We also have NO desire to park or camp out in the bright hot Sun and bake inside so the solar cells can see the Sun when we can be cool and comfortable in the shade and not need any A/C at all. We also get a big kick out of the gobs of RV'ers we see who have to park in terrible spots just so their dish can see the sky at a low enough angle.
I certainly had a good chuckle about the comment of those poor people left to park out in the sun, instead of the shade. My first thought was; “Thanks for leaving those spaces open for me!! And, the unobstructed views.”
Seven months of the year, I am far from any sight line that a single tree is visible. Who needs shade when the overnight temps are in the 30?Fs and daytime temps get into the 70?Fs? Bring it on! While many are not able to change Latitudes, with the seasons, some do. Often these people have Solar. But, I did anticipate this dilemma and designed my Solar to have two phases. Sometimes use this capability when in places like Northern California, with their 150+ foot tall trees. I have a Solar bank on a trailer, that I just park out in a meadow and run a drop cord (just like plugging into a pedestal at a campground) back to my TC that is parked in the shade. One must adapt/create solutions rather look for obstacles that become roadblocks.
Yes, Jfet, I have both Solar Systems set to be divided so as they can be tilted (One solar system was set up to provide enough Watts, to make up for the loss of not tilting). Between November and February, I prefer to park facing East or West, so as to tilt my 1st Phase (600w) Solar System. I worked out the distance apart, by using a calculator. One side needs to be dropped a couple of inches, so as not to overlap the back group, in the steepest angle times of December. This is the reason I am an advocate of smaller Solar Panels and this issue is one of the reasons why.
While some are perfectly fine with climbing up on the roof and tilting their panels, I’m not. Why? Because I have some mobility and balance issues, just getting older too. But, imagine walking on a moving boat deck, or walking across the backs of horses (OK extreme, but thought of that image when spending a couple of winters in the Mojave Desert and their Perpetual Winds (Can you say, Tehachapi Pass, Windmill Farm?)). When one bends over, certain things happen to your inner ear. My other point is I don’t want to be walking on my TC roof, any more times than necessary, to minimize wear and tear (I walk in my socks up there).
Again, I can’t stress enough the factors of wind, especially in the west. After living in Boulder, Colorado for decades, a virtual wind tunnel, I have a lot of respect for wind. While your solar panels are rated for wind, they are not rated for extreme winds. Being in Death Valley, during one of their Haboob Storms, and watching helplessly as my panels were bulging like balloons, I will be a town crier. Many winds come up unexpectedly and become too dangerous to run out and try to unbolt and retract your solar panels, without them being ripped out of your hands. We won’t even talk about the wind ripping you off a roof or ladder. For me, wind can be a constant issue, during my winter travels, in and around the Desert Southwest and spring/summer Thunderstorms of the plains and Midwest.
Battery placement, can be used to assist in minimizing your Vehicle sway and stabilization of driving down the road, as my planning did. Short battery cable runs, insure minimal watts/AmpHs losses, as well as matched cables. Placing charge controllers/Invertors in close proximity of battery banks is critical, in the success of a system. Most systems have remote monitors and they can be placed just about anywhere (<35ft.+). A good Battery Monitor will give you the needed information of daily and immediate condition of your batteries and Solar Production. They too can provide remote monitors. A failed battery is very unlikely and monitoring will provide protection if and when this may occur. Many of us “Solar Snobs” can tell by their monitor what electrical draw is being used. You can become very aware what might be malfunctioning, or left on accidentally, by just the readout of these monitors. Good planning and a few $$ well spent, provides you countless points of protection, just as checking air pressure in your tires. With time, you will have this knowledge too.
Jfet, you have demonstrated a great willingness of planning and anticipating what might be encountered during your upcoming adventures, please give some thought to some of my experiences, and years of field testing, as well.
b
