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Re: Solar Panels and Controller Mounting

Reply #25 – November 16, 2013, 03:43:17 pm

Just put an order in for my Classic 150 controller; still $610 at the N. Az. site. Have to wait for warmer weather to put the panels up.

I have purchased the hardware to tilt the (two big) panels and am beginning to wonder if that's going to be a big deal. I see that John Haygarth tilts his but they are much smaller than mine (nominal 24vdc panels).

Pierce... you have not mentioned tilting yours but, perhaps, with all that potential up top it's no big deal. We'll have only 480-watts of solid panels plus almost 150 watts of flexible panels that I was planning to glue down on the curved edges of the rooftop.

The Unisolar flex panels are supposed to be excellent at slightly off-direct angles of solar partical reception and that seemed to me to be a good spot. Of course, only one of the two would catch any sun at a time (on opposite sides of the coach) but it would spread the love, so to speak.

I have the hardware to tilt my panels but they are big enough that I'm not sure it's all that great of an idea.

Craig

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Re: Solar Panels and Controller Mounting

Reply #26 – November 16, 2013, 03:58:01 pm

Craig, my opinion is that it makes a heck of a difference if you tilt to sun, but those you guys have are big and maybe would need some more support (have not seen them in real life). I only tilt them if I am going to be in one place more than a few days. I was reading somewere a few days ago about those flewxible strips (cannot find it now) and the opinion was they are very marginal especially if partly shaded!! I have no need for more panels (or bigger) as mine are performing excellent. If I go the extra batteries sometime I will add another 1 or 2 of these so that in the not so sunny times charging is better (with 5 batteries). Life is fun thinking and fixing and modifying these coaches isn't it?
John H

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Re: Solar Panels and Controller Mounting

Reply #27 – November 16, 2013, 07:02:50 pm

John,

Even though we have a 1140 watt potential, I know we will probably never see anywhere close to that. I could have tilted them but they are so large that it would be really difficult plus the less times I have to climb up there, especially in cold, wet weather, the better it is. And there is the "forgot to lower them" (senior moment) factor too.

Shade does not seem to bother them much. They are still charging 15 or 20 watts after the sun has gone down over the horizon. The relax factor with them is great. We can come back to the coach and know we just have to turn on the inverter. No worry about starting the generator and smoking the tent camper out next to us. The morning is the same. Make a couple of lattes and head out knowing the batteries will be full shortly.

Pierce

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Re: Solar Panels and Controller Mounting

Reply #28 – November 16, 2013, 07:42:45 pm

yes it is nice not to use the gen. For me that is only there now as an emergency. Have only run it 12 hrs in 3 yrs, and except for when we did not have the solar it is only to exercise it for an hour every few months
JohnH

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Re: Solar Panels and Controller Mounting

Reply #29 – November 16, 2013, 07:43:25 pm

Yes, I am re-thinking the "tilt" option. I can make them solid for now and change later if I decide to. I agree about the "senior" moments and my idea of a good time is no longer getting up on rooftops. That stupid rear ladder especially. (I bought an extendable ladder just so I can avoid using that thing.)

My thoughts on the MPPT are completely different, now, too. Before I was thinking series and parallel but now I'm going to do series and if I put the Unisolars on their own smaller MPPT charger that might also work.

John, the flexible panels are actually better for shadows than the solids due to the way they're connected internally. And the Unisolars have about a 15% benefit in solar angle for maximum current output.

Gee, it might even be feasible to just eliminate the alternator and utilize that 20hp for climbing hills.

Craig

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Re: Solar Panels and Controller Mounting

Reply #30 – November 17, 2013, 04:35:44 pm

John, I could not agree more.

The roof A/C units on my coach ran for about 3 hours in October after 18 months of not running.

My 10K genset has run 88 hours in the 44 months I have owned this coach which is 2 hours/month and it bothers me that it weights 800 or more pounds and reduces my CCC.

I have been using solar as my primary source of power in my motorhome for 6 years and I have my panels permanently tilted to the south a few degrees if I am facing east. I put up more panels rather than having to tilt/untilt.

You and I stand out as different in the Foretravel world where most folks just run their generators for hours each day and call that boondocking. Boondocking to me involves hearing the wind in the grass and birds chirping, both inaudible with a genset running. I have attended several Foretravel dry camping rallies but have never lasted more then 4 days - just too much genset noise for me.

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Re: Solar Panels and Controller Mounting

Reply #31 – November 17, 2013, 04:48:36 pm

Wyatt,

Agree about the noise. We spend a lot of time at altitude where the generator smokes when it starts and smells all the time. High altitude eliminates AC most of the time so the panels do all the work and keep it quiet while dry camping.

Pierce

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Re: Solar Panels and Controller Mounting

Reply #32 – November 17, 2013, 05:36:20 pm

 My partner Ruth is both an animal lover and nature nut and hates anything "modern" so much so that in our home there is no AC no dishwasher, no trash compactor, and before I turned up she had no TV and no computor. So a genset to her is noise that blots out the wind and birds as you say Wyatt.
We spent about 10 days away down the Oregon and Calif coast a few weeks ago and stopped at Westport Beach at the northern end of Hwy 1 for 3 days because there was no one there and we parked right at the edge of cliff to watch the ocean and sunsets. Lucky we had some food as this was not planned and no store around for quite a drive. She walked the beach and we played Crib and talked to the birds!! Lots of solar power so no problem. Windows open all night so she slept with the ocean crashing below us. I actually enjoyed it and "No pressure" from outside world. Here are a few pics of that stop.
John H

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Re: Solar Panels and Controller Mounting

Reply #33 – November 18, 2013, 02:14:11 am

Wow! Simply beautiful! Thank you for the pictures John.

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