Solar Panel Expansion
Okay folks since I traded in my 2011 Lance 1181 Truck Camper with it’s self installed 385 watts of solar and a Heliotrope MPPT controller, for a 2018 Eagle Cap 1165 Truck Camper. It came with a GoP...
Forum Discussion
I would contact Eagler Cap and ask them the size of the wire. You can calculate from there your options. The wire might be bigger than you think. In their online brochure Eagle Cap lists the ability to upgrade to a total of 300 watts as factory option. If your voltage drop calculates to be too high for the factory roof-controller cable you could run the panels in pairs in series than to parallel to controller. The wiring should be fine voltage wise in this configuration. I would check with the specs on the MPPT controller and see what their max solar input is. Inexpensive MPPT controllers shouldn't be exceeded in many cases as they can't shunt off excess amperages the way some expensive units will do. Our last renogy 40 amp MPPT shut off a couple times when our 500 watts of solar and a high load appliance was being used. The MPPT specs should give a max input in watts.
As towpro notes maximum performance is rarely achieved although that will vary with time of year an location. We are seeing 95%+ with flat non tilting panels in the southwest right now (we actually hit 1045 watts with a total roof away of 1080 )when the sun is overhead and sky is very clear.
As far as the renogy panels I have used them in the past and they worked very well.
As towpro notes maximum performance is rarely achieved although that will vary with time of year an location. We are seeing 95%+ with flat non tilting panels in the southwest right now (we actually hit 1045 watts with a total roof away of 1080 )when the sun is overhead and sky is very clear.
As far as the renogy panels I have used them in the past and they worked very well.
