General RV Solar Questions?
I'm planning to add a couple of new high end Kyocera 140 panels and build up a new system out of them. Currenly I have what my old 95' Squire 400 came with which is a substandard and smaller panel wi...
Forum Discussion
When I bought my panels, I wanted the mounting brackets to allow tilting. The owner of the store said he had several types, but suggested I mount solid. He said with few exceptions, you really do not get that much benefit from tilting. If your panels only tilt one way, toy have to park in the direction to accommodate the tilting, limiting your choice of positioning your TC.
He pointed out, on a TC you may not have the room on top to walk around to tilt the panels, so you would need to take a tall ladder camping with you. If you only camp in one spot for a couple of days, the tilting of the panels soon gets tiring, especially in foul weather. He said he had several customers that forgot to lower their panels hit trees with them, and not only were the panels destroyed they also damaged the roof when ripping off the mounts. Imagine a strong gusty wind hammering on the lifted panels. I ended up making my own solid mounts.
A couple of years later, I modified my mounts so I could tilt my panels. I could open the escape hatch and raise the panels. I played with tilting for about three camping trips. That was several years ago. It became obvious to me, for my camping and AH usage I did not need the little gain from tilting. I no longer tilt my panels.
I think tilting would probably be more valuable for full timing and staying for long periods in one location. TCs typically do not do long term camping in one spot. The money saved on a ladder and tilting panel mounts just might pay for an additional small panel to make up for the small loss.
Obviously, my experience does not fit everyone, but I think it is worth considering. It is my understanding, the east coast and north west cost has a greater need for tilting and more watts.
He pointed out, on a TC you may not have the room on top to walk around to tilt the panels, so you would need to take a tall ladder camping with you. If you only camp in one spot for a couple of days, the tilting of the panels soon gets tiring, especially in foul weather. He said he had several customers that forgot to lower their panels hit trees with them, and not only were the panels destroyed they also damaged the roof when ripping off the mounts. Imagine a strong gusty wind hammering on the lifted panels. I ended up making my own solid mounts.
A couple of years later, I modified my mounts so I could tilt my panels. I could open the escape hatch and raise the panels. I played with tilting for about three camping trips. That was several years ago. It became obvious to me, for my camping and AH usage I did not need the little gain from tilting. I no longer tilt my panels.
I think tilting would probably be more valuable for full timing and staying for long periods in one location. TCs typically do not do long term camping in one spot. The money saved on a ladder and tilting panel mounts just might pay for an additional small panel to make up for the small loss.
Obviously, my experience does not fit everyone, but I think it is worth considering. It is my understanding, the east coast and north west cost has a greater need for tilting and more watts.
