Solar Install: what would you change

canada_rokzz wrote:
I’m going to do a small solar install on my 5th wheel, and I am curious what you would change about your current setup. What did you do that was wrong, not good enough or just a minor annoyance.

My plan is two 100w semi flexible 12v panels wired in series to an MPPT controller

Hold it right there :)
Don't know whether I'll add something of value after some big guns said their piece, I didn't read all 4 pages, but...

1) There is not much need in good quality $$$ MPPT with mere 2*100 panels. OTH, low quality MPPT is not worth buying.
$50 Grape PWM from Home Depot will exceed your requirements, it will be rich in features and likely cheaper than a comparable MPPT. 2*100W can be wired in parallel with PWM, cable gauge may remain the same #10 (or you can get #8 MC4 if you like, it connects to standard MC4 panel fittings). On your small 2*100W system you will gain very little energy with MPPT , getting more panel wattage will work better.
Disclaimer: I have MPPT - but I DO need it, my panels are 500W total.

2) There is probably no benefit in semi-flexible panel compared to rigid, if your roof is the usual particle board.

3) What others said - get more solar wattage than you think you need. 200W in Northern Canada is very, very little.

4) To answer your question - No, I didn't do anything that was "wrong or annoyance or not good enough". No regrets about getting 30A MPPT Rogue - the best 30A MPPT available at that time. Thanks again to Don Piano for pointing me out this one. 500W array is "good enough" where I am, but it could've been better. You can't have too much solar.

What I would change in my solar... I would get better batteries than Chinese-made UPG. I would also get 100-200W more solar wattage, for total 600-700W, rather than my current 500W. (Though, this in turn would lead to bigger/costlier MPPT than my current 30A).