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wa8yxm · 11-17-2017, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by okcnewbie

I happen to be from Flint. Definitely more trees in meechigan than here in ok. But it gets really hot here and the AC works better if you're shaded. I love my solar. ....especially when driving and when is not hot out

I hang out in Davison half the summer and second your remarks.

Advantage poirtable as noted above (the Evil/Nice Sun blocking tree)

Advantage Roof Easier to set up.

I'd go portable for now if I was doing it.

What I plan to do if I get a knock on the door from the Prize Patrol

Bulid a house. likely 3 stories plus basement East West And south exposures all solar panels Tell local power company to "Go climb a pole".

MTK46 · 12-27-2017, 11:02 AM

I gave this as a Christmas gift to my son. https://www.ebay.com/itm/HQST-100W-1...oAAOSwjc5Z4GqV
It's well built and puts out as advertised. He's going to go out this weekend to Joshua Tree NP. That will give it a good shake down.

cruzbill · 12-27-2017, 11:13 AM

100w panel, oriented at 90 degrees to the sun will put out about 5amps. You have to move the panels all day to keep them oriented. Now deduct for the wiring losses.

Whattay mean the wife and kids want to go for a hike? I gotta stay here and move the panels and to keep them (the panels) from walking off.

Paying close attention to the panels you may get up to 25 amps/day this time of year (optimistic, but you said Joshua Tree). Its a 5 amp trickle charger, that's it. Overcast, etc. you take what you can get.

On my 7kw house array, right now I'm getting about 30% of what I get in June. Portable panels, take too much attention, prone to theft. Outta sight, outta mind on top of the MH, I'll take what I can get from my rooftop solar.

MTK46 · 12-27-2017, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruzbill

100w panel, oriented at 90 degrees to the sun will put out about 5amps. You have to move the panels all day to keep them oriented. Now deduct for the wiring losses.

Whattay mean the wife and kids want to go for a hike? I gotta stay here and move the panels and to keep them (the panels) from walking off.

Paying close attention to the panels you may get up to 25 amps/day this time of year (optimistic, but you said Joshua Tree). Its a 5 amp trickle charger, that's it. Overcast, etc. you take what you can get.

On my 7kw house array, right now I'm getting about 30% of what I get in June. Portable panels, take too much attention, prone to theft. Outta sight, outta mind on top of the MH, I'll take what I can get from my rooftop solar.

Yea he & I know it puts out only 5 amps but you have to start somewhere. He also bought a 175 watt panel to mount on the roof. Not going to get that mounted before this weekend. Like I said you have to start somewhere.
Not all of us can afford to dump thousands of $$ on solar.

Unicorn Driver · 01-01-2018, 12:28 PM

Good to see the thread I started still going :-)

MTK46 · 01-07-2018, 09:00 PM

I think we just found something new. As my son has a controller for the 175 watt panel on the roof. When he connects the portable panels the roof controller shuts down. It's seeing the input from the portable smaller 100 w. panel.
So should we take the controller out of the portable panel and still connect to the batteries.
Leave the controller out and connect to the roof controller? The roof panel controller is 30 amps so no problem with the load.
He wants to run both panels at the same time.

rarebear.nm · 01-07-2018, 09:21 PM

A simple solution is to install an AB battery switch. two battery posts and one common post. You could switch between controllers as desired. Getting multiple controllers to play nicely in the sand box can be hard. Especially when their set points are different voltages. One controller is going to see the output of the other and think the batteries are charged and go back to sleep. You can use multiple controllers effectively when they are matched. LoL

twinboat · 01-08-2018, 04:22 AM

You can leave both controllers in service. If one is shutting down the other, that means there is no call for both to work ( battery charged ).

The controllers work by sensing voltage of the battery. Both controller do need to be connected at, or near the batteries.

Tell your son to run the batteries down or turn on a high amp item to draw down the voltage. Then both controllers will start working.

MTK46 · 01-08-2018, 09:02 AM

The controller for the roof panel is with in a foot of the batteries. The controller for the portable panels like all portable panels I've seen is mounted on the panel.

Unicorn Driver · 01-08-2018, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTK46

The controller for the roof panel is with in a foot of the batteries. The controller for the portable panels like all portable panels I've seen is mounted on the panel.

Not in all cases.

The Controller for my Renogy portable has a separate charge controller.

MTK46 · 01-08-2018, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1stMH

Not in all cases.

The Controller for my Renogy portable has a separate charge controller.

I think you mistook what I'm saying. My 100 watt portable system also has it's own controller. It's mounted on the rear of one of the two 50 watt panels.
All the portable panels that I have seen for sale have been set-up that way.

Unicorn Driver · 01-08-2018, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTK46

I think you mistook what I'm saying. My 100 watt portable system also has it's own controller. It's mounted on the rear of one of the two 50 watt panels.
All the portable panels that I have seen for sale have been set-up that way.

I know what your saying.

My Renogy portable one has the charge controller mounted in the coach and I connect the panel to it.

MTK46 · 01-08-2018, 09:26 AM

I guess that what I'm saying is the portable foldable solar kits I have seen have the controller mounted to the panel. That way they can be moved to any vehicle or batteries that need to be charged.

Unicorn Driver · 01-08-2018, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTK46

I guess that what I'm saying is the portable foldable solar kits I have seen have the controller mounted to the panel. That way they can be moved to any vehicle or batteries that need to be charged.

Gotcha.

For mine I need to move the controller to move the panels another rv.

The advantages are I can leave my panels out in the rain, have a long cable run to the panels (mine is 20ft), and it's easier to connect to the charge controller than battery.