jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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Joined: 07/03/2005
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What side of the mountains you camp in will make a big difference in how much solar you will need. I live in the West side and get up to 20a on a good sunny day. When it is cloudy or rainy I get zip. I carry a Honda EU 1000i and it does the battery charging when solar won't keep up which is most of the time. Solar will never replace the generator in our part of the world (-:
Jim
Jim, Sharon and Buddy the Yorkie
1999 Gulfstream Sun Voyager 31' ISB Cummins 275
AIMS 2500w inverter 4-6v GC batteries
4-Kyocera 130w solar panels SB3024iL MPPT controller
Pressure Pro TPMS
1987 Suzuki Samurai tintop Toad w/VW 1.6 turbo diesel power
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Crazy Ray
Monroe,La
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Joined: 01/17/2006
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click - read and learn.
RET ARMY  , DW Donna , Summer (Furkid)  . Class A, 2000 Gulf Stream, 4 SAMS 6VOLTS, DIRECTV, YAMAHA 2400 GEN , TOW 97 Wrangler/Honda CR V. Garmin GPS 7200  . "Living Our Dream". NASCAR FAN (14,18,,20,11) Love CO & NM 
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69RoadRunner
VA
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Joined: 01/18/2008
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Solar Info
Two of the main points of the above article is that you should use big wires and keep the controller within 6 feet of the batteries.
Yes, bigger wire costs a little more, but if it saves you from buying another solar panel, it's worth it. You might as well get as much power from the panels to the batteries as possible.
Small wires steal power.
09 Newmar Ventana 3942
Bunkbeds for the munchkins
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ralbert3
Tampa Fl
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Joined: 10/29/2008
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I have two AM100's from AM SOLAR out of Oregan. They seam to have a good handle on solar. Before you buy go to their web site and get some good info. Rob
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Locomotiveman
Willmar, MN
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Joined: 03/07/2005
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Mike and Mona, I have Solar Panels on our MH. Unless they are hefty in wattage you will be dissappointed. TV's, Mr Coffee's and microwaves,etc will be a huge draw on your batteries. Without a FULL daily charge to the battery bank you are gambling with battery life and damaged appliances and Aqua-Hot unless you are an 'EnergyMiser'. We never 'dry camp' long enough to justify relying on solar panels to charge the batteries. Do the Math on wattage for your location and lifestyle. Locomotiveman
Locomotiveman..Yes I am a career cross-country Locomotive Engineer. Wife is an RN. We are CLOSE to retiring and 'downsized' to a Monaco Executive w/450hp Cummins and nice drapes. Locomotiveman
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FIRE UP
Ramona, CA. USA
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Joined: 03/08/2004
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Mike and Mona,
I've used solar now for about 3 years. I have (1), 135 watt panel with a "Blue Sky" 2000E controller. I chose the option NOT to mount it on the roof because, I can control the aiming of it at the sun. I can park my RV in any direction I want and still get max benefit of the panel because it's portable with a "kick stand" that I installed on it.
When not in use, it's tucked away in our closet in the bedroom. It takes about one minute to get it out, attach the cord to a plug just behind the grill of the coach and aim it at the sun, DONE!
We just got back from our local desert here in So Cal and I was at 7.5 to 8 amps in the morning and as the batts became more charged, it dropped to about (4). The controller LED started blinking around 2:30 each day, indicating that that the batteries ( 2- Trojan T-105 6Volt ) are fully charged. That's just one panel. I don't run devices like toasters, hair blowers etc, I just charge batteries with mine. So, my point, it all depends on what you want to accomplish with solar. Good luck.
Scott
Scott and Karla
San Diego Fire Department RETIRED
1999 Bounder 34V w/slide, V-10 W/BANKS
toad-'04 Yellow Jeep Rubicon
2002 Stream Silver Metalic GL 1800 Goldwing
KI60ND
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DaveG39
Goleta, CA
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Joined: 11/02/2000
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I have two 123 watt panels from RVsolarelectric and four 6 volt batteries. I wouldn't go with less.
2001 Dolphin 5332 towing 2002 Honda
CRV, Goleta, CA
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Spikester
Belfair WA
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Joined: 04/05/2008
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Now's a great time to do a solar set-up, remember you can qualify for the 30% Solar Investment Tax Credit.
As some of the posters have said, you get what you pay for with a Solar System, wire needs to be right sized, not all panels are the same, some produce more energy than others. Remember that on an average you only get about 5 "peak sun hours" per day which means you only get 5 hours of max output for your panels, which is not a lot of amp hours of charge, depending on the number of panels you have installed.
Figure out what you use per day boondocking, how much of your usage you want the solar system to replenish, then groom your system after your needs.
I have 400Watts on my roof, a relative new motorhome with a lot of electronics and 2000Watt inverter, 4-6 volt batteries, during the warm summer months in WA State I manage to stay slightly ahead of my consumption, I prefer to limit my generator usage when boondocking. My system was installed my AM Solar in Eugene, it was well worth the trip to have them do my system.
Spike
08 Newmar Ventana 3330
350HP ISBXT
Spartan NVS Chassis
Mini Cooper Toad
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UltimaRV
USA & Europe
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Joined: 04/13/2006
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We also have an installation by amsolar. 600 watts of panels and their MPPT controller connected to 6 x 8D AGM batteries. Amsolar shipped to our bus converter, Featherlite, who installed the system. The amsolar panels offer a higher voltage in a more compact narrow panel made for motorhomes.
Some notes:
- get the panel tilt support brackets
- we wish amsolar offered motorised tilt motors and a remote
- Featherlite would not use am's 3M bonding tape, but mounted them with bolts
- one of the best things we bought for the motorhome
Dian, Robert & Precious - Presently RV'ing in Europe!
2000 45' Featherlite Vogue 5000, tag, slide, Detroit Series 60
2006 19' Towcorp enclosed trailer w/60" tongue
2004 13' Ultima GTR (9.9 seconds standing quarter mile)
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dav5942
Stuart, FL
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Joined: 05/24/2004
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jauguston wrote:What side of the mountains you camp in will make a big difference in how much solar you will need. I live in the West side and get up to 20a on a good sunny day. When it is cloudy or rainy I get zip. I carry a Honda EU 1000i and it does the battery charging when solar won't keep up which is most of the time. Solar will never replace the generator in our part of the world (-:
Jim
And for the money ($850) hard to beat the Honda EU2000i. Just spent over 100 days dry camping this year burning less than a gallon every 4 days for $75 cost of fuel. The Honda maintains our 4 house batteries which we use for TVs, coffee pot, etc. No hastle setting up and quiet. Used the big jenny maybe 5 times.
2007 Newmar 42' Mid Engine w/Fatboy,ATVs-in Garage,Rubicon w/4" lift,MotorMetal whls,MickeyT Baja tires-Cherokee w/4"lift in tow, Hog Valley FL(a diamond in the rough)
Alaska '09 Part2
Alaska Fishing Newmar Mid Engine '09 On the Road Again
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