Forum Members Solar Installations With Pics

Description first; when I have the time and or inclination I'll do it up as a blog page and post the link. Finally! July 2014 :Z :S Blue Text denotes the changes.

Started with 2 X 80 watt panels and a "P.O.S." controller that will go un-named for now.

Later added 2 X 130 watt panels for a total of 420 Watts. All can be tilted side to side manually. (Tilt added June 2013)
Panels are in parallel due to frequent shading.

New Blue Sky Solar Boost 2000E controller. Original wire is #10 from panels to controller (had asked for 8 or 6 but I got 10!) PITA to change--(no fridge vent to use) will get on it this summer. (Not!)From controller to batteries seems to be #6 (originally was the wiring from the converter to batteries). Converter was replaced with Inverter/Charger when first solar panels were done.

Batteries are 4 X 12 V RV/Deepcycle. Hoping to change to 4 X 6V GCs soon (room problem) Done October 2012: Now have 484 AH

Also have:
Xantrex Prosine 2.0 inverter. Battery wiring to/from inverter is less than 3 feet each of 000. (Charger portion capable of 100A)

In Mexico for the winter, panels partially shaded until about 9:00AM and again at 2:30PM, full shade by 4:00PM

The problem is the distance from the controller output to the batteries.

All new from here down.

Full story on our blog here.









And finally the battery compartment (Left) top tray; 4 242 6V GCs house batteries with watering system; bottom tray, 2 group 31 12V Marine Deep Cycle

and the electric compartment (Right). The Xantrex Prosine 2 is the yellow box at the top. The unpainted square box in the lower part is the transfer switch.

bigfootford

I like your suggestions as a starting point.
That raw data is good, but the "WHY" that particular device was chosen over the many available is even better data.

A month or so back I tried to get a discussion going with this Thread
> Choosing a Solar PV Charge Controller < here in the Tech area
It did not receive much attention
I was VERY surprised not one person acknowledged that they used the configuration download capabilities offered by many high end controllers
So I pretty much gave up
Always other things to get down around this place

Guess I look at PV system installs on Boats and RV's a bit differently than most folks.

I use proactive warning/alarm systems to provide both sounds and visual indications that something is starting to go or has gone awry. Many of these systems monitor both battery banks for high/low voltages and after a programmable time delay they produce a call to action. Many things can be monitored including Temperatures, Current draw, etc. Imagination is the only limit to what can be monitored. I then use this filtered data to drive such things as Sonalerts alarms and warning lights. Yes the traditional battery monitor's display has much of the information available but not at night when sleeping. Additionally they do not include the time delayed data or temperature data many of my systems require. For example what would happen if you went to bed and forgot to turn something off that could possibly hurt as in fully discharge your batteries? No big deal my Proactive warning / alarm system will notify me. As I said my installs are different from others folks. I love this stuff and the technology involved and do it for others to help pay for my "toy" expenses.

Ken

My solar system

Have fun
Dave

bigfootford wrote:

KJINTF wrote:
Loads of good information - Nice to see it all in one place
The PV array installation looks to be where the majority of the effort is being concentrated. Too bad we don't see any proactive warning / alarm systems in these installs or detailed configuration files of the controllers.

Not a bad Idea, why don't you post what you think we should post...

Are you thinking:

Panel spec's

Controller spec's

Battery capacity's

Wiring spec's



etc.

Don't get "warning / alarm systems"....Give us some examples.

Give us a list.

Jim

...but maybe in a new thread. Lets keep this one for installs with pics so it doesn't become 42 pages.

KJINTF wrote:
Loads of good information - Nice to see it all in one place
The PV array installation looks to be where the majority of the effort is being concentrated. Too bad we don't see any proactive warning / alarm systems in these installs or detailed configuration files of the controllers.

Not a bad Idea, why don't you post what you think we should post...

Are you thinking:

Panel spec's

Controller spec's

Battery capacity's

Wiring spec's



etc.

Don't get "warning / alarm systems"....Give us some examples.

Give us a list.

Jim

Loads of good information - Nice to see it all in one place
The PV array installation looks to be where the majority of the effort is being concentrated. Too bad we don't see any proactive warning / alarm systems in these installs or detailed configuration files of the controllers.

deleted

Bigfootford's install:

Bigfootfords Solar installation

Jim

sonicsix wrote:
http://rvroadtrip.us/library/solar_install.php

.

sonicsix, I had you on my bookmarks but didn't get you on my list for some reason. Yours was one on the first systems I looked to when building mine.

http://rvroadtrip.us/library/solar_install.php

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