Leisure van owner needs input on installing solar panels

We had a solar panel installed at the factory, but I can't tell you much about it yet because we are just about to pick up our new LTV Libero on Monday!

Congratulations BusterMama... we are a rare breed (though with discerning taste) and I too want to hear how it goes with the solar.

Hi,

I installed solar panels on my RV many years ago. My suggestions are to mount them in a way that there will be the least amount of shadows on the panels from the A/C, antenna, and other items.

Use cardboard to select the locations of the panels. Use care not to buy a 250 watt panel because it is a wonderful per watt price, then find the only place you can mount is is the back wall. Check the space, then start looking at panels that will fit. Make sure that you left behind a path to get around the roof, if you plan on being up there. If your plan is to only work from ladders to clean the roof, make any repairs, and check things like the solar panel mounts from the ladder, then no need to worry about the space left over on the roof.

This is one place that sells mostly home based solar panels that are fairly large, they do not specialize in RV based solar panels. SunElec.com

This place might be able to supply smaller panels, SolarOnSale.com

You probably want one about 100 - 150 watts, and probably would find one less than 40" in the long distance, and 15 - 25" in the smaller width.

All of my solar panels are 12 volt "Nominal" (about 19 to 21 volts open circuit) and I could use a lower cost PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) controller (like the Mark 15 amp controller I had) or a higher cost MPPT controller - like the Solarboost 50 amp controller I have now. So the MPPT controller can take in 30+ volts, even some models up to 60 or 120 volts DC.

The MPPT controller will take in the 20 volts and "Convert it" to 13.0 volts at a higher amperage. So say the 120 watt panel has a 6 am output at 10 am at 18 volts. The PWM controller will put all 6 amps into the battery that is say 12.8 volts until the solar started charging it.

In contrast the MPPT controller will take the 6 amps at 18 volts and convert that 108 watts to say 13 volts and 8 amps (13 X 8 = 104 watts, so it is possible). This according to the MPPT controller designers will give up to 20% boost in output amperage.

Back in the 1990's when I installed the first pair of 45 watt panels, Mark 15 controller and mounts, wire and instructions for $750, it was expensive per rated watt. Now you can buy a 30 volt "Open circuit" panel with a 250 watt rating for around $275. That is a huge price drop. But it would require a MPPT controller if the open circuit is above say 22 or 23 volts.

I hope you decide to install a solar system. I would not limit asking questions to only one brand of RV for advice.

Fred.

unity4us wrote:
Are there any Leisure Van owners who have installed solar panels?

Do you have a Unity? If so you might want to have the Mod move this to the Class C forum.

I bought a 120 watt portable. Only used it a couple of times, but it's nice that I can move it around to get the best sun.

Here's the one I bought. It is portable & folds up nicely. Only used it twice & it seems to work well. It is now out of stock though. I do wish it had a better controller I could adjust as it seems to go into float too soon, when only charged up to 90% per my meter.

http://www.amazon.com/Infomon-Monocrystallline-Portable-Folding-Solar/dp/B005WMD8VY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1346153016&sr=8-3&keywords=120+watt+solar

I'm taking my 2013 Leisure Travel Vans Unity MB to AM Solar in Springfield, OR in June for a 400 watt solar panel install. Here is a 200 watt install they did on a 2012 Unity.

@EsoxLucius - Would really like to see any pictures you might have of the AM Solar install on your Unity.

Thanks