'71 Starcraft Wanderstar- "The Hilton"

westend wrote:

69 Avion wrote:
I've been watching the progress over the last year. Very nice work. There is no doubt that the trailer is much better now than the day that it was originally made.
How is your solar system working out? I'm getting ready to add solar to mine. I'm thinking of a panel about the same size. It is a 250 watt, 24 volt panel from Sharp.

Thanks, I know you have considerable experience with fabrication so that's quite a compliment.

The solar system is working great. Really, my electrical needs are on the low end, even using the small electric fridge. I sized the system around the fridge, basically. I have battery powered alarms and no circuit boards or furnace blower. All the lights are LED's so the vent fan and stove fan are my next largest loads and they aren't operated much. I have the older pressure tank water system so my pump runs very little, also. Since I just installed the Victron monitor, I don't know what typical usage total is but I'd guess around 60-80AH/day. The one 235w module I use is keeping everything charged well.
Your 250W Sharp panel should give you a lot of charging power, enough to boondock indefinitely if your needs are towards the middle of average users, especially if you have a propane absorption refrigerator. Have you picked out a charge controller yet?

My usage is minimal. Excluding AC (that is what the generator is for) my largest usage of power is the furnace fan. Most of my cooking is outside so the vent hood is rarely used. In the old days, lighting was an issue but I went to 100% LEDs.
The charge controller that I'm going to use is the same one that you have. It is the Morningstar Sun Saver MPPT 15 amp controller. The best price that I have found so far is $223.60. There may be a better source out there. How is it working out so far for you? I need the MPPT because of my 24 volt panel.