Adding solar

Topic: Adding solar (Read 1863 times) previous topic - next topic

Adding solar

July 05, 2020, 11:49:33 pm

When I bought this coach last fall it came with 4 solar panels and almost every thing need to do solar. So first thing I did was
re gelcoat the roof which I did yesterday. Solar was not one of the things I really cared about, but as I have all the stuff I'm getting
more enthused. First problem is attaching the panels to the roof. What is the best way.

Re: Adding solar

Reply #1 – July 06, 2020, 12:12:29 am

Lots of different ways I'm sure will be posted. I bought the brackets from AM Solar and mounted them with the 3M tape attached to them. Been in some very heavy winds and no problems even at 80 mph in Texas.

Re: Adding solar

Reply #2 – July 06, 2020, 12:34:23 am

I also bought my brackets from AMSolar, they came with the 3M 4950 vhb mounting tape. I am totally pleased. Note, they have different brackets for different heights and different sized frames on the solar panels. If you get different brackets the double sided 3M tape can be purchased from Amazon. The 4950 tape is considered a "special feature" vhb tape by 3M having a little higher static sheer and peal adhesion rating by 3M than some other 3M tapes. (See 3M specifications at the end) In any case, I would only use 3M vhb tape.
Amazon.com: 3M 4950/WI15 Scotch 4950 VHB Tape: 1" x 15 ft, White: Industrial...

The roof combiner box, and the round, two connector, 10 gauge, grey wire used to go from the solar panels to the roof combiner box, was also purchased fom AMSolar. Link to C-Box I used.
Roof C-Box

Link to cable I used.
Roof Wire - AMS Custom 10ga Duplex

Picture of C-Box I used, going down refrigerator vent.
Shared album - John Lewis - Google Photos

The brackets on the two panels in the back of rv by the ladder, I made from aluminum angle stock. The two at the front are AMSolar brackets. Doing it over, I would only use AMSolar brackets for reasons below.
Shared album - John Lewis - Google Photos

What I like about these AMSolar brackets is they were easy to install, and now allow easy cleaning underneath the panels, or tilting if later I need. With 1800 watts I do not expect to ever tilt. The following is a closeup of the brackets used in the above picture.
Shared album - John Lewis - Google Photos

This is a link to all the AMSolar mounts and videos.
Mounts

Since the above picture I've added two more 300 watt panels, one in front of those two front panels, and another one between the two a/c units, for a total of 1800 watts.

Re: Adding solar

Reply #3 – July 06, 2020, 12:49:44 am

Yes, several ways will work fine. I screwed ours down using stainless fasteners and used a regular stud finder to find the aluminum tubing in the roof. There are already a couple hundred screws through the roof. No harm in a few more if you seal them.

Pierce

Re: Adding solar

Reply #4 – July 06, 2020, 10:21:43 am

The only thing I think is missing is a combiner box for the breakers and the brackets to hold down the panels. I might make the
brackets.

Re: Adding solar

Reply #5 – July 06, 2020, 10:29:57 am

Quote from: oldguy – July 06, 2020, 10:21:43 am

The only thing I think is missing is a combiner box for the breakers and the brackets to hold down the panels. I might make the
brackets.

I made my brackets. Nothing to it with aluminum angle iron and a 64-1/2" band saw. I didn't need a combiner box as I did a series/parallel wiring installation for the four panels and there were only four wires to bring down into the coach. Since I used vinyl electrical flex for the wires to run through, I just used an electrical 90 with a removable cap and down they went. Then I combined the two positives and the two negatives into one each for about a ten inch run into the CBs and then controller. Easy. You can see where they came together in my old post.

Pierce

Re: Adding solar

Reply #6 – July 06, 2020, 03:30:07 pm

Quote from: oldguy – July 06, 2020, 10:21:43 am

The only thing I think is missing is a combiner box for the breakers and the brackets to hold down the panels. I might make the
brackets.

I used this for my breakes, this unit will hold 4 breakers. Midnite Solar also make a bigger one, if you need more room for the combiner function or for more breakers. Since I had the combiner function on the roof, 4 breakers were fine for me.
MIDNITE SOLAR BABY BOX ENCLOSURE LOAD CENTER - - Amazon.com

Six breakers, and combiner function from Midnite.
Amazon.com: MidNite Solar Combiner Box MNPV6-250: Industrial & Scientific

I never used this, however, it looks interesting because of price and size. $24
Plastic Transparent Cover Power Distribution Protection Box for Circuit...

Re: Adding solar

Reply #7 – July 06, 2020, 04:01:39 pm

Pierce I was going to ask you what you ran the wires through and in your last post you said vinyl electrical flex but I googled that
and it didn't come up.

Re: Adding solar

Reply #8 – July 06, 2020, 04:14:59 pm

Quote from: oldguy – July 06, 2020, 04:01:39 pm

Pierce I was going to ask you what you ran the wires through and in your last post you said vinyl electrical flex but I googled that
and it didn't come up.

25 ft w/ connectors $26
Sealproof Non-metallic Liquid-Tight Conduit and Connector Kit, 1/2-Inch 25...

100 ft $53
Sealproof 1/2-Inch Flexible Non-metallic Liquid-Tight Electrical Conduit...

Re: Adding solar

Reply #9 – July 06, 2020, 04:38:45 pm

Quote from: oldguy – July 06, 2020, 04:01:39 pm

Pierce I was going to ask you what you ran the wires through and in your last post you said vinyl electrical flex but I googled that
and it didn't come up.

Not as old as me guy,

OK, here is the stuff available at HD: https://www.homedepot.com/p/HYDROMAXX-3-4-in-Dia-x-25-ft-Flexible-PVC-Non-Metallic-UL-Liquid-Tight-Electrical-Conduit-4105034025/311955646 Cuts with a sharp knife or box cutter.

Down through the roof: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Carlon-3-4-in-Gray-Schedule-40-and-80-PVC-Type-LB-Conduit-Body-E986E-CTN/100404084

Think I used either 4 or 6 of these rubber insulated stainless clamps to make sure the flex conduit didn't move. All under the panels so they can't be seen. HJ Garden 6pcs 1-1/2 inch Rubber Cushioned Cable Clamp 304 Stainless Steel...

Drilled pilot hole, installed screws, removed screws, 3M clear in the hole, re-installed screws (with clamps).

I drilled the larger hole next to the fridge compartment where all the little doors/storage slideouts are. Lined with Hardie and installed breakers and controller there.

This all makes for a cleaner/neater installation than any shop I have ever seen. Think most of them use CW graduates.

Pierce

Re: Adding solar

Reply #10 – July 06, 2020, 05:55:57 pm

Thanks Pierce. I looked at your pictures off your install. I can't put my breakers there. I will put them with the controller where the Aqua hot over flow tank was. I will probably do all the panels with separate runs. I think that is what the previous owner planned as there
is enough wire to do that. I am thinking putting the front panel across the front so I can tilt it up. I use the coach more for skiing
than I do in the summer. Right now it is just a thought I will see how it plays out.

Re: Adding solar

Reply #11 – July 07, 2020, 12:21:26 am

You might be able to put it in the battery bay as I did.

final solar upgrad.

Re: Adding solar

Reply #12 – July 07, 2020, 12:28:30 am

Chuck, I might have done just that and remoted the display but the Midnite controller is too tall to fit in our battery bay. Yours makes for a super short run from the controller to the battery.

Pierce

Re: Adding solar

Reply #13 – July 07, 2020, 02:28:04 pm

How many amps and volts does the 2030 watt solar system output?

Re: Adding solar

Reply #14 – July 07, 2020, 02:33:16 pm

Quote from: Caflashbob – July 07, 2020, 02:28:04 pm

How many amps and volts does the 2030 watt solar system output?

In perfect conditions (which never happen) 153 amps @ 13.2 volts. I had seen 80 amps with the system when it had 1140 watts

Re: Adding solar

Reply #15 – July 07, 2020, 07:27:20 pm

2030 watts will generate about 4000 watts into your system on an average day over the course of a year. In January maybe 1/2 of that or less. In mid July in ideal conditions 2-3 times the average.

We have 1200 watts of panels and have generated well over 6kw during a day in the Wyoming mountains. Voltage and amos vary during the day. The solar charge controller manages power coming in from to the panels to a multi-stage charge profile appropriate for your battery type.

Re: Adding solar

Reply #16 – July 09, 2020, 02:31:20 pm

I reccomended this video for any newbie or a forum member lookin to upgrade and wants to see up close what another did. It will give you a glimpse what is required, it is not a path to follow. I bought some components from AMSolar and did the entire install myself.

On the website of AMSolar they offer better videos on individual component installs.

Solar Panel DIY Installation Help & RV Solar Power Setup | AM Solar

The video below is a quick look at what Garrett, President of AMSolar, offers, and what one self described "village idiot", did on his schoolie, including solar and an alternator to battery charging system.

This is not an AMSolar install, it is a self install that the schoolie owner took to AMSolar to get straightened out to work properly.

Often reccomended by forum members, also Bay Marine in San Diego offers similar Victron equipment, at a discount to forum members.

https://youtu.be/6w1b1vfU2rk.

Re: Adding solar

Reply #17 – July 10, 2020, 11:24:04 am

Don't be intimidated by a video with a name like "Solar For Dummies" made by a guy that needs a shave.

Members of this forum are not dummies and most did quite a bit of research before purchasing their coach. A little more research will put a lot of watts on the roof with your own DIY abilities and not one watt less than a "recommended" company.

A little more than the "one thousand" dollars mentioned at the start of the video buys top of the line components. This is just not rocket science, just panels on the roof, wires down to the controller and a couple more wires to the batteries with a few breakers/misc items thrown in.

If you have a big budget, nothing wrong having a Miami Mice Don Johnson look alike install a system for you but if you make the Indian ride the Buffalo like I do, read the list on components you will need as posed on the forum and just do it. Ours has been providing watts and watts of power for over a decade without even a momentary hiccup. So have other forum members.

Pierce

Re: Adding solar

Reply #18 – July 11, 2020, 05:53:38 pm

I have drilled the lower holes today. Will leave the one on the roof till I get the box that is ordered. How much clearance should
I have between the panel and the roof.

Re: Adding solar

Reply #19 – July 11, 2020, 07:24:38 pm

How thick are your panels? If commercial like ours, they should be about an inch and a half. The electrical flex tubing that the wires go inside of is also about an inch and a half so with about an inch and a half all the way around, the fit is perfect. I took a gun to the space under the panels and it's cooler than the roof. The panels will cause the interior of the coach to be slightly cooler below the panels.

Note that we have a flat roof. The models with a rounded roof offer a choice, flat to the roof or flat in relationship to each other.

Pierce

Re: Adding solar

Reply #20 – July 12, 2020, 01:17:36 am

My panels are edges are 11/4 and I'm hoping that an inch under the lip will be enough clearance to keep them cool.

Re: Adding solar

Reply #21 – July 29, 2020, 10:41:56 pm

Well I finally got the solar working today. Still more to do. One of the panels wasn't working but I went out to check the system at
6.00 PM the voltage was up so I will hook it up tomorrow and see. I made the bracket and when I took up to the roof I realize they wouldn't work so I had to redesign one side and the upside is the panels are flat. I will send pictures later.

Re: Adding solar

Reply #22 – August 02, 2020, 07:01:09 pm

One panels isn't working. It will put out 14 volts and as soon as I hook up a head light bulb it drops to 10 volts. The others put out
over 30 volts. I shortened the TV antenna so the left front one would fit. The cables aren't fastened yet.

Re: Adding solar

Reply #23 – August 02, 2020, 07:35:33 pm

How about a photo of the data sticker on the back of the panel? They don't usually fail, the output is just lower after a few years. Check for damage to the panel and the wiring before getting rid of it. The glass can be broken and look terrible but they usually still work.

Pierce

Re: Adding solar

Reply #24 – August 02, 2020, 10:42:42 pm

I had it wired backwards so may have burnt something out. I've been trying to get hold of the manufactures to see what they
can tell me.

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