Solar panels -- how common?

thats a 'funny' statement to make

there are lots of class A owners (many with DP's) on here who have solar

we have 505watts, a residential fridge, and dry camp 99% of the time
and we have a 34ft DP

As a group, FMCA members are probably the least likely to be interested in solar power. Most of us (I'm a member) have motorhomes that we're not likely to take to a boondock area with regularity, either because we don't want to navigate dirt roads (rear radiator) or don't want to leave it in the boonies when we explore the area. Yes, there are exceptions, but you're more likely to find solar enthusiasts in the fiver/toyhauler crowd. Perhaps next year's Good Sam rally will have the vendors/seminars that you'd like.

Hi FreeIndeed,

Nice system.

I tune pianos for a living, and full time in my class C. I'm upgrading my inverter this year and next year hope to upgrade my solar to at least 1250 watts.

cwdavis wrote:
We just recently returned from our very 1st FMCA convention, this one in Perry, GA, which we enjoyed thoroughly, learning a lot! One surprise, though, was the absence of any seminars on solar power for RVs. And, in the vendor booths, I think we found just one display that included panels; there were no companies present that specialized in them. So the question is, how common are they?

More and more common every day. If the wife and I could get free to travel a lot more....Id have a setup on top of my own coach.

Pianotuna...are you a fish or a musical instrument? :)

I installed the Morningstar Tristar MPPT 60. My coach currently has 4) Lifeline GPL-4DL batteries at 210 AH each. It is supposed to have 4) GPL-8DL which are 255 AH each, so I will upgrade to these when the need arises. Pretty darn expensive batteries though.

Very common in the Southwest for dry campers! Visit Quartzsites, AZ. during the winter La Posa Campground area, and you will see lots of them on the high tech dry campers RV's.

Hi FreeIndeed,

What charge controller are you using?

What size is the battery bank? (amp-hours please)

Hi all, I am enjoying all the solar discussions. My wife and I just sold our Colorado home and are toying with full timing it in our 2008 Monaco. We went to Quartzsite, AR in January to the big RV show and was also very disappointed at the lack of solar information. So I took matters into my own hands...having studied solar energy somewhat, I visited the two main solar companies in the town of Quartzsite and investigated their panel and equipment offerings. I ended up purchasing all of my solar equipment in Flagstaff. I was able to install 3) 250W and 3) 140W Kyocera panels. My coach came from the factory with a single 100W panel and pretty decent 30 amp controller so I installed the 3 smaller panels on the front of the roof in place of the 100 watt panel using the existing components. I then installed the 3 larger panels and ran 4 gauge wires down to an unused compartment that I found under the floor in our closet. I made my own panel mounts that raised the panels up about 7 inches so there would be no shadows on them. My coach has the Girard awnings on the passenger side and matching faux awning on the other side, these are heavy duty aluminum and made great mounts for the outside of each panel. From the ground you cannot see anything on the roof.
We have a residential frig in our unit and lots of electric sucking gizmos so I wanted as much power as I could get. Just finished the install a couple weeks ago but have not boondocked with it yet. I have seen 65 amps combined when the sun was not directly overhead and the batteries where not very drained. Time will tell but I am hoping to be able to dry camp for extended stays without use of the gen.

I would love to answer any questions or help anybody out in any way I can. I own a Cessna service center and a small RV repair shop so mechanical diagnosis and repair is right up my alley!

Take care and enjoy this beautiful land of the Free!

Here on the east coast I am usually fighting trees a less sunlight. I had three panels on my first coach. Worked great but the last two coaches have none. The east coast is not codusive to solar as much as the west. So for me it wasa waste of money. You may differ but there is nothing like a shaded site with a small brook running by.

I'm getting ready to fo full time by June, mostly boon docking. Since I put the solar "previously described" I have not plugged the rig in. I go out and turn things on like I'm camping. Leave lights and fans on overnight.
So far the batteries have not been below 12v.
Totally amazing and I can add to system easily.