A well known neighbor camper had a 280 watt solar install done yesterday.A few things surprised me,....The 2 Kyocera panels (brackets) were glued to the rubber roof, no screws.The BlueSkys MPPT SB 3000i controller was mounted 15 ft from the 4 6v batts, thru 22 ft of 6 ga wire.The panels were connected in parallel,....which the manual plainly says parallel connections only.Installed price of $1550 dint surprise me much.The "glued to rubber roof", maybe ok, they should know.The 22 ft wire to batts, could have been 5 to 7 ft, had they not elected the easy way out. The owner is upset about that.The MPPT controller using parallel connected panels only, was news to me.Any comments appreciated.

What is the Voc limit of the controller? That might explain the parallel requirement.Here it is-- 50Voc, keep it under 40Voc--(two 12v at 22v each is 44v in series)http://www.blueskyenergyinc.com/uploads/pdf/BSE_SB3000i_Data_Sheet.pdfHe should have a $140 Tracer that can do 100Voc instead of that thing at over $300 IMO, then he could chose series 140s if desired.

Hi,I'd be suggesting he add some screws to the mounting.The glue won't release between the rubber roof and the mount--but the glue between the rubber roof and the wooden under structure was not intended for that kind of load.The installer perhaps used an ipn remote to "tweak" the charging voltages at the battery bank. If not, then I'd be going back to these "professional" installers and asking it be done.

Solar Boost recommends max of 40V (absolute max is 50V) so I can see their erring on the safe side but seems like a waste of money going with MPPT here. No need for it at all. My Morningstar PWM 45A with the temp comp wire is $100 less than the Solar Boost and would allow him to get another panel. And the various ebay controllers are even cheaper. And $1550 and no screws and skinny, long wire?

Whenever a consumer takes the easy way out, they end up with what is usually in the best interest of the installer.

Was this so called "professional" installer a RV professional or a S&B installer? Huge difference and the reason mine was installed by a person that deals exclusively with RV's.

Critisizing New Solar Install By Proffessionals

23 Replies

mena661
Explorer
Feb 13, 2014
Solar Boost recommends max of 40V (absolute max is 50V) so I can see their erring on the safe side but seems like a waste of money going with MPPT here. No need for it at all. My Morningstar PWM 45A with the temp comp wire is $100 less than the Solar Boost and would allow him to get another panel. And the various ebay controllers are even cheaper. And $1550 and no screws and skinny, long wire?
pianotuna
Nomad III
Feb 13, 2014
Hi,

I'd be suggesting he add some screws to the mounting.

The glue won't release between the rubber roof and the mount--but the glue between the rubber roof and the wooden under structure was not intended for that kind of load.

The installer perhaps used an ipn remote to "tweak" the charging voltages at the battery bank. If not, then I'd be going back to these "professional" installers and asking it be done.
BFL13
Explorer II
Feb 13, 2014
What is the Voc limit of the controller? That might explain the parallel requirement.

Here it is-- 50Voc, keep it under 40Voc--(two 12v at 22v each is 44v in series)

http://www.blueskyenergyinc.com/uploads/pdf/BSE_SB3000i_Data_Sheet.pdf

He should have a $140 Tracer that can do 100Voc instead of that thing at over $300 IMO, then he could chose series 140s if desired.

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Critisizing New Solar Install By Proffessionals

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