high voltage solar panels?
Has anyone experimented with high-voltage solar panels on their RV? I'm thinking along the lines of the 250-300+ watt panels that output 40-60 volts, versus the little 25-100 watt 12 volt panels typi...
Forum Discussion
Lots of good info here, and it seems to be as divided a topic as many things are in the RV world.
Several posts citing high voltage DC as a safety concern. If a system is properly and safely installed, how is the high voltage DC wiring any less safe than high voltage AC wiring? Unless your coach is plugged into a properly wired power post, those AC lines are energized without a true earth ground.
The biggest CON I see against HV panels is the risk of shading greatly reducing system output, because there are fewer panels to make up for the shaded panel.
An unmounted panel is an interesting idea, but sticking around all day to guard it from wandering off seems a big draw-back. Guarding a 2-3kw Honda or Yammy for a few hours while cooking dinner is easier than guarding 300-600 watts of solar panels that have specific time requirements for peak charging. Is this an accurate observation?
Several posts citing high voltage DC as a safety concern. If a system is properly and safely installed, how is the high voltage DC wiring any less safe than high voltage AC wiring? Unless your coach is plugged into a properly wired power post, those AC lines are energized without a true earth ground.
The biggest CON I see against HV panels is the risk of shading greatly reducing system output, because there are fewer panels to make up for the shaded panel.
An unmounted panel is an interesting idea, but sticking around all day to guard it from wandering off seems a big draw-back. Guarding a 2-3kw Honda or Yammy for a few hours while cooking dinner is easier than guarding 300-600 watts of solar panels that have specific time requirements for peak charging. Is this an accurate observation?
