Well, since we got a new DP to start the new year, I have to do solar again. We travel for about six month each year and boondock as much as possible. I want enough solar to handle routine loads and keep the batteries topped off, but have no objection to running the gen for heavy load times like electric cooking or if the weather is too cold and we run a lot of heat.Due to limited space on the roof I don't plan for a 100% solar solution. On our previous coach we had 630W on the roof, which worked quite well and we rarely needed the genset unless camped in the trees. What I have space for (while maintaining easy walking on top) is 4x100 mono panels. Mono because they are narrower at 21".For batteries, we have 600AH of Lifeline. For heavy charging, we have the Onan and a Magnum ME2012 which will charge 100A.Given the space constraints, I basically plan for a system adequate for temperate conditions. Too much furnace and we'll need to run the genset for maybe an hour in the AM, and I'm OK with that.Now down to specifics what do you think of this: Renogy 400W kit for $702Last time I did this I purchased each part individually and went for maximum performance at any price. Doesn't seem like a worthy goal this time. I'm looking for reasonable performance, and something I won't shed tears over if we trade coaches again in a few years.So... given all that, would you buy the kit, or separate components? Different controller? Different panels?Thanks in advance for wading through this long winded post. :)

Not familiar with that controller, unless it is a Tracer. Anyway you do need at least a 30 amper for the 4-100s (6.2 each Isc) so the 40 is good.Not clear about parallel vs series if you want series. That is mostly about wire runs, so are the panels to be close together, or scattered here and there?Price seems reasonable. You could do as well with a DIY PWM for parallel. Grape 40 amper.

Youll get a lot of conflicting advice here..IMO the renogy did not get good reviews when I was looking for a controller...And also my opinion is to use 24 volt panels right from the start..Like two 270 watt panels hooked up in series.. Its my opinion also get the voltage to the controller. Dont worry about the shading of panels gurus. They are on the roof of RV. shading is a mute point. Either youll have shade or you will not. There is no inbetween really.Now you have 540 watts and 80 volts to the controller..https://www.renogy.com/renogy-270-watt-24-volt-polycrystalline-solar-panel/Thats say $525 for two panels.Couple it with an epever tracer 40 amp @ $190. ( They went up in price since I bought it a few months ago.https://www.amazon.com/EPEVER-Controller-Display-Battery-Charging/dp/B01GMUPGZA/ref=lp_11751779011_1_1?srs=11751779011&ie=UTF8&qid=1518804803&sr=8-1&th=1Now you are up to $715 bucks..Just get proper wiring and install and your done..

Thanks BFL, that is a repackaged Tracer I'm pretty sure. Probably do series-parallel combo. Pretty sure the coach is prewired with 10AWG from the roof which would handle parallel OK, but less voltage drop if I do series-parallel, or it looks like the controller can handle 100v so series is possible. Figured I need to study the efficiency graphs for the panels and controller to make a decision on that.But I'm not really looking for ultimate performance so much as reasonable performance at a reasonable price. And we'll usually hit a commercial CG every week or two, so there's an opportunity to top charge then also.

@ Lawrosa, I absolutely would go with residential panels if I had the space. Did exactly that on the last coach; two big panels and a Midnite controller. Worked fantastic.But this coach has too darn many things on the roof already. I would have to relocate factory installed roof penetrations to fit a couple of big panels, and that's not happening.Not really too worried about the shade either. In my experience, we're either in the sun, or in the trees. :)

I used three 100w with my Tracer MPPT 20 amper ok (should have had a 30 amper though) and it made no difference in amps to the battery whether series or parallel. (But I have fat wiring for both ways) I also got the same amps to the battery with the Solar 30 PWM controller when I swapped that in.

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BFL13
Explorer II
Feb 16, 2018
Not familiar with that controller, unless it is a Tracer. Anyway you do need at least a 30 amper for the 4-100s (6.2 each Isc) so the 40 is good.

Not clear about parallel vs series if you want series. That is mostly about wire runs, so are the panels to be close together, or scattered here and there?

Price seems reasonable. You could do as well with a DIY PWM for parallel. Grape 40 amper.
lawrosa
Explorer
Feb 16, 2018
Youll get a lot of conflicting advice here..

IMO the renogy did not get good reviews when I was looking for a controller...

And also my opinion is to use 24 volt panels right from the start..

Like two 270 watt panels hooked up in series.. Its my opinion also get the voltage to the controller. Dont worry about the shading of panels gurus. They are on the roof of RV. shading is a mute point. Either youll have shade or you will not. There is no inbetween really.

Now you have 540 watts and 80 volts to the controller..

https://www.renogy.com/renogy-270-watt-24-volt-polycrystalline-solar-panel/

Thats say $525 for two panels.

Couple it with an epever tracer 40 amp @ $190. ( They went up in price since I bought it a few months ago.

https://www.amazon.com/EPEVER-Controller-Display-Battery-Charging/dp/B01GMUPGZA/ref=lp_11751779011_1_1?srs=11751779011&ie=UTF8&qid=1518804803&sr=8-1&th=1

Now you are up to $715 bucks..

Just get proper wiring and install and your done..
Ductape
Explorer
Feb 16, 2018
Thanks BFL, that is a repackaged Tracer I'm pretty sure. Probably do series-parallel combo. Pretty sure the coach is prewired with 10AWG from the roof which would handle parallel OK, but less voltage drop if I do series-parallel, or it looks like the controller can handle 100v so series is possible. Figured I need to study the efficiency graphs for the panels and controller to make a decision on that.

But I'm not really looking for ultimate performance so much as reasonable performance at a reasonable price. And we'll usually hit a commercial CG every week or two, so there's an opportunity to top charge then also.
Ductape
Explorer
Feb 16, 2018
@ Lawrosa, I absolutely would go with residential panels if I had the space. Did exactly that on the last coach; two big panels and a Midnite controller. Worked fantastic.

But this coach has too darn many things on the roof already. I would have to relocate factory installed roof penetrations to fit a couple of big panels, and that's not happening.

Not really too worried about the shade either. In my experience, we're either in the sun, or in the trees. :)
BFL13
Explorer II
Feb 16, 2018
I used three 100w with my Tracer MPPT 20 amper ok (should have had a 30 amper though) and it made no difference in amps to the battery whether series or parallel. (But I have fat wiring for both ways) I also got the same amps to the battery with the Solar 30 PWM controller when I swapped that in.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Feb 16, 2018
Why use an MPPT controller with 12 volt panels? Is there a temperature compensation probe on the battery bank with the "kit" controller?
2oldman
Explorer II
Feb 16, 2018
Ductape wrote:
the coach is prewired with 10AWG from the roof which would handle parallel
Barely.
Ductape
Explorer
Feb 16, 2018
Don, the coach builders always cheap out on the size of the factory wiring down from the roof, so voltage drop is a concern. I'm not interested in pulling new wiring through the coach... so probably either series or series-parallel. So likely operating at 36 or 72 volts from the panels.

The controller does have remote temp sensing.
Controller page

My thinking on sourcing through HD is twofold.
Free shipping to the nearest store.
Easy returns if there's a problem. I'll open the box in the store and see if the panels are OK. I shudder to think about shipping panels.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Feb 16, 2018
Ductape wrote:
@ Lawrosa, I absolutely would go with residential panels if I had the space. Did exactly that on the last coach; two big panels and a Midnite controller. Worked fantastic.

But this coach has too darn many things on the roof already. I would have to relocate factory installed roof penetrations to fit a couple of big panels, and that's not happening.
I choose option 3 which was to mount the panels over the factory roof stuff and that worked out very well. Click.
Ductape
Explorer
Feb 16, 2018
2oldman wrote:
Ductape wrote:
the coach is prewired with 10AWG from the roof which would handle parallel
Barely.

OK, I will have to eat those words. Just crawled into the basement to do my due diligence and Newmar has stepped up their game. Last coach was #10, this one is #6.

@ CA Traveller, I do recall seeing your install before, very nice! If I was looking for more performance I'd go down that road. Two things changed my thinking this time around:

-Spent ten days camping in the trees in NH last fall. My high performance solar system was useless.

-Worst of all was trading in the coach for this one. Hated seeing those panels and controller go with the coach. Kissed a big investment goodbye, but I wasn't going to leave holes in the roof. We did swap batteries and kept our AGM. And I'm the sort that trade may happen again in a few years, so...

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