Solar - Upgrade or replace outright?
The new-to-us coach has a small solar panel system. I would like to upgrade it to the point where I could reasonably hope to capture 50 or 60 amp-hours per day in light conditions that are less than ideal. I assume that to achieve this, I will probably need a system sized to produce 25 or 30 amps to get a real-life average of 5 or 6 amps for 10 hours. I’m not sure if any part of the current system can be salvaged for use in an upgraded system. Or if I should plan to replace everything.
Current system: According to the 1997 Safari brochure, it would appear that I have the 25 watt solar panel, plus the optional 75 watt panel. The build sheet lists only a “Siemens M65-BLK, CLA” panel. I have been unable to find specs for that on the internet.
On the roof of the coach, there are 2 panels. I see a Siemens label on the larger panel on the roof, but I see no model number. Probably it is on the bottom and the panel is fixed mounted. The large panel measures 47.25 inches by 20.75 inches and appears to have 36 cells in 4 rows of 9. The smaller panel has no visible identifier and measures 13.5 inches square. I’m sure the smaller one is a throw-away at this point. I’m not sure if the larger one can be incorporated into an expanded system.
The solar controller is labeled ASC Specialty Concepts, Inc., but has no visible model number or amperage rating. It’s not much bigger than a pack of playing cards. I expect that it, too, is a throw-away.
Although I know little about solar, the wire seems inordinately long. It comes down through the refrigerator vent, then forward about half the length of the coach to the controller under the hood on front. The battery bank is behind the rear wheels. The wire at the controller is AWG 10 THHN. I don’t know much about DC wiring, but this seems small for such a long run if it is expected to carry much power at 12 VDC.
The plan: What I envision is solar panels on the roof totaling 300 to 400 watts, with allowance for future upgrade, wired to produce 24 volts (which I assume would result in less loss over the run to the controller compared to 12 volts) to a 4-phase MPPT controller, which I would probably locate on the wall adjoining the refrigerator to keep the run as short as possible. From there it is also a relatively short run to the battery bank in back. Still, I would expect to need larger gauge cable to minimize current loss.
Does this seem a reasonable plan? Does this make all of the components of the current system obsolete? Or can anything reasonably be used for the new system?
I will appreciate the thoughts of those with more experience with solar!
Wayne
Current system: According to the 1997 Safari brochure, it would appear that I have the 25 watt solar panel, plus the optional 75 watt panel. The build sheet lists only a “Siemens M65-BLK, CLA” panel. I have been unable to find specs for that on the internet.
On the roof of the coach, there are 2 panels. I see a Siemens label on the larger panel on the roof, but I see no model number. Probably it is on the bottom and the panel is fixed mounted. The large panel measures 47.25 inches by 20.75 inches and appears to have 36 cells in 4 rows of 9. The smaller panel has no visible identifier and measures 13.5 inches square. I’m sure the smaller one is a throw-away at this point. I’m not sure if the larger one can be incorporated into an expanded system.
The solar controller is labeled ASC Specialty Concepts, Inc., but has no visible model number or amperage rating. It’s not much bigger than a pack of playing cards. I expect that it, too, is a throw-away.
Although I know little about solar, the wire seems inordinately long. It comes down through the refrigerator vent, then forward about half the length of the coach to the controller under the hood on front. The battery bank is behind the rear wheels. The wire at the controller is AWG 10 THHN. I don’t know much about DC wiring, but this seems small for such a long run if it is expected to carry much power at 12 VDC.
The plan: What I envision is solar panels on the roof totaling 300 to 400 watts, with allowance for future upgrade, wired to produce 24 volts (which I assume would result in less loss over the run to the controller compared to 12 volts) to a 4-phase MPPT controller, which I would probably locate on the wall adjoining the refrigerator to keep the run as short as possible. From there it is also a relatively short run to the battery bank in back. Still, I would expect to need larger gauge cable to minimize current loss.
Does this seem a reasonable plan? Does this make all of the components of the current system obsolete? Or can anything reasonably be used for the new system?
I will appreciate the thoughts of those with more experience with solar!
Wayne
