solar vs inverter generator

Hi Mex,

Rain seems to keep my existing panels clean. But a ladder would useful.

BFL13,

I'd be abandoning the existing system, so I'd be starting over with poly panels in series.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Don if your entire roof gets paved with panels, how would you clean them?

jharrell wrote:
That will be the only thing stopping me from adding more panels, have to leave enough walkway to get to everything on the roof. 6 160w panels might be pushing it on my 31ft.

That problem above is why "the whole RV world is waiting for" affordable and durable enough flexible solar panel material such that it can be used as the RV's awning while it's providing power! ;)

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Don if your entire roof gets paved with panels, how would you clean them?

Wait for rain?

Some possible ways:
1. Walk on them perhaps using some plywood panels.
2. Use a ladder on the side of the rig.
3. Washing poles (with water/soap flowing inside and curved/bent to access the roof. Curved brushes to clean boat hulls are common in marinas.
4. Above but adapted to a pressure washer.
5. Commercial truck washes often have cat walks to reach the trailer roof.

But regardless of solar panels roof access is required for normal maintenance and that access could also be used for cleaning.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Don if your entire roof gets paved with panels, how would you clean them?

That will be the only thing stopping me from adding more panels, have to leave enough walkway to get to everything on the roof. 6 160w panels might be pushing it on my 31ft.

BFL13 wrote:
When I tried 24 vs 12 it did not go 2 to 1 because the 24v panel was 60 cell, not 72. PT has funny panels, so can't say how that would work out.

Serial solves that problem. My ideal layout was for the panels to be mounted crosswise on the rig and the 65" length left plenty of access vs the 72 cell panels.

Don if your entire roof gets paved with panels, how would you clean them?

Hi Phil,

It did not have a built in generator--and for four years I managed nicely without one.

The Magnum is not yet back from warranty repair, so I'm using a 1000 watt PSW unit.

When I had flooded Marine jars I got high charging rates, but now that I'm using telecom batteries, the only time I see power flowing to the house from the alternator is when I have a 300 watt load on the house.

I've not had this low a wattage available to me for a lot of years.

The starter battery is due for replacement. I'm hoping if I go AGM I'll start seeing more amps to the house jars again.

Don,

You're still in a Class C ... right? If so, it's probably powered by a V10 ... right?

If so again, you might want to consider having the V10 retrofitted with two alternators so you can just idle the V10 for 2-3 hours here and there to top up your big battery bank. We do this quite often with only our V10's single 130 amp alternator. Our setup has so far provided up to 70 amps at idle into our 230 AH AGM battery bank. I believe that Ford V10's are harmlessly idled for hours in ambulance service. The idling V10 is ultra quiet and idles with very little odor.

Also I'm a bit confused about your rig. Doesn't it have a built-in generator like most Class C motorhomes? Why did you then also have a portable genny (that was stolen)? We carry a portable genny along too for extreme emergency backup, but rarely use it. We generally use the built-in Onan or idle the V10 for topping up our batteries when drycamping.

P.S. The "Gold Standard" for North American drycamping - Earthroamer - has no generator (or propane, either) on board. They're designed and delivered with solar for charging their large battery bank AND .... twin atlernators on their main engine for charging their large battery bank when solar isn't enough. (The Earthroamer uses a diesel cooktop and furnace. It's A/C is powered by it's large battery bank ... which is kept charged as I described.)

When I tried 24 vs 12 it did not go 2 to 1 because the 24v panel was 60 cell, not 72. PT has funny panels, so can't say how that would work out.

Hi SMK,

I agree, but I'd be doing only 278 amp-hours @ 24 volts.