Community Forums

SeaDude · 04-30-2018, 09:13 PM

Hey Charlie
I now have my system completely installed and is working great.
I still have plenty of room to max out solar panels on the roof if we so choose.
The Victron 150/85 charge controller is awesome and love the bluetooth as you said I would... However I am a little disappointed in the Bluetooth range, I have to be near the bedroom when inside or the compartment which is right behind the rear axle.
But that is a minor issue I am not really concerned about.

One question for you is how are you getting the screenshots of your history that you have posted. I haven't figured that out yet.

Victron 150/85 charge controller
3 180 Watt Grape solar panels.
2 75 Watt Siemens solar panels.
(690 Watts total)

C.Martin · 04-30-2018, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaDude

Hey Charlie
I now have my system completely installed and is working great.
I still have plenty of room to max out solar panels on the roof if we so choose.
The Victron 150/85 charge controller is awesome and love the bluetooth as you said I would... However I am a little disappointed in the Bluetooth range, I have to be near the bedroom when inside or the compartment which is right behind the rear axle.
But that is a minor issue I am not really concerned about.

One question for you is how are you getting the screenshots of your history that you have posted. I haven't figured that out yet.

Victron 150/85 charge controller
3 180 Watt Grape solar panels.
2 75 Watt Siemens solar panels.
(690 Watts total)

I believe all the ones you see are taken by using the screen capture feature of my phone. On a Samsung...it’s as easy as placing my hand on the left edge of the screen in knife edge fashion, and dragging it to the right. The screen capture is saved to my photo gallery and can be shared. Most devices have a feature to allow capturing a screenshot.

When you get a chance...we’d love to see yours too! It helps immensely for everyone to see what kind of yield is possible with different configurations. We sure would appreciate the input.

The Bluetooth range is hampered by walls etc... they use low energy. I can’t be very far away...but the Bluetooth on the MPPT controller has been excellent. I have never had a single issue connecting. My SeeLevel II has required multiple reboots to get BlueTooth connection...not enough to be too troublesome...but it isn’t nearly as rock solid as a Victrons version.

Congratulations on your install. Enjoy!

C.Martin · 05-02-2018, 07:24 AM

I just finished adding the Victron BMV-712...and will be adding the Venus GX to the system in a few days.

I have had the best support ever from Victron and one of their stocking dealers here in the USA.

If you are shopping for Victron components...I would highly recommend Peter Kennedy's PKYS for your needs. He offers very competitive pricing, free shipping on orders over a certain amount and has been very responsive to email queries. Exceptional service!

Solar Panel, Solar Controller for Yacht and Sail Boat

NealC · 05-02-2018, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.Martin

I just finished adding the Victron BMV-712...and will be adding the Venus GX to the system in a few days.

I have had the best support ever from Victron and one of their stocking dealers here in the USA.

If you are shopping for Victron components...I would highly recommend Peter Kennedy's PKYS for your needs. He offers very competitive pricing, free shipping on orders over a certain amount and has been very responsive to email queries. Exceptional service!

Solar Panel, Solar Controller for Yacht and Sail Boat

I shopped from this site too and spent some time on the phone with him and highly recommend him as well. Great service, prompt shipping and probably one of the first to get Victron inventory as we've been waiting on the new smart battery sense component which he was first in the US to get.

FlaRider · 05-03-2018, 08:47 AM

Does anyone know much about these 200 watt panels. What should I be looking for in panels?

https://gotsolarinstalled.blogspot.c...anels.html?m=1

C.Martin · 05-03-2018, 09:21 AM

I like to compare the ratings on the label. The STC rating and temperature coefficient are what I kike to compare...and of course consider the size of the panel and where it will be fitted to the roof.

Temperature coefficient is a measure of the effects of temperature on panel output. A panel with a poor coefficient may look great at 70 degrees...but when sitting on the roof on a hot summer day...output may sag terribly.

Then jot down the other numbers for planning your wire gauge and circuit protection. The Isc (short circuit current) and Voc (open circuit voltage) are factors which plug into the formulas...

FlaRider · 05-03-2018, 10:23 AM

Thanks for the info. Will have to check that out.

joes2901 · 05-04-2018, 02:33 AM

Also shop for efficient solar panels, they are the mono-crystal panels. Then, the watts per sq in is a way to compare various efficient panel.

I used Mitsibushi 255 watt panels, with a 25 year warranty for power +/- 10% of the rated capacity. Six years later they are still producing over the rated capacity.

vito.a · 05-05-2018, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlaRider

Does anyone know much about these 200 watt panels. What should I be looking for in panels?

https://gotsolarinstalled.blogspot.c...anels.html?m=1

Do you know who manufactures these 200w panels?

FlaRider · 05-08-2018, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vito.a

Do you know who manufactures these 200w panels?

I am not 100% positive about the info but this is what I got off FB. Since I got it off the internet it must be accurate.

Hightec Solar Inc (made in the USA)
Power (Pmax) 200W
Voltage (Vmmp) 21.052V
Current (Impp) 9.50A
Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) 24.335V
Short Circuit Current (Isc) 9.87A
Module Efficiency (%) 17.3%
Maximum System Voltage (V) 600

richpatty · 05-12-2018, 08:39 PM

Finally....I have 8 panels on the roof!

Thanks to professor Charlie for all of your help and for being there when I had questions. Couldn’t have done it without you.

Hard to fully test at the house as we have a wooded property ..as you can see in the picture. It won’t help when stored at home either....

Looking forward to our first trip out to give it a try.

I did get a clear shot at the sun for a short time and it peaked to about 1,000 Watts. I also installed a Victron Smart Battery Sense to adjust for battery temperature. So far so good.

I still have room for more, but I think I will hold at 8 panels for now. I think the next major investment would be batteries...but I should have a few years yet.

NealC · 05-12-2018, 09:29 PM

Nice work Rich. I would DICOR the rocker mounts to keep moisture and yuck from getting under them and affecting the adhesive. I also dicor'd my cable ties to give them some UV protection so they don't break too soon from the heat/sun.

You don't need more panels, Charlie and I have been working with AMSolar and Victron on our charger studies and moral is the batteries don't charge as fast as we had hoped. Throwing more panels at it doesn't do anything. It may allow you to run an A/C as I'm going to have easy starts installed on both of mine and see how that works with my 10 panel config.

C.Martin · 05-12-2018, 10:05 PM

1,000 watt reading. That is awesome. Congratulations on your system...a super accomplishment. Having intimate knowledge of how that system went together is key to erasing the mystery. You know it better than anyone.

Like Neal said...dicor around the rocker feet is essential for keeping that "universal solvent" (aka water) from getting to the VHB tape. A few pieces of pool noodle help to prop up the panel to apply and keep the panel from dipping into the soft decor, while reattaching the hand bolts.

We are finding that lead acid batteries are slower to receive wattage when nearing full charge. Our MS2812 charger powers thru. The solar slows down a bunch.

To see good output it's best to monitor when the panels are cool and have a breeze across them...there is a lower state of charge...and you are near to peak sunlight or solar noon.

Enjoy the new freedom. It is nice to know that you don't have to be in a rush to get to the next shore power connection or worry about scheduling a generator run. The solar will give you added options as to suitable camping locations and really helps out when rally style camping. We still enjoy full hookups most of the time. It's just a treat to have solar powered battery charging going on each day...and the added level of redundancy it creates.

richpatty · 05-13-2018, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NealC

Nice work Rich. I would DICOR the rocker mounts to keep moisture and yuck from getting under them and affecting the adhesive. I also dicor'd my cable ties to give them some UV protection so they don't break too soon from the heat/sun.

You don't need more panels, Charlie and I have been working with AMSolar and Victron on our charger studies and moral is the batteries don't charge as fast as we had hoped. Throwing more panels at it doesn't do anything. It may allow you to run an A/C as I'm going to have.

Ha! You guys are too sharp! I did apply the dicor a few hours later (once the sun got a bit lower). I took the picture just as I finsished (you can even see my tool bucket at the front of the RV) as I was so excited to be completed with this long talked about project. I have an autistic son, so free time to work on this comes at a premium, so this was a moment that was a long time coming. Wheh.

And thanks for the note on not adding more panels, as it does seem the weakest link now is the batteries...as mentioned earlier in this long running thread.

Thanks again for all of assistance. I am sure I will still have some questions for the Jedi masters of solar.

Hoping to meet both of you at a rally sometime soon.

Rich