Getting ready for solar

Topic: Getting ready for solar (Read 1847 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #25 – September 18, 2017, 03:13:22 pm

Or this one.
Victron BlueSolar 85 Amp 150 Volt MPPT Charge Controller - Model 150/85-MC4
You can get the bluetooth dongle for $50. Free app on phone or tablet. Nice thing is you do not have to run wires for a remote display.
Alan, the owner, will give you good advice and a discount for being on the forum.

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #26 – September 18, 2017, 03:57:24 pm

Lots of info to digest. I have no need to allow for expansion as the 4 panels are all that will fit without modifying something on the roof. I will wait a little longer on the controller but the Midnight looks like the best bang for the buck. I am hoping to keep as much equipment in the bays as possible. DW doesn't want her kitchen modified so I can monitor things, so looking for another location. Maybe the original line monitor area.
Pierce I will PM you and try to get up there to look at your system.

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #27 – September 18, 2017, 05:04:25 pm

The Victron looks like a player too. Installing the controller close to the batteries or the main bus has the big advantage of short heavy cables between the controller and the house batteries. The bluetooth dongle Victron uses means quite a bit less hassle wiring. Locating the controller below would have saved me a lot of hassle. I might have installed the controller below and remote mounted the display/control panel. We don't use the storage to anywhere close to capacity so it was not a problem. That little compartment was a handy height though.

Everyone's prices see to have inched up almost $100. Perhaps it's summer.

Pierce

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #28 – September 18, 2017, 05:31:48 pm

The Victron is about 1/2 the size of the midnite solar classic. As you can see I don't have much extra room.
The little box on the front is the dongle that connects to your phone or tablet. You can change settings and get real time and historic information from it.

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #29 – September 18, 2017, 05:45:47 pm

They sell the Victron that I would need for just und $650. It would save time and money on the large cables as I could mount it in the battery compartment.
Victron Blue Solar MPPT 150/85-Tr 85 Amp Solar Charge Controller Regulator |...

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #30 – September 18, 2017, 06:03:44 pm

Quote from: jcus – September 18, 2017, 06:01:33 pm

I use the 60 amp because I only have 960 watts of solar. If you running 1160 watts, you might be better off with the 70 amp model.
You can still use the small 10 gauge wire
.Victron BlueSolar 70 Amp 150 Volt MPPT Charge Controller - Model 150/70-MC4

I changed my post to read for the 150/85 Do you think the 150/70 is adequate?

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #31 – September 18, 2017, 06:15:00 pm

The Victron 150/70 gave just a bit of clearance for my 3-300 watt panels. This is one of those places where almost big enough doesn't work well. The 85 will be better. You may never need the capacity but you need enough for the maximum possible event.

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #32 – September 18, 2017, 06:18:27 pm

Point taken.
Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #33 – September 18, 2017, 06:25:48 pm

I ran 1200 watts for a while and even in the best conditions [ south, summer and sun directly overhead] never saw more than 960 watts coming in. That is about 80 amps. As the controller will shed any load over its limit, 70 might be okay but I would go with the 85 amp model. If you buy wire, controller, fuses etc from Alan at Bay Marine he will give you a nice discount.
With your coach [I had the same one] you can mount the controller in the battery compartment and only need less than 2 ft of heavy cable from controller to batteries. Running the twin lead 10 gauge into the compartment is pretty easy.

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #34 – September 18, 2017, 06:51:41 pm

When you say twin lead 10 gauge were you running them all in series?

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #35 – September 18, 2017, 07:04:26 pm

Quote from: craneman – September 18, 2017, 06:51:41 pm

When you say twin lead 10 gauge were you running them all in series?

With my current setup, I am running in series, but my VOC is only 120 volts. With 4 panels, your VOC would be 160 volts, a little too high. I would run series/parallel which will give you 80 volts at a max of 15 amps. You would have to join the two strings on the roof but could run 10 gauge down to the controller. Bay Marine website has a wire size calculator that tells you what size wire to use at a certain voltage and amperage.
Bos'ns' Corner - Wire Size Calculator

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #36 – October 01, 2017, 02:12:13 pm

Check out these DIY videos from AMSolar in Eugene, OR. Diagrams and Videos Excellent reputation and they will ship product. This week I bought this combiner box Rv Combiner Box - Roof Mount Combiner Box. Solar Panel Combiner Box and a few of their accessories RV Solar Panel Mounts - Mounting Solar Panels on RV - RV Solar Panel.... I also bought all of the wire, I especially liked their round 10-2 wire ( Roof Wire - AMS Custom 10ga Duplex) for the roof wiring of the panels Power Inverter Cable - RV Battery Connection - Solar Power Connection to grid This round 10-2 wire in a round jacket worked terrific with their round weather proof connectors to the roof vent and combiner. I cannot recommend with enough enthusiasm. I may pay a little more for their products, I do so because I know they have quality products and they are always there for me when I need info and accurate explanations.

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #37 – October 05, 2017, 06:52:41 pm

Finished! I am so glad I saw this lengthy video from AM Solar, and watched prior to installing my system. I ended up abandoning my purchased combiner box and Renogy 10 gage connecting cable. I substituted AM Solar's Roof C Box and their round 10/2 cable from panels to C box, and their small 3M type cable to roof tabs. I am more than pleased with their Roof C Box. It made installation easier, water tight, and now easily expandable. (Although I doubt I will; my previous solar was MPT 150 watt for 10 years and it met 90% of my needs, now with 2 @ 280 watt panels, MPPT controler, I believe I am set). Easy access for large wire size to controller, water tight, room for expansion, genuine quality, comes with easy to install glue down 3M tape.

Roof C-Box

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #38 – October 06, 2017, 11:40:05 am

are those 140 watts each? look to small to be 280 watts each

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #39 – November 13, 2017, 04:53:04 am

Quote from: DavidS – October 06, 2017, 11:40:05 am

are those 140 watts each? look to small to be 280 watts each

Yes, 65 inches by 40 inches. The pictures are of LG280S1C-G4 280 W each, the LG ones Wholesale Solar sells now are 300 W, approx the same size 66 X40. This is the spec sheet for the two I have. LG280S1C-G4 | LG Mono X® Plus Module | Forward Energy | GridReady | Products... and Wholesale Solar specials Solar Panel Sales - Solar Power Systems for Sale I bought them there because they seemed to be of good quality and I could drive to pick them up and back in one day as they are out of Lake Shasta, CA. right on the CA/Oregon border off Hwy 5.

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #40 – November 13, 2017, 01:16:48 pm

Typical 280-300 watt 72 cell commercial panels are usually 65 to 76 inches by 39 inches and about 2" thick. With that length and assuming a 1 1/2" roof clearance, three mounts down each side should be used.

Pierce

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #41 – November 13, 2017, 03:38:27 pm

I used 12" long mounts (made by my metal guy) bent at the correct angle for the roof curve. One at each corner, lots of VHB tape surface. About $10 per corner. Well bonded VHB tape has a 91 psi tensile strength.

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #42 – November 13, 2017, 07:39:28 pm

I have 4 connection points on each of the panels on my roof.. I tested them for 2k miles at speeds of 80 mph + headwind and they are holding well. Unbelievable actually .. Made a VHB believer out of me and I am not easy just ask my wife

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #43 – November 13, 2017, 09:44:50 pm

I recommend about 4 inches of roof clearance. This provides better cooling and makes it possible to clean under the panels.

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #44 – November 19, 2017, 10:39:46 am

Continuing with the project I have 2 choices for mounting the controller. The battery compartment or next to my inverter in one of the storage bays. The cables attached to the inverter are large enough to carry the load to the batteries. Is there any difference hooking up at the inverter cables or at the batteries themselves? The inverter location would make it easier to put the monitor cables up to where the factory voltage monitors are in the coach.
I am still reading many posts on the issue of a combiner or direct link to the controller. It almost seems to be a ford vs. chevy issue and I am trying to weigh the pros and cons of each.

Re: Getting ready for solar

Reply #45 – November 19, 2017, 10:51:31 am

No difference if the inverter supply cables are any size at all.

I did my series/parallel connection about a foot down inside the roof. I could have done it on the roof top or further down inside. Doing it sooner means slightly less loss because of the higher voltage but in the real world, doubt if it makes much difference.

Pierce

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