How Much Solar ? First Hand Report

[RJsfishin]

Just got set up here in Quartzsite, two 100 watt solar panels on my receiver hitch mounted polar mount, moving it 3 times during the day.
Panes were partly shaded by an old power pole till 9 am, then full sun all day. Solar display was blinking by 2pm, batts near full charge. We are a little conservative w/ led lites etc, but still burn sat tv at least 6 hrs a day.
This 200 watts (190 actually) it more than enuff for us, ......if we can depend on the sun even 50% of the time.
All this hype about voltage drop,......undersize wiring, etc etc, is a serious waste of time IMO,
......my voltmeters looked better when I got up this morning, than they have ever looked running my generator. I am thrilled w/ solar here in AZ. I wish I could be 1/2 this thrilled in Oregon ! :))

[Crazy_Ray]

I have a friend we camp with alot and we both have the same solar setup, except he uses #6 wiring and I use #2 wire. The wire running from the combiner box to controller is 21 feet. We have parked less than 100 feet from one another and I can truthfully say my batteries charge up at least 2 hours ahead of his.

What size wiring do you use?

[red31]

RJsfishin wrote:
Solar display was blinking by 2pm, batts near full charge.

Mine blinks for charging and solid for charged! :B

[BFL13]

You guys are going to get RJ so mad he'll be kicking at the Gila Monsters and Sidewinders that come by to watch him aim his solar contraption.

[mena661]

Salvo wrote:
Perhaps your wiring is inadequate? :B

ZING! :B

[pianotuna]

Hi Rich,

Since you are probably pwm thin wire to the controller is fine--but from the controller to the battery bank it should be beefy.

[Salvo]

2pm seems a bit late to go into absorption. You're just 80% charged and there's only an hour of quality solar left.

Perhaps your wiring is inadequate? :B

Sal

[2oldman]

Better turn off heaters at night.. it's cold.

[BFL13]

RJ, nice work getting ready for this off-grid time using your contraption, with it all working out as planned.

Agree it isn't worth fine tuning if you get to the absorption stage by 2pm as is. If it didn't get there till 6pm, you might think doing more is worth it. Just another way to say everyone has his own situation.

You are right about "near full" too. I found that very deceptive on solar, where it seems like the batts are getting full, but then they still need a good recovery session afterwards (every month or so) from being undercharged a little each day over a long period.