Planning for solar installation this spring
My TT comes with a single Interstate SRM-24 battery. We camped for one season so far and never really lived off the battery in any of the campground except for maybe an hour where I didn't plug in sh...
Forum Discussion
two of these AGM batteries for 200 AH capacity: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S1RT58C/?coliid=I1D1MA2RB6OCWZ&colid=2AX6R5XMB9ZVD&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
Chinese cr-ap. Formerly Panasonic. I have them, performed poorly from the day one. If it wasn't for my big solar and very low energy use, I would have to buy new batteries after a year. Bite the bullet and get AGM Dekka or Fullriver. Or go cheap, install 2*6V wet cells on the hitch - if they fit. Or buy one more Interstate like the one you have.
I have never used VHB tapes and don't know first hand how secure this is.
Not secure, on plywood-rubber roof. Panels will fly away with pieces of membrane still holding nicely to brackets.
If I drill the roof and screw the bracket to the roof, what's the best way to seal those holes? Silicone seal?
Not silicone. Use Dicor lap sealant or Geocel Proflex RV. Put plenty of sealant under the bracket, wet the screw in sealant before driving it in, and (maybe) cover the screw heads with sealant. Use stainless hardware on roof screws and on bolts/nuts on panels.
The panels will be mounted near the rear of the trailer. I'm thinking run the wires down the back of the trailer, then underneath the trailer to the front where the storage compartment is and drill a hole in the floor to run the wires in. Is there any issues with length of the wire vs. power loss from the panel?
With series 500W array and MPPT the power loss is negligible, up to ~100-150ft distance, with wire #10. Haven't heard of anybody running it down the back of the trailer though.
Chinese cr-ap. Formerly Panasonic. I have them, performed poorly from the day one. If it wasn't for my big solar and very low energy use, I would have to buy new batteries after a year. Bite the bullet and get AGM Dekka or Fullriver. Or go cheap, install 2*6V wet cells on the hitch - if they fit. Or buy one more Interstate like the one you have.
I have never used VHB tapes and don't know first hand how secure this is.
Not secure, on plywood-rubber roof. Panels will fly away with pieces of membrane still holding nicely to brackets.
If I drill the roof and screw the bracket to the roof, what's the best way to seal those holes? Silicone seal?
Not silicone. Use Dicor lap sealant or Geocel Proflex RV. Put plenty of sealant under the bracket, wet the screw in sealant before driving it in, and (maybe) cover the screw heads with sealant. Use stainless hardware on roof screws and on bolts/nuts on panels.
The panels will be mounted near the rear of the trailer. I'm thinking run the wires down the back of the trailer, then underneath the trailer to the front where the storage compartment is and drill a hole in the floor to run the wires in. Is there any issues with length of the wire vs. power loss from the panel?
With series 500W array and MPPT the power loss is negligible, up to ~100-150ft distance, with wire #10. Haven't heard of anybody running it down the back of the trailer though.
