Solar conundrum (updated with shopping list)
Ok so if you haven't noticed I am planning on a solar upgrade to my Sundance (See sig). I am going to be going with two Trojan T-105 6v's (225 amp-hours total). We just went camping and over the two...
Forum Discussion
I just put 480watts on my Hitchhiker
Bought 4 ,120 watt Kocera panels that where re furbished by the factory for 120.00 each
A Morningstar Tristar MPPT 45 watt controller and remote panel for 530.00
Not a kit
Wire and everything , babybox and breakers including shipping was about 1350.00 at AR WIND and SUN( panels under about 140 watts ship UPS , large panels have to go truck freight)
One thing to consider when choosing controllers is a with an MPPT you can wire the panels in series , that multiplies the voltage of the panels but leaves the amps the same as one panel , allowing you to use 10 ga wire all the way to the controller , saving lots of dollars on wire
If you where to use a PWM and the same panels you need to wire in parallel , which leaves the voltage the same as one panel , but multiplies the amperage by the number of panels , making it necessary to use large wire , like #4 and a combiner box near the panels
Reason is ,PWM only converts voltage that your bat system is , about 14.4 - 14.8 max , the rest is not used , like on a panel that has 18 volts
MPPT can take high voltages , like 4 panels at 18 volts each , in series is 72 volts and convert it all into usable system voltage
If your fifth is pre-wired with smaller wire 12 ga or 10 ga you may be able to still use it with MPPT
Bought 4 ,120 watt Kocera panels that where re furbished by the factory for 120.00 each
A Morningstar Tristar MPPT 45 watt controller and remote panel for 530.00
Not a kit
Wire and everything , babybox and breakers including shipping was about 1350.00 at AR WIND and SUN( panels under about 140 watts ship UPS , large panels have to go truck freight)
One thing to consider when choosing controllers is a with an MPPT you can wire the panels in series , that multiplies the voltage of the panels but leaves the amps the same as one panel , allowing you to use 10 ga wire all the way to the controller , saving lots of dollars on wire
If you where to use a PWM and the same panels you need to wire in parallel , which leaves the voltage the same as one panel , but multiplies the amperage by the number of panels , making it necessary to use large wire , like #4 and a combiner box near the panels
Reason is ,PWM only converts voltage that your bat system is , about 14.4 - 14.8 max , the rest is not used , like on a panel that has 18 volts
MPPT can take high voltages , like 4 panels at 18 volts each , in series is 72 volts and convert it all into usable system voltage
If your fifth is pre-wired with smaller wire 12 ga or 10 ga you may be able to still use it with MPPT
