunately. Going with the Renogy standard panels got us in the right price point and the little bit larger size wasn’t an issue for us. Thank you for watching and commenting!!

[@jeffrobison2013]

putting panels in series so you can use smaller wire does no good if the controller is at the panels

[@EmbracingDetours]

Thanks, Jeff - we've been informed of that many times now (check the comments lol). We bought the new cable to mount the controller next to the batteries and will be filming an update to this video as soon as it's done. We do appreciate everyone's input, as we mentioned in the video we are complete noobies to solar and, therefore, may be making a mistake. Turns out we were right about that!! lol 😉😆

[@AF1US]

Great video and good work on this project. We have been subscribers for a while now and enjoy what you are doing. I have a question about your comment in the video where you try to use as much 12v as you can and not use the inverter. I totally agree but where are you getting the 12v in your trailer? Do you have one of the models that had cigarette outlets providing 12v or did you create a 12v point of use from your panel somehow?

[@EmbracingDetours]

Our rig came with only one 12v outlet which was located in the most inconvenient place in the cabinet above the couch. We put 2 more in the bedroom (kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaPFiYeEfLubo5I) and 2 in the dinette area below the bench (we didn’t do a video on those). We tried to pick areas where access to 12v power was readily accessible (12v lights, fuse panel, etc).

[@peterrocan2542]

For maximum efficiency, the charge controller should be connected as close to the battery as possible, not the panel. Good video otherwise.

[@EmbracingDetours]

We have made some changes since the original video and will be working on an update video soon. Thank you for the tip and for watching 👍🏻

[@mark98070]

So when you wired the panels together in series, did you not double the voltage?

[@EmbracingDetours]

This is the way we understand it but will reiterate we are by no means experts in solar. We chose to wire our panels in series which does add the voltage of each panel together. Our solar charge controller then takes that voltage and regulates it to 12 volts. We chose to go this route for 2 reasons... 1) When you wire your panels in series you can use a smaller gauge wire on a longer run 2) If panel(s) are shaded you lose less amperage then you would if wired in parallel. I hope this answers your question.

[@donmiller2060]

@@EmbracingDetours True, you can use smaller wire when the voltage is doubled because then the current is halved, BUT your controller takes that higher voltage and converts it to 12 to 14 volts to charge the battery, so with the controller near the panels, you should have used at least a 12 gauge wire to the trailer and for 50 feet, really a 10 gauge would be better. Best would be to mount the controller near the batteries Your description of series panels and shade is opposite - With panels in series, ANY shade on either panel knocks your output down to nothing, whereas in parallel, if only one panel is shaded, the other one keeps producing

[@santafefavs]

I riveted hinges on my solar panel frames and the rivet heads are preventing the frames from folding flat. Did you have to bend the frame to get yours from folding flat? Thanks

[@EmbracingDetours]

Ours folds almost flat, there is maybe an 1/8" gap on the non-hinge side when folded. No bending necessary. It might be possible your hinges are thicker than what we used?

[@mumi009]

What kind of batteries are you using? Amp Hrs?

[@EmbracingDetours]

We use 2-12v group 31 AGM batteries. Total of 210ah. 🙂

[@mumi009]

Embracing Detours thx! pretty good capa. is weight ok for your rug? my sister and her husband csught the rv bug. they bought one last yesr and enjoy it very much. i live on an island. not much opportunity for rv-ing

[@thomascadle2773]

Any video coming on the ballon festival?

[@EmbracingDetours]

Absolutely! Should be within the next couple of weeks, we're a little behind.

[@jshenderson]

Just curious, was the controller chosen to match the agm batteries you got from Sam's club in a previous video?

[@floydcooley1]

Did you get a battery monitor? We have a suitcase but no monitor so wondering if you use one.

[@EmbracingDetours]

We do have a battery monitor, we installed a Victron BVM-700 earlier in the year when we started having battery issues in Big Bend Nat'l Park. Our charge controller is a Victron MPPT 100/30 that we can link to wirelessly via bluetooth which also gives us battery monitoring capabilities. Hope that helps, let us know if you have any other questions.

[@chilidog73]

Has there been any issues with theft leaving it out while youre gone??

[@EmbracingDetours]

Thankfully (knock on wood), no. We do lock it up when we leave, we have a cable lock and will connect it to a tree, picnic table, grill post, trailer tongue, etc. Whatever is convenient and keeps the panels in the sun. At the end of the day it's just a deterrent, if someone wants it bad enough they could take it.

[@birdjohnson736]

You should put on the roof your Van " Solar "

[@winnie363]

Nice job TJ. In the past you guys have had a camp rug stolen any thought or concerns precautions you'll take at CGs, BLM sites to ease peace of mind?

[@EmbracingDetours]

Thank you, Illini Trekker. That is a definite concern of ours, we’re currently using a locking cable to secure the suitcase when in use. As with all things, it’s just a deterrent and a determined thief will find a way. We just hope that our suitcase doesn’t end up in never-never land with our rug.

[@CarlGeers]

That rug really tied the room together.

[@UpInSmoke54]

That campground is noisy has hell!!

[@xaploq1]

How has it held up? Was going to build one for my beach camping trip here soon.

[@EmbracingDetours]

It has held up great! We use it pretty regularly and have no complaints, the design is sound and strong. We have had some suggestions regarding the way we have the charge controller wired up and have ordered the new cable and plan to do a follow-up video on that as soon as possible.

[@michaelglenning5107]

DC current travels on the outside of the wires surface, so multi strand wire adds more surface area per wire thickness. AC current travels on the inside of wires, so solid wire is the way to go there.

[@birdjohnson736]

I have solar work very will free energy and power.

[@creektilghman9187]

The best thing I've found on the net was plans from Avasva .