Home› Battery/Electrical & Solar

ANOTHER TONGUE BOX MOD WITH SOLAR

willbingham1willbingham1 Member Posts: 63
in Battery/Electrical & Solar

Just thought I would post another tongue box mod BUT with a 50 watt Renogy solar panel kit on top of aluminum tongue box. Primary purpose was to take load off of car charging system while in motion and have the panel charge the battery and also be available for dry camping. With some effort over the last month I mounted the Pit Posse tongue box from Amazon ($174) in place of the original "Blue Tub" to provide a structure and ability to lock or tilt or even remove the panel to a more desired placement to catch some rays, so to speak, and keep my deep cycle RV battery up to charge and carry the main load of the Norcold. I did add some structural elements (aluminum flat bar) while bolting box to tongue and relocated the battery disconnect to back of new tongue box, removed zamp from old tub an placed on side of new aluminum tongue box, built aluminum "L" battery tray, and relocated propane to front of tongue box including a 5 pd propane tank and mounting bracket. When adding solar panel to top I turned panel sideways and created with again aluminum "L" stock a tilting mount for panel so if left on tongue box while in motion could be secured flat or while camped tilted forward or even removed for a more appropriate location to catch the rays.

I did find when testing charging capacity of panel in flat position that the supplied Renogy controller was better suited in its profile for charging the AGM battery rather than a wet RV Deep Cycle battery. So I swapped the Renogy controller for a cheap XCSource 10 amp controller from Amazon. It seems to do the job when correctly set and battery keeps up and more with the amp per hours that the Norcold takes to maintain 35 degrees. I ran it during the solar day here in KY and I think it will do what is required while traveling. I also added a single poll switch in line with sola Later I will replace the RV/Marine Deep cycle #24 for a 100 amp AGM. I have made the battery tray capable of accepting this size battery. It will also add to tongue weight.

Speaking of tongue weight, I measured at hitch height and at the hitch location the tongue weight with tongue box fully loaded with standard battery, all my connecting cables and hoses, along with the necessary junk one needs for camping hookups and it measured right at 180 pounds hitch weight with Jack-It. Add the bike on rack and I will be around 200 pounds on hitch weight. Not bad with the mods. The small propane tank can be a lot of the savings, I am sure. So, here are a few pics of what I have done. Enjoy.


· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+

Comments

Sign In or Register to comment.