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dabedwe's avatar
dabedwe
Explorer
Jul 05, 2015

solar on/off grid installation

I just bought a nice pull behind camper and would like to install some solar panels on it to make it more self contained as well as tie the system into my home when it is just parked. I have tried to find a video online or even a diagram explaining how to wire this up, but all i can find is off grid installation information for campers and rv's. I want to be able to plug my camper into shore power and still run the solar set up when that is not available. Additionally, i would like to use the panels as a tie in grid system for my house when i am not on the road. I am not sure if i need to buy a separate inverter and install a switch that will cut the power to the camper when i plug the solar panels into my house outlet to feed my home system. I plan on buying an mppt charge controller and 400 to 500 watts of solar panels.

Can i just connect the load to the ac input in on my camper fuse box? i do have a free breaker slot available that i could connect the load to if that will work. If so, can I still plug the camper into shore power while the solar system is running? If i use the free breaker slot, i could just flip the breaker before i plug the camper into shore power if i need to. Additionally, if the breaker slot installation will work, can i use the existing shore plug to feed the power to my house or do i need to cut the feed (basic switch) going to the trailer charge controller from the solar panels, connect them to a second inverter, and then run a new plug from that inverter to plug into my home outlet for tie in use? If i can connect the load to a breaker in the camper fuse box, would i need a separate inverter or could i just run a second load wire with a plug from the charge controller to feed it back to the grid?

I realize there is a lot of questions here. depending on how i need to install this system may make some of them irrelevant. However, I would appreciate any advice on this.

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  • dabedwe's avatar
    dabedwe
    Explorer
    Jul 05, 2015
    I realize the panels will not produce 120v. I was planning on having battery bank in the camper that is large enough to run lights, maybe charge a laptop, run a tv if possible, or a fan for a few days. I did not think about the power feeding back in the lines if there was a power failure if i use it as a tie in system. I was looking at purchasing a cheap 600 watt inverter to connect the solar system to my house outlet. I could put a switch to cut the panels from the camper and install a plug on the side of the camper, which could then send the 18v dc into an inverter and a relay in my garage. I am planning on buying an on/off grid system for my house within the next year, so buying some of the pieces now would not be a big deal. However, the system for my house will be around 5000 watts, so anything i buy now I will need to be able to handle a much larger system down the road. The tie in system could wait until i install the bigger system on my house, but I figured if the panels are working i might as well be using the power that is coming off of them, even if it is a small amount. Where i am located i can easily angle the panels true south with no obstructions. I appreciate the response and thanks for the link.
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Jul 05, 2015
    RV solar is outfitted for the 12V system.With 400-500W of modules you won't be able to achieve +120V DC when connecting in series to grid tie to a conventional residential controller/inverter.

    The main design failure is the assumption that solar modules are all capable of producing 120V AC. Typical solar modules output up to 35 V DC (although there are some rarities that output 70V DC).

    Good reading here: Golden Rules of Solar

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