Question for all you solar experts

[69_Avion]

I have ordered a 250 watt Sharp 24 volt Solar panel. Now for my question. I would like to use a Morningstar Sun Saver 15 MPPT controller. The problem is that the sales person said that the 15 amp MPPT Sun Saver controller isn't large enough for my panel. Does anyone have experience with this? I don't want to have to go to a 45 amp controller unless I absolutely have to.

[69_Avion]

The Eco Worthy MPPT controller came in today. It appears to be well made, but time will tell. I would like to mount it outside near the batteries and solar panel. Has anyone used a water tight plastic box with a hinged lid? If so, what did you use. I don't want a box that conducts heat.

[JiminDenver]

There would be other issues too like the noise a pump will make at night not to mention the power it would use.

[69_Avion]

JiminDenver wrote:
Very nice job! Can you take it off if you wanted to go portable?

On the Eco-worthy, it would be a few dollars more ($115 instead of $102) but you can order it from a seller with US stock and get it in a week.

West

last night I was think that in my situation I could use the fresh water tank for cooling. Even when it gets hotter up there during the day, it gets cold enough at night to use the furnace. I could use a radiator of some type outside and cool the FW tank considerably and then use a second exchanger in the trailer during the day to cool things down. ( I know my usual low tech ideas)

The entire assembly can come of with the removal of one pin. The solar panel can come off separately with the removal of two pins, one in the front and one in the back.

Jim, if you had enough cool water you could use a heat exchanger to get some cooling from it, but it would take a lot of water. There are cooling systems that turn water into ice during the night time (cheap electric rates) and use the ice for cooling during the daytime.

[JiminDenver]

Very nice job! Can you take it off if you wanted to go portable?

On the Eco-worthy, it would be a few dollars more ($115 instead of $102) but you can order it from a seller with US stock and get it in a week.

West

last night I was think that in my situation I could use the fresh water tank for cooling. Even when it gets hotter up there during the day, it gets cold enough at night to use the furnace. I could use a radiator of some type outside and cool the FW tank considerably and then use a second exchanger in the trailer during the day to cool things down. ( I know my usual low tech ideas)

[69_Avion]

I was thinking about adding the other panel at the open area on the left hand side of the trailer under the cab over part. When I would swing it out for usage it would provide more shade on the left side of the trailer. I really don't think that I will need the second panel since I can't run the AC by adding the second one.
I still haven't ordered the Eco Worthy controller, but I probably will next week or so.

[westend]

Nice work! I see you basically built another frame under the module's aluminum frame. Also, added a cross member in the center. That should all give it plenty of strength. IIRC, these bigger modules are wind rated to some kind of hurricane scale and that is typically mounting with only 4 attachment points.

You may have to swap out the front windows with some mirror glass to get those extra watts from the reflection, lol.:B As built, you should get some additional reflection addition, if aligned into the sun right.

I think you're going to really like solar, if you haven't tried it. I'm seeing really good battery health using mine. Also, no generator and all the nonsense that goes along with that (if you have a big enough system). If you're going with 500w of modules and 400AH of battery bank, you should really only have to use a generator for AC, if necessary. I'm still looking for a cooling option that can be used with a small solar system. Hydronic may be the answer, it will take me more time to figure out.

[69_Avion]

Finally got the solar panel installed.









It is adjustable for up and down on the front by a 1/4" pin with holes every two inches. I can angle it down quite a bit for aerodynamic wind flow.

I haven't wired it yet. Maybe in a couple of weeks when I get more time.

[69_Avion]

I currently have only two wet cell batteries. I'm thinking about adding two AGM batteries in my TorkLift battery box. If I do this, separating the controllers will be nice. I may not even need the second two batteries.

[JiminDenver]

I haven't used two yet but i will be ordering a second soon. Having two will work better for me since my panel are not matched up and would confuse a single controller. It also allows me to charge two banks at once or I'm hoping combine them on one bank.

On combining them, maybe foolishly but I'm assuming both controllers will react to the voltage of a single battery.

[westend]

I haven't used the Ecoworthy, maybe Jim will chime in. How big is your battery bank and do you have multiple banks??

[69_Avion]

I finally have the 1-1/4" aluminum frame attached to the bottom of the solar panel. It really stiffens up the panel. I have it partially mounted to the trailer, but I won't have a chance to finish it for a couple of weeks. It seems like it will give me a good aerodynamic shape up front since I can adjust the angle.

I have two 250 watt 24 volt Sharp panels and I am probably going to try one of the Eco Worthy MPPT controllers. I'm thinking about hanging the second panel on the side of the trailer so I can swing it out for shade while also using it for more solar capacity. Has anyone used two of these controllers, one for each large 24 volt, 250 watt panels?

[69_Avion]

westend, I like your solar panel mount. I'm doing something similar where I am making an entire 1-1/4" aluminum square tube reinforcement frame that my solar panel aluminum frame will mount to on all sides, and then I am making it hinge off of my aluminum trailer bracket. My tilt will only be a maximum of about 30 degrees down when traveling down the road so it isn't real extreme. The reason I'm making the extra frame is to keep the solar panel from flexing since I'm mounting it above the trailer tongue.

[2oldman]

westend wrote:
, I've had the module on my TT tilted while in storage. It has been in 60 MPH gusts, endured a brief light hail event, and is still going strong.

My tilted panels have been in 40+mph winds with no ill effects.. except scaring me to death!

BTW, why is this thread still in TT?

[westend]

69 Avion wrote:

JiminDenver wrote:
Sorry to hear that one of the panels was damaged. I can't wait to see the numbers you get. Was the free shipping a limited offer?

The free shipping on the second panel wasn't a limited time offer. FedEx charges them the same amount whether they ship one panel or two panels. That is why I chose the second panel. Shipping is $100 for one panel. The panel was only $212.

Exactly my experience with the shipping, two are as cheap as one. That is a great price on the Sharp module, BTW, sorry to hear one was damaged.

Glad to hear that I wasn't the only one thinking of using a module to deflect wind. I was thinking of mounting a module on the rear of my truck cap to accomplish the same thing. After looking at the amount of work involved with terminations and my expected use, I put that project on the back burner. If you look at the better modules, you'll see that the ratings for wind and impact resistance are very high, higher than typical residential roofs, even. I think they can accomplish this by the acetates used in the module construction. FWIW, I've had the module on my TT tilted while in storage. It has been in 60 MPH gusts, endured a brief light hail event, and is still going strong. I made the 4-way tilting brackets from architectural 6061 aluminum, for the most part, nothing thicker than 1/8".

Here's a picture for inspiration:

[69_Avion]

JiminDenver wrote:
Sorry to hear that one of the panels was damaged. I can't wait to see the numbers you get. Was the free shipping a limited offer?

The free shipping on the second panel wasn't a limited time offer. FedEx charges them the same amount whether they ship one panel or two panels. That is why I chose the second panel. Shipping is $100 for one panel. The panel was only $212.