Solar Panels Brands - does it matter?

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Ninerbikes,

Here is a simple flow chart.

Budget-->Energy Audit-->Battery bank size-->number of watts-->PWM or MPPT.

Here is a link to the rather special spreadsheet that N8GS has created to help size solar battery charging systems!
Solar Spread Sheet N8GS

For a nice explanation of solar, try this link: Golden rules of solar

Thank you REO Speedwagoneer! Good stuff.

Hi Ninerbikes,

Here is a simple flow chart.

Budget-->Energy Audit-->Battery bank size-->number of watts-->PWM or MPPT.

Here is a link to the rather special spreadsheet that N8GS has created to help size solar battery charging systems!
Solar Spread Sheet N8GS

For a nice explanation of solar, try this link: Golden rules of solar

mena661 wrote:

NinerBikes wrote:

This thread is so sideways, I find your post insulting. I did drive down to Norco, to Solar Blvd, and did find exactly what I needed. The Phocos are somewhat problematic, they do have a return rate that is higher than I would prefer. I went with a Morningstar Sunsaver 20 Amp, the product is not plastic, but housed in Aluminum, has a temp sensor, and has a shunt for wet cell versus sealed batteries that require a higher voltage to charge.

Sideways is our specialty! :B Which panel did you get?

At a $1 a watt, the Cynergy 140 watter was my go to. Some plugs, and the Morningstar Sunsaver, at 20 Amps, give me plenty of room if or when I get another 140w panel. If I I can get around 8 Amps for 6 hours of daylight with prime time light in Montana, plus any excess when the sun is lower in the sky, I should be good and plenty for now on my Group 24. Another panel when I get the 225 Amp hr GC2 batteries, and I am covered. Plus I have Honda EU2000i to run the microwave, or heat up extra water for a shower, if not using propane, or top the battery off before bed time or if running some heavy amp users after dark.

NinerBikes wrote:

This thread is so sideways, I find your post insulting. I did drive down to Norco, to Solar Blvd, and did find exactly what I needed. The Phocos are somewhat problematic, they do have a return rate that is higher than I would prefer. I went with a Morningstar Sunsaver 20 Amp, the product is not plastic, but housed in Aluminum, has a temp sensor, and has a shunt for wet cell versus sealed batteries that require a higher voltage to charge.

Sideways is our specialty! :B Which panel did you get?

Almot wrote:

smkettner wrote:
I am a little skeptical of the Phocos controller but have not heard any bad from an actual user. Does include a nice display.

People taking pains discussing and finding out what the best for them, usually don't go for "kits". Those few who do - due to some "techno-fobia" - are not always happy. I recall only one user that bought a kit from Solar Blvd with Phocos, replaced the Phocos once, and then replaced it with a better known brand. Included brackets in those kit are not too useful on RV, and included MC4 wire may be longer or shorter, but never the length that you need.

PS: have just noticed that it was not the OP hijacking his own thread in endless quest for knowledge, but NinerBikes. Please, start a new thread. Your goals are different from the OP, and so will be the system.

As a General Contractor, I have zero "technofobia", despite your assumption. How are my needs any different than the OP's when I state I will be upgrading to GC-2 batteries 225 Ampere hours? That's right in the range the OP specified? WTF???

This thread is so sideways, I find your post insulting. I did drive down to Norco, to Solar Blvd, and did find exactly what I needed. The Phocos are somewhat problematic, they do have a return rate that is higher than I would prefer. I went with a Morningstar Sunsaver 20 Amp, the product is not plastic, but housed in Aluminum, has a temp sensor, and has a shunt removal option for wet cell versus sealed batteries/gel cells that require a lower voltage to charge.

Back to brands--With the exception of the user who needs the most efficient module, I'm seeing, generally, that most modules are within a small range for output. This would be true for the 12v modules in a group and 24V nominal panels in a group. Sure, a cheaper discount house module is going to be less in output than it's brethren sold at a solar distributor but similar built modules are not that disparate.
Another aspect of brands is how the frame is built and how the durability differs between brands.

smkettner wrote:
I am a little skeptical of the Phocos controller but have not heard any bad from an actual user. Does include a nice display.

People taking pains discussing and finding out what the best for them, usually don't go for "kits". Those few who do - due to some "techno-fobia" - are not always happy. I recall only one user that bought a kit from Solar Blvd with Phocos, replaced the Phocos once, and then replaced it with a better known brand. Included brackets in those kit are not too useful on RV, and included MC4 wire may be longer or shorter, but never the length that you need.

PS: have just noticed that it was not the OP hijacking his own thread in endless quest for knowledge, but NinerBikes. Please, start a new thread. Your goals are different from the OP, and so will be the system.

smkettner wrote:
1w per amp hour is a good baseline depending on usage.
2x G24 = 170. Less for just starage, maybe more if using the computer a lot for work etc. Less in the summer with no clouds, more in the winter with low sun and more clouds. Too little and you are back using the generator, too much and you spent more than needed. With today's low prices I would error on the high side.

1. Retired, don't use the PC for work, do use a Samsung chromebook... about 35-40w. And it does charge on 12v. Battery life is extreme on it, 6-8 hours, more than I can surf.

2. Mostly a late April through late Sept camper.... camping for me, follows the mountain biking and fly fishing seasons, usually to northern tier states, where the days are long.

3. I want this system to be portable, not a permanent mount system, I've no idea how long I will be keeping my current Travel Trailer, might want to upgrade, next owner might not want a solar system.

4. Is it worth it to get off the PWM type of voltage controller, considering I might later go to the GC-2 type of 6v batteries that are 225-240AH total, wired in series?

1w per amp hour is a good baseline depending on usage.
2x G24 = 170. Less for just starage, maybe more if using the computer a lot for work etc. Less in the summer with no clouds, more in the winter with low sun and more clouds. Too little and you are back using the generator, too much and you spent more than needed. With today's low prices I would error on the high side.

Might be best to pose the question with details in a new thread.
Some may not find you down here.

smkettner wrote:
I am a little skeptical of the Phocos controller but have not heard any bad from an actual user. Does include a nice display.

I would tend to ask about upgrading to a Morningstar controller but that might be unneeded and you may not get the display.

How many watts of solar might I need for a couple of group 24 batteries?