Solar

[Wolfy850]

I want to add solar to my WC850 so how do I determine what wattage panel to get? Along with necessary equipment to run it. I'm pre wired already.

[time2roll]

It is just a TC not a big class A. Probably just one or two batteries. 200 watts solar will supply some good charging. May not fully charge the battery every day and that is not necessary to get the benefit of solar and extend the time before 120v power is needed.

[pianotuna]

smk yes you can run even a 3000 watt inverter--but you can't recharge the battery bank in a timely manner with only 200 watts of solar.

[time2roll]

pianotuna wrote:
You won't be able to run even a small inverter with only 200 watts.

Not continuous but certainly can run a 200w inverter even with no solar.

[Geewizard]

woodhog wrote:

Geewizard wrote:

Wolfy850 wrote:
I basically want to keep my batteries charged when not running genny or driving truck. So It sounds like a 200 watt panel, a charge controller, and a solar panel correct. Will this be adequate? Btw, thanks for the input so far.

I have 220w of solar which charges two 105AH AGM batteries. I strongly suggest you invest in a MPPT solar controller. I use the Morningstar Sunsaver MPPT. It will give you more from your solar panel than a cheaper non-MPPT controller.

I haven't used my generator for a while.

X2 on the Sunsaver Controllers, we maintain about 50 systems with these controllers and have never had a problem.

Likewise, we use them in our solar powered seismic stations.

[woodhog]

Geewizard wrote:

Wolfy850 wrote:
I basically want to keep my batteries charged when not running genny or driving truck. So It sounds like a 200 watt panel, a charge controller, and a solar panel correct. Will this be adequate? Btw, thanks for the input so far.

I have 220w of solar which charges two 105AH AGM batteries. I strongly suggest you invest in a MPPT solar controller. I use the Morningstar Sunsaver MPPT. It will give you more from your solar panel than a cheaper non-MPPT controller.

I haven't used my generator for a while.

X2 on the Sunsaver Controllers, we maintain about 50 systems with these controllers and have never had a problem.

[Geewizard]

Wolfy850 wrote:
I basically want to keep my batteries charged when not running genny or driving truck. So It sounds like a 200 watt panel, a charge controller, and a solar panel correct. Will this be adequate? Btw, thanks for the input so far.

I have 220w of solar which charges two 105AH AGM batteries. I strongly suggest you invest in a MPPT solar controller. I use the Morningstar Sunsaver MPPT. It will give you more from your solar panel than a cheaper non-MPPT controller.

I haven't used my generator for a while.

[pianotuna]

You won't be able to run even a small inverter with only 200 watts.

[Wolfy850]

pianotuna wrote:
Wolfy850,

So long as you get a charge controller that has adjustable voltage set points and a battery temperature sensor, yes 200 watts will fill the battery bank up.

Thanks pianotuna.

[pianotuna]

Wolfy850,

So long as you get a charge controller that has adjustable voltage set points and a battery temperature sensor, yes 200 watts will fill the battery bank up.

[Wolfy850]

I basically want to keep my batteries charged when not running genny or driving truck. So It sounds like a 200 watt panel, a charge controller, and a solar panel correct. Will this be adequate? Btw, thanks for the input so far.

[pianotuna]

Here is a simple flow chart.

Budget-->Energy Audit-->Battery bank size-->number of watts-->PWM or MPPT. What ever type of controller is chosen, make sure it has adjustable set points and a temperature probe that is on the battery.

If you use solar as a battery charger, one rule of thumb is between 60 and 150 watts of panels per 100 amp-hours of storage. The smaller the battery bank the higher the wattage needed (per 100 amp-hours). Here is a link to the rather special spreadsheet which includes an energy audit, that N8GS has created to help size solar battery charging systems!

solar spreadsheet by N8GS

If you full time or use an inverter lots, then populate the entire unshaded area of the roof with panels. I'm considering replacing my awning with solar panels.

For a nice explanation of solar, try this link:

Golden rules of solar

[deltabravo]

I bought all my solar and doo-dads from AM Solar

I have 300 watts.... which is a tad overkill for the average truck camper owner.

[time2roll]

One watt per amp hour of battery is a good approximate starting point.

[towpro]

I run two of These panels on my WC840. for 200w total.

I am also an electronics geek so I went with the Bogart Engineering TM-2030 battery system monitor and there matching solar controller.


This picture shows the solar panels putting out 11.6 amps.

This is the charge controller (under sink)

Here is the shunt, two 27 series AGM's and that round thing is the disconnect switch I added.

you can also go with charge controller from the same source as solar panels.
one thing I can recommend is go through your solar wiring. I probably removed an extra 10' of wire from mine when I built it.

Mine has been working for around 1.5 years now. when sitting in the driveway at home, refrigerator running on propane all summer, I never have to plug it RV. in winter, I turn off disconnect switch but solar is still connected to charge, and I even get enough light through my RV cover to keep the AGM's topped off all winter.

The connector WC put on the roof of mine is called SAE.