Started Solar Array

Firelime wrote:

Almot wrote:
Wires on the roof need to be covered. PWM and parallel install (?) complicates the wiring, and those red-black cables probably don't have same level of UV protection as MC4 cable.

I think leaving generator home will be doable, where you are. As long as you don't need A/C. Or there is no snow on the panel :)...

You'll probably end up not using tilting often. Too much pain unless you stay put for a week or longer. 800W is a lot of solar, and you are not that far North.

I plan on using Eternabond to cover the wires. Just waiting for the tan color to get here. The white on the roof would really stand out, which is what I have. Yeah, I'm not sure how often I will tilt the panels, but it's nice to have that option. 800 watts is a bit, but I don't really like the Dometic fridge I have and am really contemplating putting in a residential down the line. We are fairly power hungry too.

I'm in MN and have my trailer parked on my property for the Winter. I have a single 235W panel, now, and it is tilted at about 58 degrees to the South. It stays like that through the Winter, keeping my batteries charged and power available for the few times I'm out there. It works well since the snow can get extreme up here and the South facing module sheds it after a day or two of sunshine, no matter what temperature is outside. Tilt is good.

I also have a small 120V fridge. The battery capacity and panel selection are basically designed to run the fridge.

I'm planning on adding another module, maybe two, and more battery to possibly allow a small air conditioner to run for awhile when we experience sweltering conditions. If we are parked in a tropical or desert environment, then campground power or a generator will come into play for air conditioning. After breaking the barrier into free power, I got interested in what else I can do with solar charging. YMMV.