How to make Solar panel suitcase! DIY

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DIY on building a portable solar suitcase for RV. Using two 175 watt HQST solar panels joined to make a portable case for big power while boondocking dry camping or even for boating. #solar #Hqst #offgrid
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[dominic-ryan]

One of the best thought out DIY solar suitcase designs I've seen. Nice job

[AskIveSolar]

Real easy numbers! I'm all about the simple solar. What's up boss. YT rec'd this video and I'm watching so I thought I'd leave a comment.

[CoLdBLaDe]

Very nice design! I’m going to replicate this but opt for thumb screws instead of Allen key bolts on the bar.

[thesecond]

Well, I've devoured pretty much all of the "movable" solar panel setups. I thought I had seen them all and had quit looking. But something had me look one more time; that's when I stumbled on you and your simple, well-explained setup. If imitation is the greatest form of flattery, add me to your list. The quick pins in the top were already on my list, having seen another setup that used threaded screws like yours and thinking "how long would it be before I dropped a screw in the grass and couldn't find it?". No tapping with the quick clips. As I plan to move the "suitcase" around with a hand truck, I'll be adding small spacer/bumper blocks on the bottom ends of the panels for clearance. The last thing: the PT Hood Prop: You mentioned something sturdier. Do you have something in mind already? Thanks much for sharing your rig with us. I'll now be going back so see what else you have shared.

[suesheane]

Really nice design. Easy enough to put together. Thanks for putting this DIY video out !!

[johnmal]

This is brilliant. I have 4 200 watt portable panels from pecron. Only problem they are only splash resistant. I live in Florida its summer we will have periodic daily thunder storms for the next 2 months. It's a real pita this time of year. After that no worries. Companies sell water resistant portables but the prices are off the chain this is a ingenious solution. Thank you!

[WayneTheSeine]

A very clean, nice build. There is nothing I would change, except maybe putting the boxes at the top but I understand your concern on tripping. I was looking into building one of these myself. When looking for parts I did find some really nice cam lock legs on Amazon. They are on a camera tripod for only $14 ..not bad.

Eventually I instead opted for the Renogy 200W suitcase....lazy I reckon and when I did the math it really was not too bad at $324. The two 100 watt panels would have come in at about $170 and an equivalent controller about $25. I figured with stainless hinges, latches, and legs I would be into it for about $250 or more, and no case. The Renogy case it comes with is very impressive with very heavy cordura nylon bonded to a hard clam shell which is sandwiched inside the nylon and with great zippers. It offers great protection. I was so impressed with the first one I immediately ordered another. I upgraded to a MPPT 40 amp controller and some Y connectors to series or parallel connect the two units. I have 4 100 Ah LifePo 4 batteries so 400 watts is just squeaking by. The second panel should be delivered today so no idea yet if I have enough or what the VOC is. Hopefully I will have some room to add another one if needed. All that being said, your design is awesome and would be a fine and fun project.

[UmpTSquat]

Very nice project! I recently purchased 2, 50 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Renogy Solar Panels for $42 a piece. I have often thought about doing exactly what you did and making a solar panel suitcase. Granted, it would only be a 100 watt solar suitcase, but my requirements are small, and it would be more for experimenting with solar energy more than anything else.
Thanks for the great video! You have given me some ideas.

[imatubing]

Very creative how you decided to take two rigid panels and created y a suitcase. Good explanation of how you did it which may even be what i do for my upgrade that i am currently trying to decide on and plan out.
Everything works very well; however I find i need to have a little more capacity in panel and battery so I have tentatively decided to just "double" the system by getting a single 200w panel and 20a charge controller connecting to my already purchased Interstate 150ah 12v flooded battery..
After watching your video here, maybe I should consider 2 larger watt-hour panels and piece together with a still-larger charge-controller. Thinking. ....
Have decades of experience with Lead-acid battery chemistry that i understand, so haven't considered making the more-expensive-up-front cost jump to LiFePO4 as of yet. Benefits of Lithium are: (1) less physical weight 1/3 (2) higher depth of discharge - 90% vs 50% and (3) faster charging possible - 100a vs 30a and (4) longer life - 5000 cycles vs 500 for lead. Down side to Lithium: (1) 3-4 times initial cost (2) fire danger if shorted and contacts water

[samirah.]

I love your idea, I recently bought one 100 HQST panel, but I love how you turned it into a suitcase, thanks for sharing bro so much. Keep up the good work man

[collinE]

That’s really nice. It sounds better to say solar briefcase for YouTube, but I think I’d compare it more to one of those outdoor folding tables. Looks like it may be comparable in weight and convenience.

[Flash]

Thinking of doing the same thing, that top angle brace is a good idea, thanks

[lawrencedavidson]

Very nice build. I'm planning on making one with the two 100watt panels i have and i love your design. I will be using Allen bolts as well because i prefer them over pins. Greetings from Jamaica.

[keithyoung]

Good build, I like it. Thanks for sharing.

[claybobadventures]

Nice work man! I like this set up alot. I personally have a 180W mobile set up right now. I have been looking into getting two 150W panels exactly like this. My inverter has a solar charge controller built into it as well with a max wattage of 300W so this would be perfect.
I am wiring up two more 6 volt batteries on my trailer so I will have a total of 460AH of batteries. Excellent video!!

[dnldnl]

Great video I’m starting to learn about solar etc and this was a great idea

[lvoss]

I really like this design—well thought out, and clever use of simple standard parts to achieve a rigid form. Moving the angle across the two panels is very clever. Maybe a thickish rubber door mat could be affixed for friction/grip tape? As I was looking I kept thinking of windy days, and wondered if a double wide flat—or maybe a T shape could make the bottom rigid—and the protruding half give you a place for Thru holes to tap in some steel tent pins to secure it? For sandy or loamy soil they could do the trick. I like to use rare earth magnets as they seem to give you enough grip for close, but easy enough to pop open. KJmagnetics is the site I use to pick these as they have clever force calculators. The thing I like most about your design is the clever offset plastic that keeps the glass from touching—or pinching and cracking—brilliant! I’m going to steal most of your ideas—THANKS—also subscribing—really clean look. BTW someone commented about putting your charge controller on the panel. I’d not do that. You have it right now—keep the high voltage for your distance runs for less resistance/loss or a need for bigger costlier wire! Thanks for posting your great ideas! Best video I found! You a design engineer or just handy LOL?

[chrispycriter]

getten ready to make mine/ great idea's/mine are 100amp each to power 350w solor generator for my wife's CPAP, other wise:we were dry campers and just used our truck lighter socket to charge our phones

[tomdillan]

I have a single harbor freight 100 watt panel that I want to add another 100 watt panel to make a suitcase like you have showed here.

[longhairmullet]

“Because it is a little bit heavier.”. ( that would have been the ideal point to TELL US what the weight is )... ok I see 48 lbs. Thanks for posting your solar suitcase build 👍 im thinking i might try this with flex panels first, they have to be close in power to the foldable panels and lighter than these with aluminum frames.. we’ll see.