Which solar panel would you choose for camper rooftop

Hi Wo.ody,

Thanks for the compliment--but there are folks here who know lots more than I do.

Have you done an energy audit?

My choice of panel would be high voltage with an MPPT controller. Under 500 watts I'd pick the Rogue 3048

Below 800 watts I'd pick the Tristar MPPT 60 amp unit.

Over 800 watts I'd pick the midnight solar 90 amp unit.

I would probably pick a poly panel rather than mono, because field testing seems to indicate the poly does better in low light. I'd pick the lowest cost per watt.

Wo.ody wrote:
I'm a DIY type so I plan on doing this myself.

Pianotuna...I consider you a solar expert...what "today" panel would you choose?

Wo.ody wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,
How did you pick 85 mph?

Just a WAG about highway speeds. Considering the possibility of hurricane or tornado, they should withstand as much as possible. Since most attach panel feet with 3M VHB tape they will "depart" under severe loads.
I'm a DIY type so I plan on doing this myself.
Pianotuna...I consider you a solar expert...what "today" panel would you choose?

I doubt any kind of tape will hold it for very long..
I drilled holes all the way thru my roof trusses which are 3 inches thick and bolted stainless bolts and nuts on,,six bolts per panel..
Sealed the holes with silicone while sliding the bolts in,,,no leaks yet..

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

How did you pick 85 mph?

Just a WAG about highway speeds. Considering the possibility of hurricane or tornado, they should withstand as much as possible. Since most attach panel feet with 3M VHB tape they will "depart" under severe loads.

I'm a DIY type so I plan on doing this myself.

Pianotuna...I consider you a solar expert...what "today" panel would you choose?

Which specific solar panel would you choose to roof mount on your motor-home?

Better approach:
1. Figure out your power usage and how much solar would be needed for some typical day in terms of sun/overcast.
2. See what panels and equipment are available and at what cost.
3. See what fits on the roof or ground or elsewhere.
4. DYI or installer installation are considerations.

Most feel constrained to place the panels close to the roof but they can be mounted higher which can eliminate shadows and allow for larger panels.

All of the above involve tradeoffs and there is no specific panel for all. There are many posts on solar including installation etc. You can dig into what works for you or just raise your CC to someone like AM Solar.

Hi,

How did you pick 85 mph?

Wo.ody wrote:
.are all panels aerodynamically suitable to withstand 85mph?

If installed correctly, yes.

Hi,

For 600 amp-hours of battery bank, the rule of thumb minimum would be 360 watts of panels. That would cover about 120 amp-hours of use per day. If you full time, it is probably best to populate the entire roof with panels avoiding any shading caused by vents and other items.

With a 600 ah bank to be charged and maintained, the easy answer is as much as you can. Drain that bank down to 50% and you will need to replace 300 ah is a relative short time plus cover your daily loads. A single 24v panel and Mppt controller will put out less than 20a is the best conditions, so you would need at least 15-20 hrs to bring the bank back up if you were not using it.

In reality you need to figure out roughly how much power you use daily. What kind of conditions you camp in. What kind of loads are you running and how often do you dry camp. You already know the size of your bank and there is a recommended amount of solar needed to take care of it.

I would contact AM Solar on Marcola St in Springfield, Oregon. There is no one more qualified to help with your solar needs. They are also very easy to work with...great folks!