Are solar panel set ups becoming more mainstream?

[WheelingIt]

You can build yourself a big enough lithium ion battery bank (up to 1000 amp hours) to run your AC for a while. The problem comes when you need to recharge that bank. You need quite a bit of solar on your roof to keep up with the high power draw. Not sure we'd have the space on the roof to do it, if it's even possible. We can run Internet, TV, microwave...everything on our 600 watt system, but no way we'd even get close with AC. The AC would suck our batteries dry way faster than we could ever hope to recharge them. Better to switch to a swamp cooler at that point.

On battery side there's no doubt lithium is the current best option. It charges fast, can be drawn down to 20% and is super light (so you can build a very large bank). Marine guys already use them and some RVers are starting to as well.

These guys have run their AC up to 3 hours on their lithium bank:
http://www.technomadia.com/2011/10/l...-rv-batteries/

[Tom222]

Can you use general solar panels for home use on RV's , I was comparing solar panels sold by RV dealers and regular home panels. The regular home solar panels are 1/3 of the cost of the ones sold by RV dealers.
Thanks
Tom

[Tom222]

Originally Posted by Rmiscoord

You will have to find your base load (mine is about 1.7 amp/hrs times 24 hours is 40 amp/hours per day). Then add your estimated other uses. I use about 30 to 40 amp/hours during the night for lights and heater fan, water pump, etc. So I need at least 60 amp/hours of solar charging (half the base load is included in the night use figure). These numbers come straight from my Battery Minder display. You will get around 50% of the rated wattage from the panels when flat on a sunny day at noon. I can get 21-22 amps under load at peak for about 4 hours then 8 hours of something less (about 1.5 amps at first light before the sun is even up), I guesstimated around 170 amp/hours available on a 12 hour sunny day in the Mohave with flat down panels on the roof based on a hour by hour load test readings. My 3 Batteries will give about 140 amp/hours to the 50% discharged mark, so I have some overkill. But when it is cloudy and raining my available solar is down 90% at times so I have then ability to take advantage of any sun breaks. My only problem now is that my 3 stage solar charging system does not include the chassis batteries. Love not having to run the generator for hours each day.

I have read about people adding a small wind turbine to the back ladder, for those windy nights or rain storms.
Tom

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by Tom222

Can you use general solar panels for home use on RV's , I was comparing solar panels sold by RV dealers and regular home panels. The regular home solar panels are 1/3 of the cost of the ones sold by RV dealers.
Thanks
Tom

These guys are experts in RV solar systems and their prices are much better than the average RV dealer:

http://www.amsolar.com/

[Gocoffeer]

TOM... The big answer to your question is YES...you can use a house mounted solar panel for RV use....the stickler that you want to understand is....the statistics on the panels that you are using. 12v versus 24v .... the solar controller that you use to convert to 12v charging system is paramount to your install. You must match the the system components to each other. You will read....wire sizing importance, Controller amps importance... Mppt vs PWM....whole house inverter vs multiple inverters....Pure sine vs modified sine... and an array that is parallel or series installed all this will sum up to the capabilities you create with your system.

Many of the people on this site have designed a solar system or bought a kit that can be expanded in the future. My install can handle a nominal 45 amp load from the panels. You would call my two panel system..."a weekender system". I can boondock over a long weekend with solar power and battery use but at some point my power hungry need will not be met by the charge system and I will need to gennie up. Now on the other hand...my system will charge up my batteries....if I leave the RV during the day and basically just let the solar system do its thing for about 5 hours.

[Sloopygirl]

Originally Posted by Steve Ownby

These guys are experts in RV solar systems and their prices are much better than the average RV dealer:

Welcome to AM Solar_Your RV Solar Specialists since 1987

Just checked this site and it says that there's a 30% tax credit for tax payers who have installed these on their home - RVs included. Has anyone checked this out and have successfully gotten the 30% tax credit on your return?

[Dogpatch]

Originally Posted by Davdeb1

Hence my reasoning for using my "quiet" 7500 watt Onan. It came with my vehicle. I can watch TV or just ready, with a low murmur background noise. Solar is great, but not for everyone.

I solved my solar problem.

No solar! Don't boondock. Stay in nice resorts with power and lots of amenities. No gennie needed. Saved $$$. Enjoy a great holiday. Spend time chillin' and not worry about consumption other than what to eat and what to drink.

[Ramblin]

Originally Posted by dogpatch

I solved my solar problem.

No solar! Don't boondock. Stay in nice resorts with power and lots of amenities. No gennie needed. Saved $$$. Enjoy a great holiday. Spend time chillin' and not worry about consumption other than what to eat and what to drink.

Pretty much me too. I am intrigued by the solar puzzle, but I don't really need it for the sort of camping I do. The longest I have dry camped was 5 days at Merlefest last year. I genny'd up in the mornings to charge and did fine the rest of the time.

[WheelingIt]

Originally Posted by Sloopygirl

Just checked this site and it says that there's a 30% tax credit for tax payers who have installed these on their home - RVs included. Has anyone checked this out and have successfully gotten the 30% tax credit on your return?

Yes. We did. It's an easy deduction that applies to any solar installation (not just AM Solar). From 5695. We were living fulltime in our RV at the time we took it.

Here's a decent article on it:
http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-...energy-credit/

Here's a link to 2012 form
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5695.pdf

[unyalli]

Dedicated boondocker here. If I can see another RV I'm to close. No way I'm staying in a mobile apartment complex listening to my neighbours sewer hose function while eating dinner on my patio.

Jeff

[WheelingIt]

Originally Posted by Tom222

Can you use general solar panels for home use on RV's , I was comparing solar panels sold by RV dealers and regular home panels. The regular home solar panels are 1/3 of the cost of the ones sold by RV dealers.
Thanks
Tom

Absolutely. In fact that's what most people who DIY do. Like Gocoffer said you just need to understand the specs and have a good 3-stage charge controller, the right wiring size, temp compensation etc.

[dros_d]

AMsolar has panels at $2.00 a watt!
How is this a good deal?
Going price is 65 cents delivered to major city.

[Flanagan]

When I search eBay and Amazon for solar kits the dealer"WindyNation" always comes up and supposedly has a good rating but I never hear about them on the blogs. What is the word on Windy Nation? Would you or have bought from them? I am also curious about panel ratings advertised in watts but many folks say you need to know the real output in amps, is that a calculation derived from the wattage or an actual measurement after installation, how do you know?

[caissiel]

Just installed a 200 Watts system for less then $600. Included MPPT controler with remote meter. Closed the converter circuit the same night. We never changed our habits and the one battery is staying above 12v every morning. We do not plan to use much AC accessories other then TV and satellite.
We have all LEDs including TV and we are going to spend next week with no connnection. I feel that we will be fine with 2 batteries.
We cannot go wrong replacing 20 amp Max comverter charging by generator with a 20 amp MPPT solar system.
Using the generator batteries were always getting down bellow 12v while realy conserving. No way I would run generator unattended but solar is on all the time. I use a 800w inverter for TV and PC's. I am hooked.