Hi all,I'm going to beef up my solar system. The budget is $2700.00 including installation costs.I'm considering these because I will be able to pick them up from Calgary and save the (considerable) shipping costs:poly 245 wattormono 240 wattWhich would you choose for low light performance?The ones on the roof will be non tilt. I am considering a "wing" on the rear of the RV. That would need to tilt--and cleaning may be an issue. (Cover with six mil poly while traveling? Any other brain storms?)Assuming four to six panels, what MPPT controller would you choose?I love my unisolar system. I may be removing it to allow for even more than six panels. I'd really rather keep it in place and simply add a second controller as an independent system.

The Unisolars might be nice side mount strips. Probably too long for rear mount. If you are going MPPT in a single controller with mixed panel types and orientations, it is critical to get one that can find multiple local max output voltages, and pick the highest output of them. Otherwise you could end up with less yield than PWM in some situations.Jim

Wow PT. That's a lot of solar. Since I'm a Morningstar fan it would take 2 45 amp if going with 4 panels or 2 60 amp if going with 6 panels. Are you planning to increase your battery bank size as well?

Hi Jim,I'd love to do that--but it becomes a width issue. I'm at 2.5 meters or 8'4" much wider and I'm not "legal".HiTech wrote:The Unisolars might be nice side mount strips. Probably too long for rear mount. If you are going MPPT in a single controller with mixed panel types and orientations, it is critical to get one that can find multiple local max output voltages, and pick the highest output of them. Otherwise you could end up with less yield than PWM in some situations.Jim

Hi hmknightnc,No, there is no room for more battery bank.I like morningstar too--but I'll only be adding one controller--due to space considerations.hmknightnc wrote:Wow PT. That's a lot of solar. Since I'm a Morningstar fan it would take 2 45 amp if going with 4 panels or 2 60 amp if going with 6 panels. Are you planning to increase your battery bank size as well?

I'll only be adding one controller--due to space considerationsThis seems inconsistent with 6 panels. Care to explain?Morningstar is limited to 3 of your panels. Outback and Midnight have 80A+ controllers so 4 panels could be used.You could use the Morningstar with a 24V battery bank. :B

solar budget of 2700.00 Canadian | Good Sam Community

85 Replies

CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Apr 27, 2013
I'll only be adding one controller--due to space considerations
This seems inconsistent with 6 panels. Care to explain?

Morningstar is limited to 3 of your panels. Outback and Midnight have 80A+ controllers so 4 panels could be used.

You could use the Morningstar with a 24V battery bank. :B
pianotuna
Nomad III
Apr 27, 2013
Hi hmknightnc,

No, there is no room for more battery bank.

I like morningstar too--but I'll only be adding one controller--due to space considerations.

hmknightnc wrote:
Wow PT. That's a lot of solar. Since I'm a Morningstar fan it would take 2 45 amp if going with 4 panels or 2 60 amp if going with 6 panels. Are you planning to increase your battery bank size as well?
pianotuna
Nomad III
Apr 27, 2013
Hi Jim,

I'd love to do that--but it becomes a width issue. I'm at 2.5 meters or 8'4" much wider and I'm not "legal".

HiTech wrote:
The Unisolars might be nice side mount strips. Probably too long for rear mount. If you are going MPPT in a single controller with mixed panel types and orientations, it is critical to get one that can find multiple local max output voltages, and pick the highest output of them. Otherwise you could end up with less yield than PWM in some situations.

Jim
hmknightnc
Explorer
Apr 27, 2013
Wow PT. That's a lot of solar. Since I'm a Morningstar fan it would take 2 45 amp if going with 4 panels or 2 60 amp if going with 6 panels. Are you planning to increase your battery bank size as well?
HiTech
Explorer
Apr 27, 2013
The Unisolars might be nice side mount strips. Probably too long for rear mount. If you are going MPPT in a single controller with mixed panel types and orientations, it is critical to get one that can find multiple local max output voltages, and pick the highest output of them. Otherwise you could end up with less yield than PWM in some situations.

Jim

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solar budget of 2700.00 Canadian

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