Home› Products and Accessories

Is Plug-in Solar Feasible for a T@B?

RTWCTSRTWCTS Member Posts: 186
in Products and Accessories
Recently I've seen a few articles/videos on plug-in solar. The basic concept is that solar panels attach to a microinverter (converting the voltage to 120V AC). The electricity then passes through a plug and into a standard 120V outlet. This feeds the loads in a 120V circuit. It appears to be quite popular in Europe. According to a segment on PBS (link below), Utah recently made it legal for home use and legislation has been introduced in other states.

Small plug-in solar panels gain traction as an affordable way to cut electricity bills | PBS News Weekend

Could this work as a plug and play solution to augment power in a T@B through the outside receptacle? Would it power the converter to charge batteries? Let me know your thoughts...
2023 TAB 400
Relentlessly Pursuing a Silverado EV
'Racing the Wind and Chasing the Sun'
Virginia Beach, VA
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+

Comments

  • Grumpy_GGrumpy_G Member Posts: 671
    It's meant to save on energy bills, which you (typically) don't have in a trailer. You can just as well charge the trailer battery directly via solar and avoid the losses from converting into 120V AC and then back into 12V. 
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • pthomas745pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,418
    edited January 4
    When I read up about these, I thought right off it would be a very easy way to install batteries under the benches of my 320, with a simple inverter setup.  The plug in solar would take care of charging the batteries and running an inverter...with very little extra wiring involving the trailer's WFCO.  

    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • SLJSLJ Member Posts: 635
    For a camper I would think running a solar panel through a microinverter and then dropping it back to DC voltage to charge the battery would be very inefficient.
    2021 T@B 320 S Boondock
    2025 KZ Sportsmen 130RD
    2023 Ford Maverick XLT
    The Finger Lakes of New York
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • MarcelineMarceline Member Posts: 1,739
    RTWCTS said:

    Could this work as a plug and play solution to augment power in a T@B through the outside receptacle? Would it power the converter to charge batteries? Let me know your thoughts...
    It's an interesting idea that could allow you to use the AC circuits when boondocking. But doesn't your 400 already have a built-in inverter that allows the same from your roof solar? 
    San Francisco Bay Area
    2013 CS-S us@gi
    2015 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner Double Cab
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
Sign In or Register to comment.