RE: [A/S] Solar Panel Suggestions?

["Perry Joe Scudder" <perryjoe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Dick,
I can't answer all your questions about batteries and solar panels, but
will give you what I have in the way of my own experiences.
First, unless you just love to change out your batteries every year, you
need to change to some manufacture of the "AGM" battery technology.
There has been several very good articles in RV type magazines over the
passed year about batteries. They all make this point very clear. That
said, here is what I have done with my 34' Limited Airstream and my 24'
Boston Whaler with twin 175 HP engines on board.
I changed out the two batteries in the Airstream in 2000, and put in two
Optima Deep Cycle batteries. I also took the trailer to the local RV
Dealer (not an Airstream Dealer, but very good and close) and had a
Seamen's 50 watt solar panel with a 350 watt controller installed. I
park the trailer in a storage lot for 3 to 4 months at a time and do not
turn off the battery switch. The controller always says the batteries
are fully charged when I go in the trailer while it is in storage. I
have also managed to boondock for up to 4 days while in Alaska on a
Caravan and still had power to have lights when we needed them along
with the small amount of power needed to operate the gas appliances that
have electrical ignition. This package cost me about $1000, but I figure
I have a no maintenance battery system for at least 6 or 7 years, maybe
more.
On the boat, I put in two size 27 Lifeline AGM batteries I purchased at
Batteries Plus. These batteries were developed for the Military and can
be mounted upside down or what ever as they are ventless. The literature
claims they can be run to dead flat and recharged 500 times before
replacement is required. I purchased, and installed my self, a small
solar battery charger that is wired to both batteries. The panel is only
about 3" X 6", and with a controller and splitter it cost me $125. The
batteries went in the boat in March of this year. I ran the boat one
afternoon in June, one afternoon in early September, and started it up
last week to see if all was well. The batteries cranked the 175 HP
engines like they had been running all day the day before. These
batteries were $360 for the 2, but here again I figure I have my battery
problems taken care of for 6 to 8 years. I had always bought the best
marine batteries I could find, and replaced them every 3 years, if they
lasted that long. There is no fun like being 30 miles off shore with
dead batteries.
I hope this sheds some light on your questions, and helps you in your
decision making about batteries.

Joe Scudder
WBCCI 8624