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
GordonThree wrote:I don't know what your perception of "high voltage" is but a typical 230 W module has a short circuit voltage of around 36 V. The 12V nominal modules have a short circuit voltage of around 17V. IMO, either are less of a risk than anything AC in an RV, not to mention the two tank "bombs" that are mounted on the tow bar or the amount of energy that can be released by a tire blowing out.
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?
The whole idea of having portable panels is to avoid shade. One would think that a user would not place them in a shaded spot. I can't speak to theft as I try to avoid thinking about it. There are ample ways to alleviate the concern (cable and lock?) but none that are foolproof.
