New trailer solar project.

Question

I will be switching from a fifth wheel to a 28' + travel trailer. I hate to lose the fifth wheel, even though it is older, but I am putting a boat loader in the back of the truck bed, so the back of the truck will be taken. The trailer that I am looking at is wired with 8 gauge wire for 3 panels up to 500 watts. I found a source of three 160 watt panels for a good price, but there are only 2 6 volt batteries on it. Would that cause any problems, or just keep the batteries charged up faster on cloudy days? On my fifth wheel I have 290 watts with an MPPT Blue Sky 2000 solar controller that works great. I really hate losing her, but I need more toys for the time that I have left. Thanks.

Mike

bfl13 · Answer

Three 160s and #8 is fine IMO. Suggest you get at least a 30 amp PWM. That Grape 40 amper sounds like the one to get.

Doesn't matter how many batteries you have for how much solar you have as such. It only matters for how long you need to survive with no sun for a few days, and also if you ever do battery equalization with solar. If you do that at home with another charger, then it doesn't matter.

pianotuna · Answer

Grape 40 amp controller would be my choice, too.

valhalla360 · Answer

Assuming the charge controller protects against overcharging, it shouldn't hurt the batteries.

Unless you are planning to use the extra power for something else or upgrading the battery bank, you are probably overkill on the solar. A pair of 6v will usually have around 220amp-hr and at best, you can only use around 50%, so around 110amp-hr charging needed.

The solar array should generate somewhere around 160amp-hr assuming the rated output for 4hrs per day. No harm but not maximizing the solar collected.

mike-uswest · Answer

Thanks for the answers, the Grape controller sounds good. I think I will go with the PWM controller this time just to try one. My only thought was, in the times that there is no sun or little, the panels will usually pick up a little solar, and more panels should pick up a little more. I have had problems just a few times, elk hunting in the snow and clouds with heavy rain. I still have my little 1000 watt Yamaha in a push, but I don't want to have to use it if possible. Thanks again.

Mike

ktmrfs · Answer

mike-uswest wrote:Thanks for the answers, the Grape controller sounds good.  I think I will go with the PWM controller this time just to try one.  My only thought was, in the times that there is no sun or little, the panels will usually pick up a little solar, and more panels should pick up a little more.  I have had problems just a few times, elk hunting in the snow and clouds with heavy rain.  I still have my little 1000 watt Yamaha in a push, but I don't want to have to use it if possible.  Thanks again.Mikea bit of advice if your camping in oregon like we do.  First, in the fall and winter if the panels are mounted flat,  you will at best get about 50% of the rated power out of the panel due to the angle of the sun in the late fall and winter.Then of course are the clouds.  If you use portable panels, then you an tilt them to compensate.  late spring through early fall is much less an issue with the sun angle.

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New trailer solar project.

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