Ready for Solar, again!

[JLeising]

Originally Posted by 25FKS

I can not speak for that controller, but I think that is the actual ouput of the panels before the controller does its thing to reduce the voltage down to a usuable number (17/19+ to 14Vdc). If I had to guess, that number is around 250 watts +/-.

If you have a real battery monitor gauge, it will give you the "actual usable output" watts/amps after the controller loss (in heat) that makes it to the battery bank. I'll show mine in a month or so when I install it.

My understanding: Most panels are ~18 volt output. An MPPT controller attempts to maintain panel power output; a PWM controller attempts to maintain panel current output. So, assuming a 18 volt 100 watt panel, the panel (under ideal lighting condition) puts out ~5.5 amps. With an ideal (no current loss) PWM controller, about 14 volts and 5.5 amps will be delivered to the batteries, or about 77 watts. With an ideal (no power loss) MPPT controller, about 100 watts at 14 volts would be delivered to the batteries, or about 7.1 amps.
Of course, there are no lossless controllers, so these are "best case", and as the batteries come up in charge level both controllers cut back their output.
Again, just my understanding.

[Slimjc]

Just a follow up post to the earlier regarding mounts, I just drove from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles, 60 mph gusts from front, side rear and doing 70 mph......the panels are still there.........in case ya needed confirmation

[Sagecoachdriver]

Well HopHed did you get anything done last weekend? I spent it working on a swale in our front yard. No fun there, darn drought! What ever happened to El Nino?

[HopHed]

Wiring done. Panels arrived today at 6. Could not wait so they are up on the roof on top of wood blocks and hooked up to see how they perform before permanent mount. Mounts will come Friday but we are leaving on a short trip to Lake Casitas on Sunday so will have to wait until the following weekend before I can think about mounting them permanently. I am anxious to see how they do tomorrow.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Originally Posted by HopHed

Wiring done. Panels arrived today at 6. Could not wait so they are up on the roof on top of wood blocks and hooked up to see how they perform before permanent mount. Mounts will come Friday but we are leaving on a short trip to Lake Casitas on Sunday so will have to wait until the following weekend before I can think about mounting them permanently. I am anxious to see how they do tomorrow.

Keep us updated! and

[Rich.M]

Had the Solera back at the house today. Checked the adhesive caulk/sticky feet mounts after our 900 mile trip in March, they are solid. Decided to puddle the feet with Dicor over the mounts and adhesive now that the adhesive is fully cured. Nice smooth finish with the self leveling. Cleaned the panels while on the roof and turned on the Solar. Most charging 316 to 325 watt. Snapped this photos at the peak for those who need to see a picture. Probably a bit of cloud edge effect. I designed the system to give 100 ah/day. Looks like that won't be a problem.

[MOODMAN]

I am a fan of solar, but just consider there are other options out there besides solar.
For example, have you looked into wind power? For camping this has a lot of pluses. If you camp in shade, then solar has no merit, but wind power does. The costs are approximately the same, and if you live in a region or go camping where there is at least 6MPH wind, and you camp in shade, then a small wind turbine makes a lot of sense.
Just sayin....

[HopHed]

Originally Posted by Rich.M

Had the Solera back at the house today. Checked the adhesive caulk/sticky feet mounts after our 900 mile trip in March, they are solid. Decided to puddle the feet with Dicor over the mounts and adhesive now that the adhesive is fully cured. Nice smooth finish with the self leveling. Cleaned the panels while on the roof and turned on the Solar. Most charging 316 to 325 watt. Snapped this photos at the peak for those who need to see a picture. Probably a bit of cloud edge effect. I designed the system to give 100 ah/day. Looks like that won't be a problem.

RichM
Thanks for the update. My sticky feet mounts came on Friday so will be installing panels in the next week or two. I feel comfortable that the vhb tape along with the 3M 5200 adhesive will not be an issue coming loose. I had the same idea to cover with self leveling dicor a few weeks after adhesive cured for cosmetic purposes. I will post pictures when completed.

[HopHed]

Finally finished solar install this week. Sticky feet mounts from RV Solar Store were the way to go with the dimpled roof. Did a light sanding to the roof at point of contact of the mounts to give a more even surface for the VHB tape on the mounts to adhere. Once attached and cured for 3 days felt confident it would hold, but still covered edges with 3M 5200 adhesive sealant to be sure. After the 7 day cure time for the 5200 I am sure the panels will not come loose.
The 2 165W panels were putting out almost 18 amps according the Trimetric 2030 controller and battery monitor on a day with light cloud cover. Will be testing out next weekend to see how everything works.

Thanks RichM for the info on the mounts and adhesive.

[Rich.M]

Your install looks great. Didn't think of sanding the peaks on the dimpled roof. I know there are some who can't give up the idea of using screws but this method is very solid. I believe more solid than smaller mounts with 2 screws into luan. Good luck with your dry camping. We will be counting on ours during a 4 week trip to the 4 corners area. We have 4 nights booked in Arches national park, 2 at needles outpost and 2 at Monument valley. All will be on solar with generator as back up.

[Sagecoachdriver]

HopHed, any chance I can see your setup? I am thinking of starting with 2x100watt panels and a Renogy 30amp Viewstar controller (have a 10 amp and like it) plus HopHed's stickyfeet. Looks like $600 for this setup total.
Still concerned about the mounts as we have driven 55-60mph with good head winds of 30-40mph. That's almost 100 mph on the panels. I know most just goes over the panels not under.

[newRVer]

Originally Posted by HopHed

Finally finished solar install this week. Sticky feet mounts from RV Solar Store were the way to go with the dimpled roof. Did a light sanding to the roof at point of contact of the mounts to give a more even surface for the VHB tape on the mounts to adhere. Once attached and cured for 3 days felt confident it would hold, but still covered edges with 3M 5200 adhesive sealant to be sure. After the 7 day cure time for the 5200 I am sure the panels will not come loose.
The 2 165W panels were putting out almost 18 amps according the Trimetric 2030 controller and battery monitor on a day with light cloud cover. Will be testing out next weekend to see how everything works.

Thanks RichM for the info on the mounts and adhesive.

Nice solar mounts. Any thought given to installing installing a 'fairing" on the front of the panel to reduce the lift load when driving at highway speeds?

[HopHed]

Yes, that has been suggested and still thinking about it. Not sure needed but if I come across something that might work well with little expense will probably do it.

[HopHed]

Originally Posted by Sagecoachdriver

HopHed, any chance I can see your setup? I am thinking of starting with 2x100watt panels and a Renogy 30amp Viewstar controller (have a 10 amp and like it) plus HopHed's stickyfeet. Looks like $600 for this setup total.
Still concerned about the mounts as we have driven 55-60mph with good head winds of 30-40mph. That's almost 100 mph on the panels. I know most just goes over the panels not under.

Let me know what works for you to come by. Will be around.
Went to Ventura for the weekend and no issues with the mounts so far. I feel very confident they will hold.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Originally Posted by HopHed

Yes, that has been suggested and still thinking about it. Not sure needed but if I come across something that might work well with little expense will probably do it.

Just some 1/2" foam water pipe insulator pushed in would work or would that put upward pressure on the panel and the sticky feet?

[HopHed]

Originally Posted by Sagecoachdriver

Just some 1/2" foam water pipe insulator pushed in would work or would that put upward pressure on the panel and the sticky feet?

Would not put enough upward pressure to make any difference. Not sure how it would stay there though. Wind may blow it out.

[18CrewDually]

Originally Posted by newRVer

Nice solar mounts. Any thought given to installing installing a 'fairing" on the front of the panel to reduce the lift load when driving at highway speeds?

If by faring you mean something to block the air from going under the panel then I'd suggest not. By decreasing the wind speed under the panel it will cause lift by the fast moving air above.

[HopHed]

Good point. Thanks for the advise.

[WolfWhistle]

Hope this isn't off the subject or a high-jack, but I wonder...
Should the truck / tow vehicle's 12 vdc power to the trailer (via the 7 pin) be disconnected?

When driving down the road, I decided to run my fridge on the inverter and it works well. But, I wonder if I am wasting power either charging to trying to charge the TV batteries with my solar charger. It seems to me that the solar controller would see the TV batteries and be affected by them??

What do you guys think?

Thanks, WW

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by HopHed

Yes, that has been suggested and still thinking about it. Not sure needed but if I come across something that might work well with little expense will probably do it.

For all of you who want to force the flow over the top of the panel, REMEMBER that is how an airplane wing works to create lift. Maybe an obstruction to keep the branches from hooking under the panels or maybe a wedge shaped leading edge for the panels to reduce wind resistance but probably ought to think twice about the aerodynamic effect of directing the flow over the top only. Think bernoulli's principle before you do something that defeats your intention and SUCKS the panels off the roof.