So it looks to me that it would be cheaper overall to keep the battery topped off with a small generator and use the generator to power a cooker/hot plate when it's running to cook with, running a little bit each day.
I think for the all-in costs a small generator might be better, especially since I won't be getting peak performance out of the solar panel anyway, since I'll be boondocking in coastal areas where it's cloudy much of the time.
Cheaper? I am not so sure about that... unless this is a one-time deal and the stuff will never be used again.
Gas, decent battery charger, cheap disposable china genny, more gas?
Or gas, decent battery charger, good genny, more gas?
Better? I say no.
The genny will be running full blast, and the battery charger will get the battery up to regulation voltage in a short time...
BUT
The battery will not be truely 'full charged' until its been at regulation voltage for a Long time (hours?), and most of that time the charge current would be very low (less than 3A). The noise from the genny would drive me bonkers.
If I understand what you plan to do, I would do it different:
- I would use the truck as the initial charger in the morning. Long cheap (#10?) jumper cables to the deep cycle first, then start the truck and let it idle for 10~15~20 minutes. Naturally, remove the jumper cables when finished.
- Then I'd let the solar take over.
- Repeat the truck procedure in a few hours if the solar is not keeping up.
I bet you could do it with an 80W panel on good days.
120 ~135W would obviously be better.
I would do it with TWO 60~80W-class panels instead of a giant single panel, because moving a 135W panel around is going to be a pain in the butt.
Not sure it would be worth the cost for MPPT in a situation like this. Almost a $200 (actual retail) difference between SS-10 and SS-MPPT?
(MSRP $59 and $295)
That can buy a bigger panel, or another panel.
Like Damon said, Do NOT run the battery down.
I think keeping it above 12.2V is very important.
G-