Solar Panels

pianotuna wrote:
Hi NaViDa,

My first solar system was a scant 30 watts. It did a good job of fully charging 250 amp-hours of battery bank, between trips.

My panels predate the flexible Unisolar product. I purchased the panels and charge controller from Star Lite Solar in Yuma, AZ via ebay. I tried to be nice--and attempted to order directly from them--so they would save the ebay listing costs--but they wanted MORE money than from the ebay "buy it now". My cost was $5.50 per watt, seven years ago.

In those days, because panels were expensive per watt, MPPT controllers made financial sense. Currently, unless there is no room left on the roof--it is cheaper to use a pwm system and buy an "extra" panel.

To service the battery bank 100% from solar, I have to use "bank switching", but that allows me a LOT of flexibility, too. (For example charging one bank while using the other.)

When I was not full time, my system provided all the power I needed for several days in a row--drawing down the battery bank farther and farther. Between trips (even in December and January), the solar would fully recharge the battery bank. Most of my camping is boondocking based.

Future plans are to purchase a larger pure sine wave inverter, and add another 800 watts (and yes I'll use MPPT).

The only mistake I made was buying a controller that was just big enough, so I have to buy another one if I wish to increase the wattage.

Hi,

I'm glad i came here to learn more about what i need to do now, but many of the things you and many here have stated, i still dont get. I do know i'll need a higher end controller now and to start out with more than 200W and what "mono" means at this point. And with the help of this forum and Youtube, the rest i'm sure will come before its time to purchase and thereafter.

What's so exciting about all of this is its a dream come true for me to be even at this stage!

thanks for helping:)!