Congrats Journey on your new Eagle Shell.
Four Wheel Camper uses the best, and often the most expensive. Zamp is a great system will do the job and Four Wheel will install it for you for a no hassle experience. Downside its very expensive.
Renogy or
Solar Blvd or other makes are less expensive options. We have a Renogy 150 watt rigid panel,($219) MorningStar SunSaver 10L controller,($57 - Solar Blvd) and T
rimetric 2030-RV Battery monitor.( about $250). Click on the links for more information.
Panel weighs 26 pounds. We have the 40 pound inside struts assist and use the speaker lift to lift the roof.
Reason for 150 watt? Angle of the sun in winter. Placing panel flat on roof you can't angle it at the sun. You will lose 40% of the output in winter time because the sun is at a low angle in the sky. 150 watt is rated at 8.38 amps output on June 22nd.(the longest sunny day in the year-unless your in Southern Cal enjoying the fog). In December it will produce about 5 amps per hour. You need enough amps to run your compressor fridge and charge the battery.
Many of us shell owners use a portable 12 volt compressor fridge: TruckFridge,
Engle model MT35F (what we have) or ? and LED lights, Fantastic fan. we charge smart phone batteries, camera batteries, model airplane batteries(my hobby). The biggest amp draw is the fridge. I can't comment for "truckfridge". The Engle draws 2.8 amps when it cycles and averages 1.5 amps per hour in 80* weather. I estimate adding the rest of the items adds a half amp.... so I'm drawing about 2-2.5 amps per hour average The Dometic 65L in the regular camper models draws 4.5-5 amps when it cycles (runs) which is most of the time.
So in my case 5 amp output is enough to run everything and have an excess 3 amps per hour to recharge the battery which it does in about 4 hours of sunlight. During the 12-14 hours of darkness the battery discharge range is 100% sunset to 84% sunrise.
To view my install, click on the link below my signature and ...go to
page 12 -Reply #'s 111-113..
Yak Tracks
I wish I had purchased these when we bought our shell because it provides an easy base to attach the rigid solar panel to and it positions the panel over the middle of the roof spreading out the weight. Rigid 100-150 watt panels are heavy. Renogy 100 watt 16.5 pounds. 150 watt 26.5 pounds. I miss my old failed 'Flexible" 100 watt - 4 pounds.
We placed our rigid over the area that held the flexible placing all the weight forward of the front lifting board. Even with the 40 pound struts assist, roof to heavy to lift without the speaker lift.
Voltage and batteries
You can review that section in my original build post. Summarizing 1 - 80 amp battery has 40 amps of usable power because once the voltage drops below 12 your 12 volt appliances won't work. In my case 40 amps at 2.5 amps per hour will run my devices 16 hours leaving me 2 hours of cushion in December.
Shade camping
We carry a small 60 watt rigid panel ( 6 pounds). Puts out 3.5 amps and 50 feet of 12 gauge cable. We have connector plugs on the back wall and roof. Works great when truck is in shade. We carry it in the winter so far haven't needed it for winter desrt camping.
I Apologize for the length of my response. Happy camping.
