Home brew Arduino MPPT controller
Pretty cool project. Highly programmable. He does not list the amps it is capable of but I'm thinking 4-8 only based on the diode sizing. There are some very sophisticated MPPT algorithms out there...
Forum Discussion
The solar trailer might be an idea, or perhaps just a collapsible system that can take an hour or two to set up and take down when boondocking.
I have been kicking around that concept, which would be a PVC (or other solid pipe) frame, a row of panels, a MPPT controller, a battery bank of 2-3 pairs of 6 volt golf cart batteries (to appease Mr. Peukert), and a 3000 watt inverter to get the power from the jars to the RV.
The purpose of this would be the simple fact that it would allow me to keep the batteries topped off on my rig without having to fire up a generator. Generators are tolerated, but because it is a quiet area, even a quiet inverter one is quite loud. This would go a long way to offsetting the furnace's use. When the weather switches over from heat needed to A/C, I'd just bring a fridge that can go in a tent or pavilion, stock it full of drinks, and run that.
This would be for the quarter of a year where I boondock on weekends, so it would be left on site when I'm not there, and when the off season hits, I might stuff it in a trailer, or with permission, just leave it on site (the local groundskeeper won't object to free electricity.
However, there are a lot of decisions to be made. With a MPPT controller, panel voltage isn't that big an issue. Of course, there are a lot of calculations which need to be done, including if this would fit in a budget. It won't be cheap, but it would be very useful.
I have been kicking around that concept, which would be a PVC (or other solid pipe) frame, a row of panels, a MPPT controller, a battery bank of 2-3 pairs of 6 volt golf cart batteries (to appease Mr. Peukert), and a 3000 watt inverter to get the power from the jars to the RV.
The purpose of this would be the simple fact that it would allow me to keep the batteries topped off on my rig without having to fire up a generator. Generators are tolerated, but because it is a quiet area, even a quiet inverter one is quite loud. This would go a long way to offsetting the furnace's use. When the weather switches over from heat needed to A/C, I'd just bring a fridge that can go in a tent or pavilion, stock it full of drinks, and run that.
This would be for the quarter of a year where I boondock on weekends, so it would be left on site when I'm not there, and when the off season hits, I might stuff it in a trailer, or with permission, just leave it on site (the local groundskeeper won't object to free electricity.
However, there are a lot of decisions to be made. With a MPPT controller, panel voltage isn't that big an issue. Of course, there are a lot of calculations which need to be done, including if this would fit in a budget. It won't be cheap, but it would be very useful.
