If you’re interested in adding solar-power to your truck camper rig, you’ll want to check out this video of Mello Mike’s 340 watt solar power system. His system isn’t the largest found in a truck camper, but it is effective and keeps him powered up year round. Mello Mike’s solar power system consists of a Zamp ZS-30A PWM charge controller, two Solar Cynergy 120 watt polycrystalline solar panels, one Renogy 100 watt monocrystalline portable solar panel, and two Lifeline 6 volt AGM batteries providing 220 amp hours of power.
Mello Mike is an Arizona native, author, and the founder of Truck Camper Adventure. He's been RV'ing since 2002, is a certified RVIA Level 1 RV Technician, and has restored several Airstream travel trailers. A communications expert and licensed ham radio operator (KK7TCA), he retired from the U.S. Navy in 2004 as a CWO3 after 24 years, holds a BS degree, and now runs Truck Camper Adventure full-time. He also does some RV consulting, repairs, and inspections on the side. He currently rolls in a 4WD Ram 3500 outfitted with a SherpTek truck bed with a Bundutec Roadrunner mounted on top.
Innovation is the lifeblood of any industry. Yet, from the 1980s to 2004, the truck camper industry was anything but, with the same floor plans, construction methods, and appliances offered in nearly every model. If [read more]
Nimbl Vehicles will reveal its new carbon fiber Evolution camper at the 2022 Overland Expo West, 20-22 May. To celebrate the big change, the company will be displaying the updated camper on a new platform, [read more]
Truck Camper Adventure is proud to present Mello Mike’s Truck Camper Musings and News—a Truck Camper Adventure Editorial of sorts—about truck camper life and happenings in the truck and truck camper industries. This is a [read more]
Hey Mike! You finally alluded to the question I have had with all of the Solar Power YouTube videos and blogs I’ve seen, and I even saw one person ask a similar unanswered question on one of the Solar articles on the site.
You mentioned that you had wiring running from the battery bank to the main DC system of your truck camper. Do you have a How-to for setting that portion up? That is the only thing I cannot find with all of the information I’ve seen so far. I assumed there had to be some way to power lights, water pump, etc. off of Solar if you had it, versus relying exclusively off the 12V battery that comes in the outside box of a Lance rig.
If you’re interested in adding solar-power to your truck camper rig, you’ll want to check out this video of Mello Mike’s 340 watt solar power system. His system isn’t the largest found in a truck camper, but it is effective and keeps him powered up year round. Mello Mike’s solar power system consists of a Zamp ZS-30A PWM charge controller, two Solar Cynergy 120 watt polycrystalline solar panels, one Renogy 100 watt monocrystalline portable solar panel, and two Lifeline 6 volt AGM batteries providing 220 amp hours of power.
Hey Mike! You finally alluded to the question I have had with all of the Solar Power YouTube videos and blogs I’ve seen, and I even saw one person ask a similar unanswered question on one of the Solar articles on the site.
You mentioned that you had wiring running from the battery bank to the main DC system of your truck camper. Do you have a How-to for setting that portion up? That is the only thing I cannot find with all of the information I’ve seen so far. I assumed there had to be some way to power lights, water pump, etc. off of Solar if you had it, versus relying exclusively off the 12V battery that comes in the outside box of a Lance rig.
Thanks for any advice you can provide!
Shaun