Large solar panels

[Firelime]

I'm looking for feedback from anyone who runs the larger 24 volt solar panels? How are they holding up? Any problems? If you had to do it again would you go with smaller 12v panels?

[wrybread]

Definitely, without doubt, go higher voltage. There's so many advantages but the biggies are much less loss in your wiring, and as the sun gets low your MPPT controller can lock onto a lower voltage and still put out power. The only advantage to the 12 volt panels is that they're smaller, but if your roof can fit them, go high voltage.

[rubycreekted]

I have four 30v panels I moved from my prior coach to my current coach 2 years ago. I added two more for the total 6 panels (about 1300 watts). I have them wired series/parallel feeding 60V from the roof to my MidNight Solar Classic 150 controller. Works great now for about four years. I have 8 AGM batteries. I did both installs myself. Go with the residential panels verses the '12v' panels if you can.

Ted Hindes

Firelime wrote:
I'm looking for feedback from anyone who runs the larger 24 volt solar panels? How are they holding up? Any problems? If you had to do it again would you go with smaller 12v panels?

[JFNM]

A very subtle point but possibly unnoticed.... There are quite a few panels now being sold as "semi-flexible" which, in marketing terms, appears to mean that they are rigid panels without the aluminum frame. One must figure out a way to mount them "rigidly" so they don't flex (much) and have enough space around them for adequate cooling. Everyone's setup is different but for mine, that would add a lot of complexity/work to the installation. Just a heads up to look closely at what one is buying. 🙂

[Firelime]

rkentzel wrote:
I just bought two 320 watt 24 panels panels at solar blvd for 109.00 each have not installed them yet. I am going to put one on the toy hauler and one on the motor home. They are big though can not wait to put them up knee replacement slowing me down on that at 8 weeks not ready to get on the roof.

Those are the same ones I'm looking at.

Thanks for all the responses. My primary concern was damage while traveling due to the large size. But that appears not to be an issue.

[rkentzel]

I just bought two 320 watt 24 panels panels at solar blvd for 109.00 each have not installed them yet. I am going to put one on the toy hauler and one on the motor home. They are big though can not wait to put them up knee replacement slowing me down on that at 8 weeks not ready to get on the roof.

[Colo_Native]

Just finished mine 2 255w 37.9 Voc. See Signature for the rest paid $300 for the 2 panels. The one draw back is they are big so you need the space. Now I am working on the inverter.

[JFNM]

Howdy Firelime, I'm running two residential panels of about 60 volts (Sunpower E20-327) and a Morningstar TS-MPPT-45 charge controller. All is holding up very well and I love the performance. Link to the details in my signature. I would not change a thing - except maybe a 60 amp charge controller and one more panel! 🙂

[gatorcq]

I run 2 300 watts 40 Vdc panels
2, 180 watts 40 Vdc panels
MPPT Controller
Max PV Array Current out 27 Amps - 8 Awg - to Controller
Max Current MPPT Battery 74 Amps - 4 Awg - to Battery

[Ductape]

2 x 315w and I would do the same again.

[Firelime]

smkettner wrote:
See signature. Would not change a thing. Prices are even lower today.

I like the setup. I'm also planning on using the same controller.

[Firelime]

I'm going to do a residential as soon as my solar & battery bank is done. I'm not liking my dometic. I'm looking at doing 3 320w panels.

[time2roll]

See signature. Would not change a thing. Prices are even lower today.

[elivi8]

I run a 250 W 24 volt panel and love it. It was 5x3 ft but it fit well on the roof. I run an MPPT charge controller and it works well. I have seen 12 amps out of it but it's capable of 17. I don't tilt so I don't expect more than 12 amps. It's simply a case of space. If you can fit the bit one, do it. If not, go with smaller ones to fit to your roof.

Ryan

[azrving]

This was my first stab at solar and I did considered large panels at first but after mocking it up with cardboard I decided on 12 volt 58" x 26" panels end to end on the curb side. Bigger panels were cheaper per watt but in the end I dont think I could have gotten as many amps up there as I can now. Or I may have gotten more but not had as easy access. I'm considering a residential frig but haven't researched it enough yet so I may add another string on the street side with pretty clear access down the center. There is enough room to step between the panels and ac or vents. No stepping over anything and I'm not walking near the edge.



While out west last winter with only 520 watts I had to tilt so small or large panel they would need to be tilted. When the wind was blowing dirt so thick that we couldn't see a half mile away and the rig was rocking I would have been worried about a big panel. I dont want to tilt or even go up there so I left them up for 2 1/2 months.