|
|
11-08-2015, 08:14 AM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Traveling
Posts: 264
|
Which solar panels for boondocking?
We've been living off the grid on solar power for over 8 years and have put together some notes about what we've learned about solar panels from the different solar power installations we've done.
There are a lot of different kinds of solar panels on the market, different ways to wire them and different sizing options. Each installation is different, so I'm hoping this info will help anyone that is trying to figure out what will work best for them.
Off Grid Solar Panels: Flexible or Rigid? 12 or 24 volt? Mono- or Polycrystalline?
I hope this is helpful!
__________________
Emily & Mark Fagan, traveling full-time since 2007
2007 Hitchhiker II LS & 2007 Dodge RAM 3500 4x4
https://roadslesstraveled.us
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
11-08-2015, 09:10 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 221
|
We've been living off the grid with solar for 9 years. This is some great information, and a real value to those thinking about the plunge.
|
|
|
11-08-2015, 09:51 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Buxton, North Dakota
Posts: 3,940
|
A very good write up. Will benefit both new and long time solar users.
__________________
2003 Winnebago Adventurer 38G F53/ V10 605 watts of Solar
1999 Winnebago Brave 35C F53V10 Handicap Equipped
1999 Jeep Cherokee, 1991 Jeep Wrangler Renegade and 2018 Chevrolet Equinox Diesel
|
|
|
11-09-2015, 06:17 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Traveling
Posts: 264
|
Thank you, Simon and John. The freedom that solar gives you is so great, but it can be intimidating to sort out what will work best. I hope this info helps and gets people inspired!!
__________________
Emily & Mark Fagan, traveling full-time since 2007
2007 Hitchhiker II LS & 2007 Dodge RAM 3500 4x4
https://roadslesstraveled.us
|
|
|
11-09-2015, 06:23 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 680
|
Thanks for the excellent article! I plan to install a couple hundred watts and a second battery to our small 23' TT and found your article very informative and it has several links that will be helpful. My wife and I are what you called Weekend/Vacation RV'ers, but since we are retired we take lots of them. LOL. Do you have any opinion about the Renogy 200 watt kit?
|
|
|
11-09-2015, 08:21 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 949
|
Groovy
Excellent article. Strongly suggest running at higher voltages. We have 1400 W of solar on 5th wheel. This is two sets of 3 x 235 W (30 V) panels in series which are then set in parallel to provide 1400 W (in high summer) at 90 V. This is only 15.5 amps which leads to lower power loss, smaller cabling, and a much smaller and less expensive MPPT controller. This is only 15.5 amps at 90 V but would be 116 amps at 12 V. Our battery suite is a nominal 48 V so amperage from MPPT is 29 amps. Our TriStar MPPT-45 handles this nicely. Solar autonomy makes for an enjoyable lifestyle. We have tied into line power one day in last two and a half years and have not had to use generator at all.
Reed and Elaine
|
|
|
11-09-2015, 01:07 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 593
|
Very informative. Really like this article thank you
__________________
David & Carol
2008 Damon Challenger
RVing is a life style you love so slow down and enjoy
|
|
|
11-10-2015, 06:01 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Traveling
Posts: 264
|
Parkerbill - We loved our 27' travel trailer and had solar on it too. Weekend/vacation is such a fun way to go. The Renogy 200 watt kit looks to have all the pieces, including the branch connectors for a parallel installation (if this is the kit you mean). The only other piece you'll want is an inverter of some kind so you can run your small AC appliances.
Reed - What a fabulous system that can do it all. Great installation!
Thornhammer - Thanks for reading!!
__________________
Emily & Mark Fagan, traveling full-time since 2007
2007 Hitchhiker II LS & 2007 Dodge RAM 3500 4x4
https://roadslesstraveled.us
|
|
|
11-10-2015, 06:18 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: North Central Vermont
Posts: 1,485
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by parkerbill
Thanks for the excellent article! I plan to install a couple hundred watts and a second battery to our small 23' TT and found your article very informative and it has several links that will be helpful. My wife and I are what you called Weekend/Vacation RV'ers, but since we are retired we take lots of them. LOL. Do you have any opinion about the Renogy 200 watt kit?
|
Parkerbill, there are several Renogy 200w kits. The one linked above doesn't have the z-mounts. I noticed a new kit with a "Wanderer" controller that is 4-stage and I would go for that one.
I actually pieced most of the kit together myself with Renogy panels, but wanted to be sure I got the ViewStar 30A PWM controller as it is a 4-stage. It all cost a little over $400 and is working great. I ran the cables down the gray tank vent into the basement from the roof. I have the option of adding 2 more 100w panels.
__________________
2015 F350 XLT PSD CCSB SRW, Andersen Ultimate hitch
'12 Cougar High Country 299RKS, Mor/Ryde Pinbox
1/77 Armor Bn, 5th Mech, I Corps
|
|
|
11-10-2015, 08:25 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 680
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Groovy
Parkerbill - We loved our 27' travel trailer and had solar on it too. Weekend/vacation is such a fun way to go. The Renogy 200 watt kit looks to have all the pieces, including the branch connectors for a parallel installation (if this is the kit you mean). The only other piece you'll want is an inverter of some kind so you can run your small AC appliances.
|
Thank you for the reply. I've already installed an 1,100 W inverter. Again, thank you.
|
|
|
11-10-2015, 08:26 AM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 680
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by SkiSmuggs
Parkerbill, there are several Renogy 200w kits. The one linked above doesn't have the z-mounts. I noticed a new kit with a "Wanderer" controller that is 4-stage and I would go for that one.
I actually pieced most of the kit together myself with Renogy panels, but wanted to be sure I got the ViewStar 30A PWM controller as it is a 4-stage. It all cost a little over $400 and is working great. I ran the cables down the gray tank vent into the basement from the roof. I have the option of adding 2 more 100w panels.
|
Thank you. I agree about the kit with the better controller.
|
|
|
11-10-2015, 09:05 AM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 949
|
Son did installation
Quote:
Originally Posted by Groovy
Parkerbill - We loved our 27' travel trailer and had solar on it too. Weekend/vacation is such a fun way to go. The Renogy 200 watt kit looks to have all the pieces, including the branch connectors for a parallel installation (if this is the kit you mean). The only other piece you'll want is an inverter of some kind so you can run your small AC appliances.
Reed - What a fabulous system that can do it all. Great installation!
Thornhammer - Thanks for reading!!
|
Our system was not a DYI. Older son is in solar and he did design and then he and grandson did fabrication - with me getting in the way. This was done as family project and we wound up only paying for components at contractor rates.
Reed and Elaine
|
|
|
11-11-2015, 09:31 AM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Traveling
Posts: 264
|
Reed - I remember reading about your solar installation on this forum in the past and how during your Mexico travels it could power your air conditioning for about 2.5 hours. Amazing!
Parkerbill and SkiSmuggs - Kits are great for getting lots of goodies in a bundle, but not many kits include the most popular solar charge controllers from Morningstar and Outback. We've had great luck with both of those brands...
__________________
Emily & Mark Fagan, traveling full-time since 2007
2007 Hitchhiker II LS & 2007 Dodge RAM 3500 4x4
https://roadslesstraveled.us
|
|
|
11-11-2015, 11:42 AM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 949
|
Air conditioning
We have a Dometic power hog AC. We are "Goldilockers" as in "not to hot and not to cold, just right!" So we go north-south and/or up-down in elevation. Otherwise, we would dump Dometic and install/have installed a split-level air conditioner in main cabin and another in bed room. Dometic draws over 1700 W and split-levels around 400 to 700 each. This would also permit another 700 W of solar once that Donetic were removed. It would shade panels put to rear of fifth wheel. A bit of conundrum: 700 W more solar would provide almost 100% of air conditioning but current solar is sufficient for running two split-levels; ergo, shall continue with current set up.
We should be on way back to Yucatan in three weeks. Electrical power can go from 80 to 140 V so electronics can be permanently damaged at place we shall hopefully spend on beach near Tulum.
May regretfully use line power if we have overcast and hot days in Yucatan. Son installed 1500 W of battery chargers (110 AC to 48 DC). Battery charger and battery suite handle varying voltage far better than electronics. Burned out micro-waves in both Baja and Mexico through running AC directly. Write earlier posts that we have tossed 50 amp and the 30 amp cords and now just have a 15 amp extension cord to use as required
Reed and Elaine
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|