Thanks for the excellent, thoughtful reply. I’m now looking into the generator/charger option - at least as an additional backup to solar.
Maybe I’m naive (please feel free to say so) but I just like the idea of quiet, passive, effortless battery charging from a couple of solar panels (say, 350W). And if I can stow those panels such that they are not on the roof creating drag while I drive (very counter productive I would think) and easy to clean before I start a charging session… I just like the whole idea.
A few thoughts in direct response to your comments…
–On your “cheap” generator + charger comment, maybe I am looking at the high end of products but it looks like a decent 1000W generator/charger combo is at least $1000. A full solar setup to charge a 100Ah LiFePO4 12 Volt Deep Cycle Battery is about the same cost - maybe a little less.
–On solar panel negatives, let me comment… I am not worried about expense (I consider all cost differences to be de minimis when spread out over the time I expect to use the stuff). I am not worried about winter for various reasons. I am not worried about the need to charge at night (although the “winter” and “night” issues are good reasons for the backup option you are presenting). I am a little worried about parking either in the sun (“punishment”) or in a spot where I don’t have sun (like every ideal camping spot on the planet - at least in summer). But I am worried about the idea that solar panels won’t charge batteries properly, and they will kill battery life. Can you expand on that or point me to a good reference?
When you charge your batteries with a generator/charger combo, how long does that typically take? Do you know the math on this? I’d love to see how a 1000W generator and a matching charger bring a 100Ah battery to full power in X hours with Y gallons of gas. I’ll Google this, too.
Oh… and maybe I need to look at a different battery setup. $20 for a deep cycle battery… holy cow!
Thanks for your advice!!!