Solar panels

[drdarrin]

Originally Posted by rgkroeber

drdarrin: I note you've used quality components (Morningstar MPPT 45 CC, Bogart 2030RV monitor.); what brand of batteries did you go with and what inverter? Lastly, did you use heavy wiring from panels to solar charger and charger to batteries?

I used 4 gauge welding wire from the panels (parallel) to the CC (17 feet) and the same wire to the batteries. The batteries are 232 AH GC2 batteries and I don't recall the brand name. When I bought the trailer, the dealer installed 2 of them and within a couple months, I added another pair of the same brand.


The inverter is a Zantrex Freedom HFS 2KW full sine-wave.

[biggcrisp]

I don't want to mount anything on my roof (personal decision). Wish my awning was a solar panel system though. Solar built into the roof material would also be ideal.

[WorldCat25]

Originally Posted by biggcrisp

I don't want to mount anything on my roof (personal decision). Wish my awning was a solar panel system though. Solar built into the roof material would also be ideal.

I have the same concern but ordered 2 panels on mine.

[Nwcid]

I love mine. I have more then I need for my normal use but the extra capacity is nice. From the time the snow melts off the roof, until fall I never need to plug in. My unit does have a built in generator which gets used to run the microwave, toaster oven or AC. Occasionally when traveling in the winter I do use the generator to help with charging.

I have 450 ah worth of batteries and just over 500 watts of flat mounted panels. I have a HF 1000 inverter/charger. This takes care of the lights, fans, TV, computer, CPAP over night, furnace, misc charging.

Originally I only had half the batteries and solar, but I work on Wildland fires and a couple of days with no sun due to inversion meant I was not getting a good charge. Now that I have doubled my system the last 2 years has been no problem. I have about $2000 invested in my system now.

In my next unit, which will have much more that needs power I will be looking at close to 1000 watts of solar, a 3000 watt hybrid inverter and larger battery bank.

[leadman]

I had 290 watts on our previous 22' Itasca. I installed 400 watts on our current 35' Winnie.
Before you install solar replace your 12v lights bulbs with led bulbs if you currently have incandescent. This limits heat and also lower the draw from the batteries tremendously.
Our 22' had 3 group 29 deep cycle batteries, the current 35' have 3 group 27 batteries. Both work well but will change our current rig to group 29 later. Costco does not carry group 29s so I went with the 27s.
I bought my solar panels from Renogy Solar off E-Bay and have had no issues with them. I wanted a larger controller so went with a 60 amp rated one from a different supplier for the larger terminals. Ran 12 gauge wires from each panel to a fuse block then to the controller.
I bought the mounting brackets from Renogy also to lessen the install time. I had made brackets and tilted the panels on our first MH but with the increase in wattage it is not necessary to tilt them as mentioned in a post above. Saves me time and climbing on the roof.
Solar is not very difficult to install and wire, and Renogy has people to answer your questions. I am just a customer of Renogy.
If you want to get some experience with solar you could do as I did and buy a kit. I bought a Harbor Freight kit on sale and just set the panels on the ground to try them while camping. You might be amazed at how simple it is.