I recently purchased an older model of a folding solar panel that has a built-in controller, which I've found works well to charge batteries. My wife and I rely on off-brand solar generators to power our CPAP machines while camping. We've managed to charge one of these generators by connecting it to a rooftop solar panel on our trailer through a 12-volt outlet, but unfortunately, it can't charge both the generator and the trailer's battery in a single day. That's why I decided to buy the folding panel. It performs well when connected directly to the trailer battery, but I was thinking it might be more effective to use it to charge the solar generator separately. I've got some connectors to link the panel's output to the Jackery battery, but it seems like nothing happens—the controller shows zero output. It seems like the internal input controller of the generator is conflicting with the panel's output controller. Is there an easy way to connect the folding solar panel to charge a Jackery-type battery, or should I just abandon that idea?
3 Answers
Could you share more details about your solar panel? Usually, panels with built-in controllers allow you to disconnect the wires going into the controller, letting you interface directly with other controllers, like those in power stations. For instance, some folding models, like the Dokio, use XT60 connectors that can adapt easily to power stations, bypassing their built-in controllers entirely.
Not exactly a direct answer, but have you thought about using 12VDC power adapters for your CPAP? For example, I have a ResMed AirSense 10 that can run off a 12V DC adapter. It simplifies everything—if you can switch your CPAPs to 12V, you’ll eliminate the need for the solar generators and the hassle of charging them. Then you could focus on enhancing your RV's battery and solar setup. The battery size you need will depend on your power needs and how long you usually camp without shore power. If you're mostly weekend campers, a 200Ah lithium battery could be ideal, but longer trips may require more solar capacity.
You might want to either get a folding solar panel without a built-in controller or consider modifying your current one to bypass that controller altogether. Just make sure that the panel's voltage doesn't exceed the Jackery's input range. Most budget battery charging panels should work fine for that.
Thanks for the tip! I actually use a ResMed 10 with a 12V adapter. My wife has the ResMed 11, but we found out there still isn't a 12V adapter available for it. I'm also working on installing a second rooftop solar panel to help boost our capacity. Last time we camped, we covered a huge distance without relying too much on shore power, managing to charge the CPAPs while driving. I'm hoping that with the new panel up and running, our setup will be much better!