Solar upgrade to Dry Campers Dream

1000 watts @40Vdc
2, 300 watts panels 6' x 32 "
2, 180 watts panel 37"x26"

Total cost over a 2 year period $2000, less 30% tax credit.

Check out Solar in Phx located in West Phoenix.
I also found my las panel on Craigslist in Mesa.

Use this site Calculator

40Vdc panels do not require the larger size cables

Sort of the AC, during mildly cloudy to sunny days I do not need to run generator. This includes running my residential refrigerator which I installed. Location of aluminum to make your own brackets is Davis Salvage on Washington and 34th St.
Install solar until you run out of real-estate.

400W panels exist they just take up a lot of space. A MPPT controller will work just fine on those. To the OP, just make sure the MPPT controller can handle the input voltage but if you're buying from a RV solar installer that has those types of panels, they'll install the correct equipment. Since my roof space is limited, I may end up with a single 300W panel myself. I would like a 400W panel but they're just a bit too wide.

i found this 400w panel, look at spec 9T6-400, 48.43v
what the OP is looking at is probably similar, high DC voltage



http://www.saferwholesale.com/400W-Mono-Solar-Panel-p/cbi-helios-400-001.htm?vfsku=cbi+helios+400+001&Click=35179&gpla=pla&gclid=CK-P24Oq8LsCFSWCQgodRwQA5g

or this

The Grape Solar Platinum series panels use 96 pieces of 6" high efficiency monocrystalline solar cells to boost power production by more than 70 percent over conventional 230W modules. Higher powered modules mean that installations will require 44 percent less panels. This translates to a cost savings that directly affects the bottom line of successful projects.

Each Platinum series panel weighs 78.2lbs and its size is 77.2" by 51.5" and 1.57" thick. These panels work well with most standard inverters and are ideally suited to roof mount and ground mount applications.

SOURCE: Grape Solar

http://www.sustainablecitynetwork.com/topic_channels/energy/article_3ec7bfa6-8bfd-11e0-9099-0019bb30f31a.html

i don't think would want to try and mount any of these, either choice, on my roof

Those panels would be about 4' x 8' and meant to be installed in a frame on a structure. They are probably very high voltage. I wouldn't put such panels on an RV.

He doesnt have a website. But all he does is RVs and has quite the Rep in town for quality work. He might be using 24v panels and using an MPPT (?) inverter or controller. I havent clarified that with him.

1BryNelson wrote:
Ive found 1 guy DK Family RV, he has 2 400w panels in stock. Inverter will be a 2000w pure sine inverter. Still looking. But if not DK then biggest panel Ive found is 160w. Luckily Ive got enough room on my roof.

Can you provide a link to those panels. They must be grid tie panels and structurally probably not suited to RV use.

400w panels are huge. Are they 12v?

Here are some installs to look at:
Forum Members Solar Installations With Pics

My favorite supplier: (At least to compare prices)
www.solarblvd.com

Ive found 1 guy DK Family RV, he has 2 400w panels in stock. Inverter will be a 2000w pure sine inverter. Still looking. But if not DK then biggest panel Ive found is 160w. Luckily Ive got enough room on my roof.

1BryNelson wrote:
Thanks all and keep ideas coming. So far I'm leaning towards a pure sine wave inverter. I'm thinking 4 - 6v bats, 2 - 400w panels (maybe only need 1?), not sure of size of inverter and then the 3 stage charger/converter. Plus I will need an installer. And I have to decide best manufacturer.

To get 400 watts you will have to go with multiple panels. You could go with four 12 volt panels and a PWM charge controller or two high voltage panels and MPPT charge controller.

I have three Kyocera 135 watt 12 volt panels and one Windy Nation 100 watt 12 volt panel and a Morningstar Tristar 45 PWM charge controller.

I have four 6v batteries and 400 w solar. You are not going to have enough to run that microwave for long. You said 3 Tv s. Are they the tube type? They use more power than the new flat screens. Winter camping also does not provide a lot of sun as it sits low making solar less efficient.

Wedo alright running 1 tv at night with the heater and the solar will catch up the next day if we have enough sun. Run the coffee maker or the direct tv DVD on 24/7 and we end up using the generator within 48 hours. We try to conserve power as much as possible. We also have led lights in our rv.