Solar Panels

phototex · 10-02-2007, 11:54 AM

I just had 4 AM Solar panels installed on my roof. Pictures in my iRV2 photo gallery.
Solar Panel Install

phototex · 10-02-2007, 11:54 AM

I just had 4 AM Solar panels installed on my roof. Pictures in my iRV2 photo gallery.
Solar Panel Install

Dav5942 · 10-02-2007, 03:08 PM

Bill, Looks great what type of specifications did you end up with? How many batteries, etc.?

Norm Payne · 10-02-2007, 06:39 PM

Those are excellent solar panels and it looks like a quality install. Enjoy.

I have done two installs on Dutch Stars since I enjoy that type of work.

RVDude · 10-02-2007, 07:39 PM

photo: Who did your install?

phototex · 10-03-2007, 02:28 AM

I had four AM100 Solar Panels and the HPV-30DR Controller installed. You can read the specifications on their web site:
AM Solar
I am seeing charging amps of 20 to 25 amps on a sunny day.

I did not have any new batteries installed. If I find that the four lead-acid house batteries I have now are insufficient, I will swap them out for glass mat batteries and try to figure out how to add four more batteries. The solar controller also can handle up to six panels, so I can add two more, provided I can find space on the roof. (It's getting a little crowded up there.)

I wanted to use an installer that AM Solar recommended. Since they did not have anyone in Texas on their list, I drove to Albuquerque to have the job done. Mike Sylvester did the installation.
The RV Guy

Norm Payne · 10-03-2007, 05:33 AM

I have used Lifeline AGM batteries for years, actually the same set in two motorhomes. You will love them. But I would not install four more batteries, maybe two more, but not four.

The reason is batteries need to be fully charged at least once a week or their life will be shortened. You will have many cloudy days where your solar panels will not fully charge the four batteries you have now, let alone eight batteries.

A good friend with solar went from four batteries to six and he found the batteries never charged much above 80% which required runnung the generator to take the batteries to full charge. His purpose for installing solar was to camp quietly and now he was running his generator for the sole purpose of getting that final 20% charge.

He removed two batteries and his solar did fine with the four batteries and usually fully charged them every day. As you know, a solar system needs to be balanced between solar panel wattage, inverter output and battery bank. Having too big of a battery bank can present problems just like having too small of a battery bank.