Windynation solar kit install and performance.

Alright got back from my hunt a few days early but it was a good hunt. The solar worked great and kept the battery's topped off. I did have a problem with the MC4 connectors that came on the solar panel not gripping the cable and allowing the connector guts to pull lose but once I figured that out all was good. The MC4 connectors I ordered separate from Windy nation are fine it's just the 2 on the solar panels.

I set the panels facing due South and never touched them again. I took morning (around 5 am), afternoon (from 1100 to 100) and night (8 pm) readings to see how they did.

In the morning my voltage read 12.2 to 12.3 as what I had left after running some lights, radio and heater set on 55 all night. Heater ran 3 to 5 times a night best I could tell.

Afternoon reading showed 13.0 to 15.0 volts at the battery's with 1.4 to 10 amps coming in under sky's that ranged from mostly cloudy to clear.

Evening readings showed my battery's at 12.5 to 12.8 volts with a total PV amp's in ranging from 20 amps on the cloudy days to 44 amps on the sunny days.

I did see a couple amp's in readings of 20 when I checked at different times. I think I was collecting way more solar then I could use.

I only ran my genny to use the microwave a couple times. I did gang 2 older group 27 battery's in with my 2 group 24 battery's just to make sure I had the juice to keep the heater running if needed. I turned out to be a warmer hunt this year with nightly lows in the low 30's and day temps from 50 to 70.

As for the portable panels I say to heck with storing them in the trailer, setting them up and trying to not trip on the cord. In the spring I'm putting 400 watts on the roof and forgetting about them.

Here's some camp pics.

Thanks for posting the continued outcome of your solar installation. Nice pictures, too.

Yeah, you found out early about migrating the panels to the roof, why put up with the headache of moving them in and out. Only those users that are in complete shade cover, continually, or like to tweak and wring out the most amps need the mobility of a movable array.
You may want to integrate some tilt into your roof-top mounting. I find that it helps with the snow removal in the Winter, when stored. Even after a 6" dump of wet snow, the panel will melt off the snow by the next day.