Question on Number of Solar Panels
I have a 24'stationary travel trailer that I want to install solar on. I plan on using 2 GC-2 batteries (230ah)in series to provide 12 volts with 230 AH, which I know only 40-50% of that is usable. Be...
Forum Discussion
Ductape Dave:
With 24ft trailer - if this is 24ft actual box length, not 24ft bumper to hitch - you have a room for 700-900W array, and in your situation I would max it up and get the controller of suitable size to handle this wattage. I'm afraid that in constant shade you won't get 90 AH a day even with 900W array. You will get "some" charge but it will be a fraction of what you would get in direct sunlight. Your latitude and weather also matter. Like Don said - tell us you coordinates and time of the year when you're going to live there.
At Latitude 27 in winter on a low overcast, no blue sky at all, no shadows from objects (could be compared to being in mountain shadow on a sunny day??), with 490W flat array - not tilted to the South, I'm getting 35-40 AH max. When it rains a lot, on such a day I'm getting 20-25 AH. This is Lat 27, far away in the South, and thanks God low overcast or rain happens only few times a month there in winter. If you are farther North, it's going to get worse.
90 AH a day is a lot of energy for an offgrid solar living. I'm living on 35-50 AH a day.
You mentioned "kits" - not a good idea, unless you're getting some temporary portable setup. For a roof-mounted array it's better to get separately panels, controller and MC4 cable. Controllers included with kits are mostly junk that you will have to ugrade, mounting brackets for panels are not good for RV roof, and included MC4 cable is usually short and thin. They don't include anything else.
With 24ft trailer - if this is 24ft actual box length, not 24ft bumper to hitch - you have a room for 700-900W array, and in your situation I would max it up and get the controller of suitable size to handle this wattage. I'm afraid that in constant shade you won't get 90 AH a day even with 900W array. You will get "some" charge but it will be a fraction of what you would get in direct sunlight. Your latitude and weather also matter. Like Don said - tell us you coordinates and time of the year when you're going to live there.
At Latitude 27 in winter on a low overcast, no blue sky at all, no shadows from objects (could be compared to being in mountain shadow on a sunny day??), with 490W flat array - not tilted to the South, I'm getting 35-40 AH max. When it rains a lot, on such a day I'm getting 20-25 AH. This is Lat 27, far away in the South, and thanks God low overcast or rain happens only few times a month there in winter. If you are farther North, it's going to get worse.
90 AH a day is a lot of energy for an offgrid solar living. I'm living on 35-50 AH a day.
You mentioned "kits" - not a good idea, unless you're getting some temporary portable setup. For a roof-mounted array it's better to get separately panels, controller and MC4 cable. Controllers included with kits are mostly junk that you will have to ugrade, mounting brackets for panels are not good for RV roof, and included MC4 cable is usually short and thin. They don't include anything else.
