Just Starting Solar Research
Man, there's a lot to read and digest with possibly installing a small solar panel. I very recently replaced my original 1-stage converter/charger with the Progressive Dynamics PD4600 series conve...
Forum Discussion
It is not always necessary to tilt your panels. Flat mount works quite well, especially in the north in the summer where the sun rises well north of east and sets well north of west so a tilted panel will be shaded for a lot of the time. Unless you research BLF13's system!
I have just had my 4 panels redone for 4 way tilt, but that is for Mexico when I am often shaded part of the day and tilting can increase my power input. I'm running 420 Watts of solar through a BlueSky 2000E MPPT controller to 4 6V batteries rated at a total of 480 Amp Hours.
I also agree with BLF's suggestion to go with a bigger panel. I started with 2 80s and then added 2 130s. Now I am thinking of changing out the 80s for 2 more 130s. If you go for a fixed install use the largest wire you will likely ever need; at least 10 gauge. Depending on price, you might consider a controller that will handle twice the panels you first installed. I didn't and now I have a "spare" controller that is too small for all my panels. IF I change out those 80W panels I'll need a larger or second controller!
I have been a ham radio operator for over 30 years and have used batteries and some solar for years and thought I knew all I really needed to know about batteries and solar until I really started depending on batteries and solar in the rig. THEN I went through a big learning curve, help mostly by threads on this forum. There are a LOT of very knowledgeable people here that are willing to share their expertise.
I have just had my 4 panels redone for 4 way tilt, but that is for Mexico when I am often shaded part of the day and tilting can increase my power input. I'm running 420 Watts of solar through a BlueSky 2000E MPPT controller to 4 6V batteries rated at a total of 480 Amp Hours.
I also agree with BLF's suggestion to go with a bigger panel. I started with 2 80s and then added 2 130s. Now I am thinking of changing out the 80s for 2 more 130s. If you go for a fixed install use the largest wire you will likely ever need; at least 10 gauge. Depending on price, you might consider a controller that will handle twice the panels you first installed. I didn't and now I have a "spare" controller that is too small for all my panels. IF I change out those 80W panels I'll need a larger or second controller!
I have been a ham radio operator for over 30 years and have used batteries and some solar for years and thought I knew all I really needed to know about batteries and solar until I really started depending on batteries and solar in the rig. THEN I went through a big learning curve, help mostly by threads on this forum. There are a LOT of very knowledgeable people here that are willing to share their expertise.
