Going Solar!
Hi, new to this forum. I am a many years of experience Travel Trailer type RV-er. We do most of our camping "dry" with out hook ups. My wife and I are getting ready to buy a new trailer that will c...
Forum Discussion
One more thing - possible alternative solution.
And, my apologies to people suggesting 24V+MPPT - I've overlooked this route.
Yes, if you insist on having those thin OEM toy-wires - don't know why anybody would, but let's assume you do. You can still have ~280-300W array - a single 24V panel. It has higher voltage than 12V panel, but amps are lower, so your OEM wire will be capable to handle it. There is a catch though - you will need to buy 25-30A MPPT controller, cost at least $300 more than small PWM.
There is one Chinese MPPT Eco-Worthy that costs $110 - still more expensive than $50 PWM - but it can handle only up to 240-250W as I recall. Another problem is that you need to install this Eco in easily accessible place due to lack of remote controlling. Most likely - inside, in front of the trailer, while batteries will be outside, so the temperature compensation won't work properly. More expensive controllers usually come with a remote temperature probe.
If manufacturer will terminate the wires somewhere in the middle of the trailer (they often like installing controller on top of the fridge), you might as well forget about this solution because with ~300W you'll need to place controller closer to battery.
I'd rather spent these hundreds on hiring somebody to run a proper wire for 12V panels (and to proper location of controller). Not that I "like" 12V panels and PWM - my array is made of 24V panels and MPPT controller, no hired labor was used. But in your case PWM route looks better.
And, my apologies to people suggesting 24V+MPPT - I've overlooked this route.
Yes, if you insist on having those thin OEM toy-wires - don't know why anybody would, but let's assume you do. You can still have ~280-300W array - a single 24V panel. It has higher voltage than 12V panel, but amps are lower, so your OEM wire will be capable to handle it. There is a catch though - you will need to buy 25-30A MPPT controller, cost at least $300 more than small PWM.
There is one Chinese MPPT Eco-Worthy that costs $110 - still more expensive than $50 PWM - but it can handle only up to 240-250W as I recall. Another problem is that you need to install this Eco in easily accessible place due to lack of remote controlling. Most likely - inside, in front of the trailer, while batteries will be outside, so the temperature compensation won't work properly. More expensive controllers usually come with a remote temperature probe.
If manufacturer will terminate the wires somewhere in the middle of the trailer (they often like installing controller on top of the fridge), you might as well forget about this solution because with ~300W you'll need to place controller closer to battery.
I'd rather spent these hundreds on hiring somebody to run a proper wire for 12V panels (and to proper location of controller). Not that I "like" 12V panels and PWM - my array is made of 24V panels and MPPT controller, no hired labor was used. But in your case PWM route looks better.
