solar "wing" on drivers side

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I've moved to being full time in the RV.

I'm in the first stages of planning a solar "wing" for the driver's side of my RV. I want to hinge at the top so I can tilt when stopped.

I'm open to all ideas about doing this. I will probably use MPPT with the panels in series.

I'm 100 inches wide so I want to keep it "thin".

I'll have to avoid the furnace/water heater so there will be a gap.

The panels will double as awnings for the bedroom and dinette windows.

[pianotuna]

Hi Mr. Wizard,

So all I have to do is call them awnings? *grin*

MrWizard wrote:
DOT legal limit in the USA is 'BODY' 102"

mirrors and awnings, do NOT factor into the DOT width limit
as they are 'addon & removable'

[SWD]

Hard Winter????? Yeah right! They have been predicting that for a number if years. I always plan for the worst, that way I'm pleasently surprised when nothing major happens. I was at a weather/enviroment conference a few years back. Weather forecasting has'nt changed much since then. Anyway the 3 day forecasts are 95% accurate, anything beyond that is 50/50. So how can they predict a hard winter????? What comes, comes......and as the song goes...whatever will be, will be.

[MrWizard]

DOT legal limit in the USA is 'BODY' 102"

mirrors and awnings, do NOT factor into the DOT width limit
as they are 'addon & removable'

[JiminDenver]

Don

Is the heat from the panels a concern? I notice Tom has his a bit off the body with the way he mounted them.

I was also wondering about the heat on the window seals.

[pianotuna]

Hi Mark,

So long as I have 110 volt power I'll be fine. I'll burn LOTS of propane, and LOTS of fuel for the generator. I'll also be caging from Churches and friends (for a small donation of funds).

However, I'd really love to have much much more solar. I've got about 700 lbs I can add and still be within the chassis weight limits.

I could give up 3 of my 7 batteries (if I must).

[MNtundraRet]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Mark,

I have used my rv "wet" at -37 C (-34 F).

I have boondocked at -27 C for five days during a blizzard.

Tom, what you did is very much what I wish to do! Thanks.

Thank you for the reply Don. I am only concerned about the possible freezing in water-lines. Around here the first cold-snap can last a number of days. Enough to cause a problem if you do not have the ability to get MH warmed enough to thaw and winterize, before a pipe bursts.

They are talking about a hard winter out in Pacific NW and the Rockies area this winter. Saw it on the internet today. I hope most of it misses you this winter.

Mark

[BFL13]

This is for Ontario. Other provinces are similar. Similar to the US rules too.

Other things besides mirrors that add to the width like the awning seem to have rules, hard to tell. Nova Scotia rule says mirrors can go out 300mm but other things can only be 100mm.

PT can put glass on the front ends of his panels and call them mirrors! 🙂

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/recreational-vehicles/part5.shtml

BTW note how they let a truck towing a trailer have mirrors sticking out but not a car or SUV towing a trailer.

[KJINTF]

Hi PT

I thought that as well but have seen different
I purchased my rig new in Montana the body is 8.5ft wide then add the awnings and mirrors for a total of 10ft 6 inches wide - I have a 10ft barn door that it will not fit into without removal of the mirrors. The extra wide is nice once you get to the camp site but not so nice when driving down our narrow roads with log trucks coming my way

Getting cold here - stay warm up there

[Bobbo]

On US highways, it is 102" (8' 6"). I don't know about Canadian road restrictions.

[pianotuna]

Hi KJINTF,

I thought 108 inches (9 feet) was the legal limit? I'm currently at 100 inches.

[KJINTF]

PT

I look forward to seeing some pictures of your design

As far as staying within the mirrors - my mirrors make me 10ft 6" wide
Have to remove them to get the rig into it's winter storage place with a 10ft door.

[pianotuna]

Hi Mark,

I have used my rv "wet" at -37 C (-34 F).

I have boondocked at -27 C for five days during a blizzard.

Tom, what you did is very much what I wish to do! Thanks.

[tenbear]

What a great idea!!! Great Job Tom_M. I'll be watching this thread.

The width should be ok if you stay within the mirrors. I might be a little concerned with the strength of the attachment to the wall on my MH, don't know about yours.

[SWD]

Tom_M......great job! Just what I think Don needs to see.

[westend]

Hey Don,
Most modules i've seen have a fairly robust aluminum frame. Mine is double walled but the aluminum is thin. If you're going to be mounting the modules in a vertical orientation for transport, I'd suggest to ledger the frame of the module with another piece of aluminum. In fact, I think I'd build a frame to incase the whole frame of the module, relying on that outer frame to absorb the torque of the forces and support the module's frame. You could apply some weatherstripping between the two frames to further absorb any jolts or bumps (it would be easy to do and inexpensive).

When I built my tilting apparatus, I used common stainless steel butt hinges and I don't see where they wouldn't work in your application if you can fasten them securely. For deploying the module into full "harvest position", you'll need a strut, an anchor, and a fastening pin. I used 1' x 1/2" rectangular aluminum tube, drilled aluminum angle, and 1/4" clevis pins with hairpins. You'll also need an anchor or two to hold the module in transport position.

Good luck with the project and keep us informed, this may open some doors for folks with limited roof real estate.

Edit: Yeah, what I was thinking is somewhat like Tom has done. Good job, Tom!