I have received inquiries about my RV solar system, why I selected the equipment I did, and how installed. So I created a write-up detailing these areas. I started by defining my goals and priorities. Paramount was that it had to work, while not breaking the bank.
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Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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Interesting. The choices that are possible are highly dependent on factors that are very individual i.e. we have on our teardrop trailer room for only one large 66 cell high voltage panel requiring an MPPT controller. This works very well because the panel is putting out usable current from sun up to sundown even in shaded sites, (which we can get into).
Interesting. The choices that are possible are highly dependent on factors that are very individual i.e. we have on our teardrop trailer room for only one large 66 cell high voltage panel requiring an MPPT controller. This works very well because the panel is putting out usable current from sun up to sundown even in shaded sites, (which we can get into).
Teardrop - very nice.
Yes, a prime example of the diversity of RV solar installation requirements and challenges.
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Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
Vince, very impressive, you put a lot of work into this. Where did you get the work done? We are currently in the Temecula area till before Christmas and are looking to have a similar system installed on our Monaco.
Dave
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Dave B
Calgary, Alberta
06 Monaco Camelot 40pdq
Have been reading a few New Zealand and Australian rv blogs (caravans down there and the fairly good Grey Nomads blog). They primarily boondock in the back country and do not utilize hookups. So solar and battery selection are prime topics. Most use a pickup system and/or small trailer. The LFP batteries are being used by a lot of the travelers down there. A popular combination is about 300 W of solar and a 200 amp-hour LFP battery. When I say boondock, I mean expedition level boondocking. Have seen on-line videos of them crossing unbelievable terrain and croc infested rivers.
Reed The Ausi caravans were one of the influencing factors in the design of our teardrop (including its all aluminum frame). It is not quite to the fording rivers level but the inclusion of the solar panel's and use of every current/energy saving device and system and the inclusion of a filter and pump so that I can pull form streams a lakes. I am still working on suspension mods to get more ground clearance when needed (airbag/shocks).
I have replicated a smaller and still expanding version of Vince's install. If you follow his instructions you will have a very sound and good operating charge system. I think the wiring was the hardest for myself. The big wires are difficult to work with and place where you want them.
I have replicated a smaller and still expanding version of Vince's install. If you follow his instructions you will have a very sound and good operating charge system. I think the wiring was the hardest for myself. The big wires are difficult to work with and place where you want them.
I used #2 jumper cables that were 16 or 20 foot long ( can't remember which ) that were very flexible and easy to work with.
so47...I unfortunately used some cabling that I had made up in a welding supply shop. While the casing was nice and flexible and the copper very hefty.....The cable did not lay well and press into corners as I might like. Not an issue for the install portion but when service becomes necessary I can see I will be dismantling a few wires to dig down to my batteries.
Very nice. I bought my solar panels new from Renogy. I have 200W worth (2x 100W). I could fit one more but that's all for my roof.. haha. I find 200W to be plenty for my needs. I need an additional battery or two to really make good use of them though.
If I had another 100w panel.. I'd probably have to pull the generator I never use and put it's compartment to use as a battery bank since it's already well vented and has a LARGE hot cable (2 gauge?) going to it already from the existing battery bank.
Reed The Ausi caravans were one of the influencing factors in the design of our teardrop (including its all aluminum frame). It is not quite to the fording rivers level but the inclusion of the solar panel's and use of every current/energy saving device and system and the inclusion of a filter and pump so that I can pull form streams a lakes. I am still working on suspension mods to get more ground clearance when needed (airbag/shocks).
Shadowcatche - We have a big rig (34') but we are full-timers (no SB). I wanted smaller than first rig and Elaine wanted larger (you may guess how that wound up). It is great for 90% of the time but there are dispersed sites in the US (Chiricahuas in particular) and some wonderful spots in Mexico, Yucatan in particular we cannot get in without someone sitting on the roof with a chain saw (Calukmal archaeological site and Lago Bacalar). A teardrop or small Bigfoot would be great for 3 months of travel.
We probably have gone overboard on solar and LFP but son did it at contractor cost for parts and the design and fabrication was for free. Even so we have tried to include "...use of every current/energy saving device..", e.g. all LEDs and a catalytic propane heater (if we can ever get a plumber to install the interior outlet on this rig - October was not the time to find a propane plumber and RV places do not want to do it since they really are not that good at doing such). We purchased the rig with double-pane windows which are excellent for both summer and winter use.
Reed and Elaine
Reed and Elaine We go the other direction (North) for the most part. Our kids grew up tent camping on the north shore of Lake Superior and the trailer was designed for extended stays up there. There is a great deal of Crown Land in Canada and water at least in the eastern half of the country is never far away. How adventurous my wife is willing to be in the future is still a process of development. But we canoed and camped on Isle Royale some 15 years back.
We plan to go around Lake Superior and then down to Michigan where Elaine has an 83 year old first cousin we want to visit. Elaine's folks are from Michigan(they all served in Civil War in Michigan Regiments to include Michgian Company of Berdan's Sharpshooters). Canoing in those regions is something we have always wanted to do but we have only done day kayak trips around lakes etc bird-watching. Our plan this summer is Trans-Labrador and then a few weeks or month in Newfoundland and perhaps a week's cruise on a schooner out of Camden, Maine.
My wife is the natural born adventurer. She hauled me kicking and screaming into the full-time RV'ing life (which I love) and the same with trips to Alaska, Baja and Yucatan. Just glad I have her to run the river with.
Snowed 6" last night and temperatures are in teens and possibly 6 degrees tonight. Will be glad to fly down to Guatemala on Saturday.
Reed and Elaine
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