solar Q: 2 small vs 1 large
Greetings; I have a Rialta; not much room to store solar panels. I figure I need about 150 watts of solar to keep my batts happy (maybe less - I don't use much power) I am not interested in a "...
Forum Discussion
First, I would think through the "portable" advantages, your use, and the schlepping of panels and stand before proceeding. I'd suggest to make some cardboard cutouts the size of the panels and move them in and out of your RV into the location where you're going to store them. I know some folks camp in their special shady spot so portability is needed to get them into the sun. For most of the rest of us, mounting them on the roof with the advantages of full-time power, security, and ease of no schlepping trumps portability.
I'd also suggest to compare dimensions of the various wattage panels and get the biggest you can. After installing solar, there is usually the epiphany that you now have a constant free source of power (if the sun shines). That can bring about the use of additional powered items that you discover makes your RV'ing a better thing.
The Bogart controller is a PWM device. That pretty well locks you into 12V panels. I chose to use a single 235W module and a small MPPT controller. It is more power per real estate and is cheaper/watt at the module level. A good, small MPPT controller is necessary and that costs more than typical PWM controllers. The upside is that you will have more control over charge settings and mine has a computer interface. Any charge controller will work with your Bogart battery monitor.
The stand: If it was me, I'd buy a length of aluminum flat stock, cut it into four pieces, drill a hole in each piece, drill a hole in the panel frame, and attach the four legs fabricated onto the modules. When you move the modules into storage, swing the legs against the module frame. Swing legs out deploy for use. I leave the foot of the legs to your own creativity but this would operate without any further modification for feet.
Good luck with solar. It is the best thing I've done for the operation of my RV.
I'd also suggest to compare dimensions of the various wattage panels and get the biggest you can. After installing solar, there is usually the epiphany that you now have a constant free source of power (if the sun shines). That can bring about the use of additional powered items that you discover makes your RV'ing a better thing.
The Bogart controller is a PWM device. That pretty well locks you into 12V panels. I chose to use a single 235W module and a small MPPT controller. It is more power per real estate and is cheaper/watt at the module level. A good, small MPPT controller is necessary and that costs more than typical PWM controllers. The upside is that you will have more control over charge settings and mine has a computer interface. Any charge controller will work with your Bogart battery monitor.
The stand: If it was me, I'd buy a length of aluminum flat stock, cut it into four pieces, drill a hole in each piece, drill a hole in the panel frame, and attach the four legs fabricated onto the modules. When you move the modules into storage, swing the legs against the module frame. Swing legs out deploy for use. I leave the foot of the legs to your own creativity but this would operate without any further modification for feet.
Good luck with solar. It is the best thing I've done for the operation of my RV.
