DC Input for Portable Solar Panels

[chris san diego]

When I go camping, I usually put out a portable solar panel with a charge controller to keep my old Scout II Traveler battery at full charge. It would be great if I could connect a regular external solar panel to the direct current (DC) input on the new Scout Traveler. Is it possible to trickle charge the DC? Maybe we could add a low input socket?

 

[ID_ENG]

I'm curious on what the energy amount could be on a summer day. Is it worth it? Or are we talking about 1-2 miles a day?
If that's the case I'd probably opt to save the extra costs associated with it.
Upvoting to give it some thought.

 

[Logan]

Interesting idea.

Small folding solar panels that connect to an external hookup and directly charge the battery. Its basically the same thing as the "solar roof" idea, but making it modular, and something you use separately if needed/desired.

I just checked, and the first solar panel I checked was ~31in wide, and 102in long, and provides up to 350w. I presume that is per hour? Which means... 3 of them would be about... as fast as a 120v trickle charger (~1050w/hr, or 1.05kw/hr).

BLUETTI PV350D Solar Panel | 350W

www.bluettipower.com

Since we know the maximum, and minimum ranges (350miles for largest BEV version, 150EV only range on harvester), and can guess on the efficiency (~2miles per KW, between a Rivian, and a Hummer) that means we know the rough effective battery sizes (~175kw for the BEV, and ~75kw for the Harvester).

Which means for the Harvester, you could gain ~1.4% (1.05/75) of charge per hour? And the BEV would gain 0.6% charge (1.05/175) of charge per hour.

So on a summer day parked in an idea location... you could get a handful of %% (maybe 3-5%?) for the Harvester.

Now, I don't know tons about solar, and its possible my maths are way, way off. But I think that is an interesting option, particularly if you're going to be camping for a few days.

 

[pwrofgrayskull]

It’s definitely worth exploring. Upvote added.

 

[chris san diego]

Sometimes I leave my Scout parked and go hiking for days, leaving a 25 watt solar panel (through a charge controller) to maintain the battery. Other campouts, I stay at the truck with a Starlink, using up juice, so I bring two 150 watt solar panels. A place to plug in a solar panel would be swell.

 

[J Alynn]

I'm curious on what the energy amount could be on a summer day. Is it worth it? Or are we talking about 1-2 miles a day?
If that's the case I'd probably opt to save the extra costs associated with it.
Upvoting to give it some thought.

If asking for a connector port I think that’s a valid request. Nuilt in units however aren’t worth the cost or the amount of warranty issues SM would likely deal with after sales

 

[Albal]

I also think that having it “solar ready” would be great.