Solar PV system research

[wingnut60]

Rmiscoord,
Would you keep me in mind for that $1.86?
Joe

[Rmiscoord]

If it isn't the Government it is your friends
that want your last Buck

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.

[Wanderman]

Last season I completed a complete solar install on my small Class A (OK tiny class A!) The costs were about the same as the OP based upon his 270watts and my 450watts.

I layed it all out in a 6 part series.

If you are interested in reading about my trials and tribulations...take a look at:

http://wandermanblog.blogspot.com/20...ap-part-1.html

It will give you an idea of a fully functional system. I use it all the time. With the exception of exercising the generator or extended microwave use (or running the A/C at all!) I am all solar, all the time.

Rich "The Wanderman"

[KJINTF]

Rich

Looks like you have a nice system - glad to see it's working for you
Read through all 6 parts of the installation process - you had some fun
Each and every system offers their own unique challenges

I see you have the Morningstar MPPT 45 but did not see any Rs232 connection to the controller. Just wondering if you were taking full advantage of the wonderful Morningstar offerings. Did you program your controller via a PC or simply set the three or four on-board switches and call it good. Morningstar very often comes up with firmware upgrades for that specific model, suggest you take a look at your firmware version. They also offer free MsView and MsLoad applications which are actually very good. Did you consider installing any proactive warning / alarm systems? The Morningstar Relay Driver would compliment your system nicely. I have used it many times to monitor the separate battery banks both high and low voltage conditions and durations then drive a sonalert and warning lamps.

regards
KJINTF

PS - I added two more 135 watt panels this winter just for the fun of it, a total of 540 watts

[Wanderman]

KJINTF,
I absolutely wire in a serial interface connector. It lives to the left of the step that house all my switch-gear. I have an older 486 class laptop dedicated to the Morningstar. I use their (rather primitive) software to interface for monitoring and programming. For example I had to set the voltage to the 14.8V requested by the Trojan batteries for full charging. I have been tailoring the charge profile to my usage pattern.

That was a bit much to get into on the already gargantuan 6 part article!

Thanks for reading!

Rich "The Wanderman"

[KJINTF]

Rich,
Good to hear it! - I had hoped you did
I often wonder if folks are really taking full advantage of the controllers capabilities
Check out "Solar Guppy" he created a much improved monitoring application that takes advantage of the MODUS bus on the controller.
Did you take a look at the Relay Driver and it's capabilities?
I do not like to have to be required to physically look at a control panel or even worse have a beep from the inverter due to low battery - A proactive warning / alarm system is a nice to have function in a PV solar install.

I went with the MPPT 60 since it offered an Ethernet interface with SNMP email alerts for my personal system. It interfaces into the on-board Wifi system. I too taylor the charge configuration and change it depending on time of year and location.

[Wanderman]

I've been looking at automatic diversion load management quite a bit. I've been toying with installing the 12V 400W water heater element into my existing water heater, but am always looking for something better. Well, it could just be more interesting....but hey.

I have the relay driver and will likely use it...as soon as I figure out what to drive. Perhaps a fallover for additional capacity on the storage side. Though that depends on the Lithium Phosphate prices, availability and reliability for next season.

Since my RV is so small, I can almost always see the remote panel from anyplace within. Well not the bathroom....

Rich "The Wanderman"

[KJINTF]

And I though my 26FT RV was short

[Wanderman]

If you look at my RV...it kind of looks like a 3/4 scale Class A.

With the exception of lots of basement storage, the interior space is similar to a 30ft Class A. The main difference is I have no standard style dinette, but my passenger seat rotates to become the 2nd chair for the expanding table.
The floorplan on the Aero Cruiser site is wrong. It doesn't even show the table!

Rich "The Wanderman"

[geno-heidi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bachler We have A panel, And a 7.5 Diesel gen.. .Thinking about adding more Solar panels.. Done a lot of pencil work .. Cost wise it is interesting. Solar set up $3500.00 Fuel To run gen. 1/2 hour in the morning 1/2 huor in the evening ; = about $4.00 bucks per day. That is near 900 days of Fuel cost. Most Would not use it that most;; Altho some might.. Over The time of our 8 motorhomes. We have used a small Panel that lays on the dash and plugs into the Lighter. I think it is 3/4 amps . Used it when Snowmibiling; Never had any problem. My word is. Use your pencil,and your head. Having more/bigger/better is not allways in the best interests; Life is good. Altho yours may be higher wattage then mine.

hhhmmmmmmm..............Imagine NOT having to run the generator for 900 days,
Very interesting details & pencil work.....yess, interesting.....we would like to save 50% genset time :-)

[CapnMorgan]

I am in the design phase for my solar project. I am in the process of purchasing a Holiday Rambler 40DLS Imperial. I am looking for space to locate the charge controller and disconnect. This is the only compartment near the batteries. Is there a problem with mounting them on the bottom of the compartment?

[KJINTF]

No - But keep the equipment from getting damp/wet and too hot
Looks good and clean plus you have easy access to the power connections
Good luck with the installation