I want to setup a stand alone system for charging / running electronics off of a battery bank while camping. I plan to select Deep Cycle batteries, charge the batteries via 1) Solar Panels, 2) AC Charger (when available), 3) Possibly a stand alone generator later down the line. My expected load looks like:

• Laptop #1, 90w / 12v = 7.5 amps * 12 hrs = 90 amp hours
• Laptop #2 (wheen needed), 90w / 12v = 7.5 amps * 12 hrs = 90 amp hours
• CPAP Portable Breathing Machine, 150w / 12v = 12.5 amps * 8 hrs = 100 amp hours
• 6 LEDs, 20w / 12v = 1.67 amps * 4 hrs = 6.68 amp hours
• Phone, 10w / 12v = .83 amps * 12 hrs = 10 amp hours

90 + 90 + 100 + 6.68 + 10 = 296.68 amp hours = ~300 amp hours per day (@ 20 hr discharge rate) or: 300 / .9 = 333.33 amp hours (@10 hr discharge rate)

If everything is connected/running at once, I will have a load of 360 watts, or approximately 36 amps on a 12v DC battery. I will probably select a 350 amp hour battery and a 500 watt inverter.

---

I know how to charge this setup via an AC to DC Battery Charger. What are my options for supplementing this charge with solar panels? Thanks!

 

Taking a wild stab, 100W is about the maximum PV cell you want to transport to the camp site. If you get good 6 hours of sunlight, and half-power early and late, you still won't have enough to run all your stuff. Does the breathing maching need to run constantly? If you can run it for a couple hours, and leave the computers at home and use the phone only for emergency, then you might stand a change.

Also, you don't want to run the battery any more than about half of it's rated A-H capacity

 

I predict that one of these is in your future

 

I use the 2kw version in my camp.

 

Where I camp, there's no cell service or internet, so I don't need to worry about phones or computers. We get up with the sun and collapse in exhaustion at sunset, so a gas lantern is all we need to clean the dishes by. There's almost no air to breath, though, so I could probably use a CPAP.

By far my biggest electrical concern is starting the van at the end of the week. It's a 10 mile walk if it doesn't, albeit downhill.

 

Where I camp, there's no cell service or internet, so I don't need to worry about phones or computers. We get up with the sun and collapse in exhaustion at sunset, so a gas lantern is all we need to clean the dishes by. There's almost no air to breath, though, so I could probably use a CPAP.

By far my biggest electrical concern is starting the van at the end of the week. It's a 10 mile walk if it doesn't, albeit downhill.

It's it's all downhill why is getting the van to start an issue?

 

I've always found my Mr. Fusion to be handy when camping.

 

It's it's all downhill why is getting the van to start an issue?

Haha, well it drops a few thousand feet over the first 5 miles but it's not exactly a steady incline. Not having power brakes and power steering would add to the fun.