solar location on Truck camper

bigfootford wrote:
I cut card board the size of the panels I wanted and found that I could not provide enough room to get around on my roof. I tried placing them all around.
I decided I wanted long/narrow panels so I found some that was 23"X 57" 100 watt.

I again did the cardboard thing and found the perfect placement and accomplished the ability to get around on the roof along with enough room to replace the 12X12 vent over the bed area with an escape hatch.







link to my install:

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/24783458/srt/pa/pging/1/page/2.cfm

Jim

I made mounts similar to these, but my panels are a little closer to the roof. I used 6" long 2" angle aluminum from Home Depot with 3 holes 3/16" for #10 screws into the roof, and 5/16" hole with 1/4-20 screw into the solar panel frame.

You do not need to tilt the panel into the sun, while that is ideal, leaving it flat is only about a 5% - 10% loss. Tilting it away from the sun might give you a 12% loss, but that is still OK if the panels are large enough. And if you are driving every few days, that should fully charge the battery, if you have a large enough wire between the truck and camper!

I ran #10 UV rated grey direct burial romex - also from Home Depot, down the refrigerator vent to the controller and battery.

IF you look for 12 volt nominal panels (19-22 volt open circuit voltage) then you can use a much less expensive PWM controller. SunELec.com sells some in various voltages and with or without frames. Without frame - it would be difficult to mount it to your roof.

Good luck,

Fred.