Started to install my solar system today. I have a Morningstar TS45 PWM controller. It is installed and wired up. I have 3 Solar Cynergy 120 Watt panels. I did manage to get one installed late today. It was overcast and after 4:00 PM East Coast time. Sun if it was there, it was in the west and getting in back of the trees. But I did see 1.8 amp. After a little bit of time, my batteries went from 12.8 to 13.3 volts. I was happy with that. Still, have two panels to go. Then I will wait to see how that works out with 360 watts total. Then if I am happy I will have to find more mad money so I can install the last two panels that I want. I am aiming for 600 Watt system. Gary

600w should suffice. Then you don't have to be a power miser.

And yet another rv'er loses his solar charging virginity! Ah, where does the innocence go?

Yes indeed! I'm installing 4 130 watt cynergy and a Bogart system. I have it half a-- wired as I'm waiting for 2 more cables. It's very encouraging to have it raining but still putting out 1 ish amps. When I'm not using the rig it consumes .6 amps with normal loads and frig on propane. Now I need to make some aluminum tilt bars for winter use. Being you own energy company isn't cheap as I believe I'm at about $5,000. :)

Best move you could make.I'm one happy solar camper

Quote: Then if I am happy I will have to find more mad money so I can install the last two panels that I want. I am aiming for 600 Watt system.--------------------------------------------------------If you already outta money before the last 2 panels, you really gonna be outta money after you get 4 more batteries, and the 3,000 watt inverter, and all the other stuff that goes w/ a whole house system ! :)

I am Moving to Solar | Good Sam Community

57 Replies

BFL13
Explorer II
Jun 22, 2015
The 4 inches would be on a stick house.

The panel "authorized clamping" methods given in the manual have a spec for uplift and downforce load pressure (eg: _> 2400 Pa) but I have no idea how you would calculate your pressures for an RV roof going down the road at 70 mph and whether the height off the roof affects that.

The "authorized clamping" standard may or may not be met by the average RV installer. We have had threads about size of screws, bolts, 3M glue, etc etc. No ref to the resulting uplift loads. If it stays on, it must be ok! :)

See 6.0 here:

http://www.canadiansolar.com/down/en/Installation_Manual_of_Standard_Solar_Modules%20(UL)_en.pdf
reed_cundiff
Explorer
Jun 22, 2015
4" would be better, 1.5" to 2" is pretty much minimum for any effect. Would worry about having to large a clearance on an RV at 60 to 65 mph

Reed and Elaine
BFL13
Explorer II
Jun 22, 2015
Canadian Solar owner's manual says mount them 10 cm (4 inches) high to let cooling air underneath
reed_cundiff
Explorer
Jun 22, 2015
The panels are generally set 1.5" to 2" above the roof to provide cross ventilation under the panels since solar panels efficiency goes down with increased temperature. Thus they do provide shade (much as the old Land Rovers came with a sheet steel cover over the cab to provide shelter from direct sunight. Flexible panels glued to the roof will heat and lose efficiency.
Reed and Elaine
jrnymn7
Explorer
Jun 22, 2015
Nope, not me. I see solar panels as heat collectors. Without sufficient ventilation, I can only imagine them adding to the amount of heat trapped in the rv at the ceiling. But add a hydronic heat collector to a solar panel, and now you have solar powered hydronic heating.
JiminDenver
Explorer II
Jun 22, 2015
turbojimmy wrote:
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
The Keurig sucks juice like a Shop Vac sucks dirt unless it's unplugged, Then starting it from being plugged back in, it took longer than a brew coffee pot to spit out one cup of coffee.

How well does this behavior and battery/inverter meld?

I noticed that. With the generator running, it was drawing it down quite a bit even when I wasn't brewing. But it does deliver a single cup, and many thereafter, quicker than a drip coffee maker (I'm impatient and have conducted speed tests :)

My "regular" coffee maker is a BUNN that keeps the water hot 24x7 so it can brew a full pot in under 3 minutes. It beats the Keurig in that regard, but sucks down a lot of juice as well.

Maybe I'll get a regular old drip coffee maker in the RV. Or a smaller Keurig.

We have a Bunn at home and I'm taking it with us next time. I can easily keep the water hot over night and by shutting it off when I make the first pot in the morning, I can delay reheating the water until the sun is up. It also makes it silently which is good because I get up at the crack of dawn and Honey doesn't.
Naio
Explorer II
Jun 22, 2015
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
"I am moving to solar"

My neighbors moved to Sun City.

If I could do it without turning my rig into a Dutch Oven I'd follow suit.

Wouldn't it cool your rig to have the panels shading the roof? I think jrnymn7, in his AC thread, was saying that was the case for him.

(I read ALL the solar threads, even if they are mostly over my head :B.)
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Jun 22, 2015
Yeah and frustration with not being able to change oil in the panels is a real bummer. I applied Rain X to the four Kyocera panels and it helps keep them cleaner somewhat.
reed_cundiff
Explorer
Jun 22, 2015
As NinerBikes noted earlier in this thread

"...Sucked into the Solar Borg Machine. There's no going back now..."

And I doubt that you shall miss listening to the generator. I used to be a mountaineer and we used the Primus/Optimus stoves and the purring of one of those making tea at the end of a day was delightful.

Make coffee in a Aeropress Just stick a cup of water in microwave (lots of battery storage). It does require a filter but they are cheap.
Reed and Elaine
jrnymn7
Explorer
Jun 22, 2015
nice job... but I bet you miss listening to the generator :)

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