Solar Install: what would you change
I’m going to do a small solar install on my 5th wheel, and I am curious what you would change about your current setup. What did you do that was wrong, not good enough or just a minor annoyance. M...
Forum Discussion
As a one who has relied on solar power for a long time, my first response is add more panel capacity than you think you need. (I hear that little monsters get really cranky without their DVD's!)
Those handy little 'capacity calculators' often don't account for extended cloudy days, tree-shaded campsites, sun on the fridge side of the rig, etc. but extra solar panel capacity can help get you over those humps. Even on cloudy days a solar panel will output some power and if you have extra panels that might just be enough. Even shaded campsites may get a few hours of sun and, again, if you have enough panels that may allow you to leave the rig in place and go hiking or swiming instead of moving your house to a sunnier spot.
As I'm sure you've found, panels can be expensive, rivaling the cost of the batteries, but with a little planning up front, adding additional panels later can be relatively simple, especially if the wire from roof to charge controller is over-sized during the initial installation and a charge controller with enough capacity for additional panels is chosen right from the get-go.
As a final comment, power from a solar source, unless grossly over-sized, needs to be managed and that requires some sort of monitor such as the Xantrex LinkPRO
Those handy little 'capacity calculators' often don't account for extended cloudy days, tree-shaded campsites, sun on the fridge side of the rig, etc. but extra solar panel capacity can help get you over those humps. Even on cloudy days a solar panel will output some power and if you have extra panels that might just be enough. Even shaded campsites may get a few hours of sun and, again, if you have enough panels that may allow you to leave the rig in place and go hiking or swiming instead of moving your house to a sunnier spot.
As I'm sure you've found, panels can be expensive, rivaling the cost of the batteries, but with a little planning up front, adding additional panels later can be relatively simple, especially if the wire from roof to charge controller is over-sized during the initial installation and a charge controller with enough capacity for additional panels is chosen right from the get-go.
As a final comment, power from a solar source, unless grossly over-sized, needs to be managed and that requires some sort of monitor such as the Xantrex LinkPRO
