Solar Array Install on a Lance 1995

CA Traveler wrote:
OK Please take this comment with respect and meant to help. Yes it is a nice clean install, but...

Your install pictures show a major and unfortunately all to common install problem. Both panels have shadows - one from the vent cover and the second from the antenna. Shadows kill panel output.

Move the left panel to the far left and/or remove the vent cover and close the vent when you might have a shadow from it. Move the right panel to the far right and as forward as possible or move the antenna and close the vent.

And the panels could be raised to help avoid shadows.

Yeah, could end up being a flaw, but an intentional one. All that was taken into consideration. A lot of thought went into the placement and ultimately I chose where I did. Maybe you would've chose differently. I chose the Renogy panels specifically because I knew I would have some shadows. From my research I believe Renogy panels provide the most power from shady environments. We're talking straight up cloudy days. They still outperform all others I was looking at. And I believe those would be worse than a 5 o clock shadow appearing on my panels Anywhere i mount it on the roof will eventually have a shadow on it from the exhaust vents (front and rear and I refuse to take the covers off), or air conditioner. It was intentional. Plus the fact that we camp mostly in desert environments with full on sun all day with absolutely no clouds. We're not called the Sun City for nothing... LOL. I didn't want to drill holes close to the edge seams of the roof. Plus the fact that I usually don't dry camp. But if I do, it won't be for more than 3 days at a time. These are more than enough for my needs, which was my goal. Also weighing in was the length of the cables. Did I really want an extra 2 feet of cable to be able to flop around up there? Or have to drill more holes or glue platforms just to install some sort of stabilizer for the added cable? Thought about raised panels too but that meant more lift under them or install some type of spoiler to direct the traveling wind around them.

And when I did finally accept the fact that I would rather deal with a little shade, I took solace in that I can easily spend an additional $149 and install a 3rd panel (technically 2 more if I wanted). That would more than make up for any output lost by a little bit of shade if I did eventually prove to be wrong.

So it's not that I didn't think about it. I wrestled with that for months and chose to go this route.

Interesting afterthought... while we were testing the setup dry camping, the rig next to us had a bunch of panels in the trailer being towed behind his 5th wheel. Asked him about them. He said he had installed them raised up a little. The first semi truck that went by him at highway speeds blew all 5 panels off his trailer. Tore them right off. Amazingly enough, only 1 of the 5 no longer worked.