A Solar Installation Thread

[RVRoadTrip]

If you've been considering solar, maybe this thread will provide you with a little useful info.

I recently ordered the components necessary to install 270 watts of solar power on my 21' travel trailer. These items have started arriving so I will begin the thread that will document the installation process. More posts into this thread will follow as other things arrive and the installation begins.

I created a page on our our web site that will greatly detail how we decided what to get. You can view that page by clicking here.

So here's what I purchased:

2 Kyocera KD135GX-LPU 135-watt solar panels
1 Blue Sky Solar Boost 3024iL MPPT Charge Controller
1 IPNPRO-S Remote Display and Battery Monitor w/Shunt
1 Remote Battery Temperature Sensor
2 MC4 Multibranch connectors (to wire panels in parallel)
2 Sets of Flat Mount Roof Mounts
30' of #6 Wire (from panels to controller)
12' of #4 wire (from controller to batteries)
1 30A Inline Fuse Holder w/Fuse
2 30A Breakers (to act as disconnects for the solar panels)

The panels spec out as follows:
Max Rated Power (Pmax) - 135 Watts
Voltage at Max Power (Vmpp) - 17.7
Current at Max Power (Impp) - 7.63 Amps
Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) - 22.1
Short Circuit Current (Isc) - 8.37 Amps
Length x Width x Depth (inches) - 59.1 x 26.3 x 1.8
Weight of Panel (Pounds) - 28.7
Connector Cable Type - MC4 Latching Cables

The front of the panel:


The rear of the panel:


The charge controller exterior:


The charge controller interior:


The MC4 Multibranch Connectors:


The wire:



As of today, I am still waiting on the panel mounts, the remote display, the temperature sensor and one more wire to arrive. I will update the thread once these arrive and the installation progresses.

[RVRoadTrip]

UPS just delivered the Blue Sky IPNPRO-S Remote Display with the shunt.

Frontal view:


Rear view:



All that remains to be delivered are the panel mounts, the temperature sensor and another wire. Scheduled delivery date for those items is the 14th and 15th. I hate waiting...

[450Donn]

So what type and how many batteries are you using?

[RVRoadTrip]

Starting off with 2 Trojan T-105s with room for 2 more.

[Frankenstien]

Road Trip .. I'm very happy you joined our forum, again Thanks for sharing some excellent Ideas.

[powerboatr]

road trip THANKS for the SUPERB education at your web link
man i wish trig had been explained so well

[450Donn]

From my reading and understanding then you are over killing on the panels. With that much power available you need a minimum of 4 and more likely 6 batteries 12 volt batteries. Which translates into a lot of 6 volt batteries.

[RVRoadTrip]

Originally Posted by 450Donn

From my reading and understanding then you are over killing on the panels. With that much power available you need a minimum of 4 and more likely 6 batteries 12 volt batteries. Which translates into a lot of 6 volt batteries.

What it amounts to is that I can still get fully charged even on cloudy days.

[Theberrys]

Road Trip
Great white paper. I agree with all of it except the modified sign wave inverters. You just don't know what doesn't like them till the smoke gets out. You haven't mentioned how much all this great stuff costs. I need that data to go bgefore the CFO.

BTW I like Pie as well!!!

Dick

[RVRoadTrip]

Prices fluctuate on some of these items so I tried to list each item so viewers could look the item up online and find their best price. Regarding everything I have purchased, the grand total is under $1800.00 not counting my labor installing it all. I may send myself a bill but I doubt I will pay it.

The way I see it, if I boondock and save just $5 per night in CG fees, it only takes about 1 year to recoup the investment. If I save $10 a night (which is a more reasonable estimate), it will take just 180 days to recoup the investment.

[mythplaced]

Originally Posted by Theberrys

....... I agree with all of it except the modified sign wave inverters. You just don't know what doesn't like them till the smoke gets out. .......
Dick

Yea, our AMana residential refrigerator compressor did not like the "modifed wave" and let us know by puking....$800!

[two2go]

Does the Blue Sky controller accept higher input voltages? Connecting the panels in series instead of parallel would keep the amps at a reasonable level. I saw some controllers that allowed double voltage input, and also a high voltage panel when I was upgrading my system. I considered it because I have existing roof wiring that is limited to 7-8 amps, but ended up with a single panel due to cost.

[RVRoadTrip]

Originally Posted by two2go

Does the Blue Sky controller accept higher input voltages? Connecting the panels in series instead of parallel would keep the amps at a reasonable level. I saw some controllers that allowed double voltage input, and also a high voltage panel when I was upgrading my system. I considered it because I have existing roof wiring that is limited to 7-8 amps, but ended up with a single panel due to cost.

Yes, it does. I specifically chose to wire in parallel and not series. With series wiring, if one panel get partial shade it affects the whole system even if the other panel is in full sun.

[RVRoadTrip]

The Blue Sky Battery Temperature Sensor arrived today. Only thing left are the panel mounts. They sent the wrong ones so they are having to re-ship the correct ones. Anyway, here's what the temp sensor looks like.