Portable Solar

Well Mena,

Your the man of the hour. You can't let us down. Please,
show us a great way to go. ~ ~ For your Consideration. I just set my one 120w/24v Cynergy Panel from SolarBlvd out side of the cabin as a portable trial. She went to 40vInput to the MPPT 15a controller. HiTech, had ask me to try the MPPT 15a/24v controller, with the 120w/24v panel and a 12v Batt.
ALL IS WELL. WOW, I'm ONE HAPPY rv.NET Tech Issues Camper!!

O&S
Floyd

Attach to the top of the ladder? You may as well mount them on the roof permanent.

Otherwise just get a proprod or lay them flat on the ground.

If that pic is typical camping I think you will get bored with hauling the panels in and out + moving them around, tilting and securing them from walking away.

I think it makes sense to go portable first until you are sure what you really need/want and that you are keeping that rig for a while.

Can't repost photos right now, but my first portable method was to build a wooden tray for the panel, which I secured to the roof on rubber mats to protect the roof. Lashed down with bungee cords using the metal base of the a/c shroud with the slots in it (perfect for bungee hooks) and to the cargo rail around the back of the trailer. The ladder would do for that too.

Looks like there is room between ladder and back shroud for a tray, then just put the panels in the tray lashed to the tray. I have a couple of bars across the back of the panel bolted onto the panel frame. The bars then get lashed to the tray.

I have driven at highway speeds for two hours at a time with the panel up there in its tray all lashed down and bungeed and it is still there on arrival. I connect using the fridge vent same as if panels were nailed down on the roof, so they are working while driving too.

Whole idea is once you get there, you can leave as is, go up on roof and tilt them , point them, whatever--even take them down and use on the ground. Then put them back in travelling mode. If leaving them up there, you don't have to keep taking them up and down from the roof, but you don't have to nail them down either.

With a suitcase set, with room for only one tray between ladder and shroud, you could give up the solar working while driving (don't need it anyway) and unfold on arrival, or take the top one off with the loose hinges and set it down on the other side of the shroud. Since you are not moving the rig it does not need to be lashed right down while camping.

First I used a rope to haul the panels up and let them down. Then I found it easier to take along a normal aluminum ladder and set it against the back of the slide-out and just carry the panel up in one hand beside me while climbing the ladder. Your problem where to keep a portable ladder! If you leave them up all the time except at home, you can just have the ladder at home.

Hi mena,

I think it will be lots more work to make a strong secure stand for the panels than to install them on the RV.

I riveted angle aluminum "rails" on the long sides of my (largish) panels to improve stiffness. The benefit was that I only needed 6 screws into the roof for each panel. The rails would also have allowed me to let the panels protrude over the end of the RV if it had been necessary (it was not needed).

mena

I may mount my system next year, not sure yet. Having it portable this year has given me the opportunity to make sure the panel and untested controller is functional. See that it was enough for our needs and see how it did tracking, tilted and for a week, left flat. Now I know if I ever do mount it that it will take care of us.

mena

I fully understand no more work time to enjoy
As others stated 2 of those "portable" panels will do you very good
My guess is that you will get tired of dealing with them and get them mounted on the roof after a few trips with them portable

Two AC units up there? that takes some the space
My short 26ft unit still has room for more panels if I decide next year for two more k140 panels. Only one AC up top to get in the way for me

Loose hinge pins sounds like a great idea. I didn't think about the weight and RJ's mount would work. If I could figure a way to secure that then I could just leave it in place. RJ, do you have a link to that thread? KJ, There's less room on my roof than it appears. I have room for those two but not sure about anymore than that. I have BARELY enough room for two 230W panels (which more than likely there isn't room for two) and maybe one 140W. The only reason for not flat mounting them is I just don't feel like doing anymore work on the MH but I'd like to enjoy some solar in the meantime. Maybe I'll mount them later on.

Put all these ideas together and we will see one fine 'portable solar system' My problem I now have to work with, is I have three 24v panels for the 24v batts (but) they are all different sizes. Matched sizes is the way to go. And Mena, the Cynergy 140's would be nice for the total output. If you find the proper place to easy store these big fellows. You were the one who put me on to SolarBlvd and I now have there 120w/24v panel. Nice quality in the mfg. Great folks at SolarBlvd. Thanks,

O&S
Floyd

Just curiosity - Why not a flat mount install on that nice large roof?
Looks as if you easily have room for four of those panels

280w is going to be a nice portable system Mena. You should be able to pull 250-300 ah a day tracking. I agree about leaving the hinge pins loose, That way you can separate them for easier moving and if you want to use just one.