Should I bother with solar?
Posted by repulsion1000@reddit | overlanding | View on Reddit | 16 comments
Hello, I figured this would be my best bet for answers. I have a 2023 gmc canyon with billiebars and I currently have topoak RTT on the way. Going on a 3 week long trip next year from NYS to out west, I have a travel trailer but thats too expensive and I've always wanted a RTT for weekend trips while im in NYS.
Anyway, my Dilemma is as follows. I have a anker powerstation not a big one but enough to keep phones charged for multiple days, used it on hot tent camping trips. But, im debating on getting a starlink roam...and if its even a good idea to get one for that matter.. the starlink will drain the anker powerstation within 4 hours.... powerststion I can charge up in the ac outlets built into the truck. This powerstation can't power the tent so we would have to bring it in and out of the tent every time.
This is were the thought of solar comes in. Renogy has a kit 200w for $230 then I already have a 100ah 12v lithium battery from my travel trailer, i just have to spend about $130 more for the cables etc to plug it into The RTT. Not sure how I could temporarily secure the battery in my truck for the trip though...
Solar system is a beginner kit which is perfectly fine never messed with solar before. Powerstation would work fine without having starlink, and how many spots out west dont have service? The concern with why we are debating on starlink is if we have no service when dispersed camping and require help of some kind.
By west we are thinking south Dakota, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado.
Where we want to go is up in the air, last full week of our 3 week adventure is with family in Colorado before heading back home. Difficult trying to figure out where all to go...we've been to badlands before for a drive through...then to rushmore and needles hwy then down to Colorado. Wouldn't mind some offloading to get to some camping locations but my vehicle is stock so can't do much and I dont wanna damage it.. Anyway....I diverted.
bigtoepfer@reddit
When I'm driving either my fridge is powered off the vehicle, and phones are charged off the vehicle, or the power station is charging off the vehicle while fridge runs on it.
The 12v outlet in the vehicle is great for running the fridge but its not going to charge a power station very quickly. Getting a dedicated dc2dc charger installed is going to charge a power station much faster.
I do often camp and not move the vehicle much, so while I have a relatively small power station right now 500wh I have a 100w foldable solar panel that charges it back to full in an afternoon after the fridge has run all night. It only has a max of 68w input from solar or home AC charging though so I'm really not charging it quickly. It's worked for my trips so far though. Couldn't speak to the starlink.
The biggest key factors are to not use AC power, try to do everything off DC because that will save you from conversion losses.
Attaching a simple solar panel even if its 100-200w to the RTT will allow you to charge your power station or whatever battery system you have anytime you are moving or stationary which is always, unless you are parked in a structure, or its night. It should be a no brainer, as long as your power station has solar input.
Worst case scenario get a larger power station. But it might be worth looking into the dc2dc charger if you don't want to install solar panels and you plan to do a lot of moving.
Navydevildoc@reddit
Another thing to consider is get set up to run the Starlink on DC only. That way you aren't wasting power on using the inverter on an AC/DC power adapter that's just gonna run the dish on DC only anyway.
oldmanclements@reddit
So you use the power station primarily to just charge cell phones and starlink is just for an emergency backup?
If you don’t own the starlink already, look into getting a satellite phone instead for emergencies.
I don’t think you should bother with solar if you’re just charging phones.
repulsion1000@reddit (OP)
For this trip probably, idk how much free time we would have to stream a movie or something so its hard to say, my though is to stream a movie while inside the tent but that would mean starlink would be on all night..and again might be so tired and so busy where we dont even get to use it much. Vacation mode for us is on the go all the time trying to squeeze everything we can in a 2 week time frame...we thought about Yellowstone but also think we want a week there so we may not do Yellowstone now because we would only have 2 to 3 days there...also booking sites, no clue when to try to book for it. Also my work place, we put in for days off in January, we dont typically hear if we are approved till March sometimes April which is redicoulus.. so that adds another level for me. Anyway, I replied to other, we do have a fridge, that had come with my travel trailer that we never use, we could utilize it for this trip if we think we would need it. Then I'd need more then 200w solar i believe
ExistingDifference93@reddit
Have you thought about getting an Alternator charger? I just bought an EcoFlow one, excited to try it out!
CalifOregonia@reddit
I see no mention of a refrigerator, without that element solar isn't generally necessary. A Starlink mini doesn't really draw a ton of power and you shouldn't have a need to plug it in all the time. Worst case scenario you'd still get around 5 hours of runtime with your existing battery.
To answer your question about cell service out west, it's better than it used to be, but there are plenty of places without it still. Having some means of communication for emergencies is nice to have. If that is your only purpose for Starlink then you may want to consider one of the satellite communication alternatives that is solely focused on text.
repulsion1000@reddit (OP)
Well, I mean i haven't gotten. To far with it just yet, my travel trailer came with a small fridge, one you would have probably had in college. So a fridge isn't out of the question just wassnt a thought at the time. Im still brainstorming and trying to figure out what I may or may not need. Starlink, I dont have yet bit ive been debating on getting..I do have a travel trailer so getting one for this trip alone is not what im going for, i think I would infact use it for when I go camping locally, however thats generally a week or 2 week long vacations a year....
Anyway, I still gotta figure out our route, places to see and when to attempt booking a site at a couple national parks that we want to go to from there I'd kinda figure on whats needed. I go camping a lot so I have a lot of other items but when it comes to this, I figured solar would be easier but then I run into small things like securing the battery etc or just get solar for the anker instead of doing all the other stuff, bothing with starlink or not.
Im usually overly cautious, i attempted a road trip when I was younger and did all my checks etc saved extra money blah blah heading through Cincinnati Main hwy, gps having me in the left lane out of 5 or 6 lanes....fuel pump started to fail and i got so stressed out.. so it gets me overthinking and over planning on stuff now more then it used to
Keep--Climbing@reddit
If you're thinking starlink just for calling help if you get stuck, I highly recommend satellite service on your phone, or better, a dedicated satellite communicator like an InReach instead. Won't take up as much space as a starlink, and cheaper.
If you'll be driving every day, solar is pointless. Use the car to charge the anker.
Solar is useful if you're going to post up at a site with no power (and a clearing to set it up in) for several days.
cookerz30@reddit
I used solar power to run my little fridge and a 50 Ah/hr battery over a festival weekend. As you said, it all depends on driving style.
confusedseas@reddit
Think of solar as catching rainfall to fill up a water jog. Your vehicle’s alternator or a wall outlet is like a hose
drewforty@reddit
If there's no other limitations, I don't see why you wouldn't run a small system to top things up. I have a 2kwh anker station and 800w alternator charger, along with a fridge, lights, starlink, gmrs etc on station power and plan on adding a single panel later. The charger does great at keeping things topped up if I'm driving around. The only downsides to having a small 200w solar system also passively charging, though, is the cost and space.
Amadreas@reddit
I usually tap into solar if I’m stationary (not driving) for a few days. Where the driving is used to power up the power station, solar is used when stationary.
user1373737@reddit
There are plenty of places out west where there is truly no service, that being said I don’t think you should buy starlink for what will be at most a week of camping, if you are really worried about no service and having an emergency pick up a used Garmin InReach or something similar.
Shmokesshweed@reddit
Have you tried that this works?
crabkaked@reddit
You don’t have to run the Starlink 24/7. We usually turn it on in the evenings or as needed. And off at bedtime. So that will draw less. If you have space it’s always nice to have a little solar to keep things topped up. It depends on your style of camping. If you move spots everyday then not really needed. If you like to stay at the same place for multiple nights solar is very important. For me it depends where I go. On the beach in baja ? Use solar a lot. Driving trails mountains out west? Not really as important
iluvmezcal@reddit
You may need a bigger power station
I have a Anker 2000Wh battery in my 2022 Colorado. I keep it charged while driving with a Renogy inverter. It powers the fridge/freezer, Starlink, coffee maker and phones, etc... without issue for a day or so. I do have a Anker 400 watt folding panel for days where we are sitting still. Otherwise I keep it charged when driving. It should be easy to secure with cam straps in the bed or keep it in the truck in the back seat and run a wire to Starlink through the rear window slider.