Solar system

Seann45 · 12-28-2011, 05:30 PM

As promised a long time ago, aint procrastination great, here are some photos of my solar system.. 515 watts of solar panels, 660 amp hours of Trojan batteries, a solar boost 45 amp charge controller, and a Magnum Energy 2000/4000 surge mod. sinewave inverter. I called and talked to Jayco before adding the batteries to the A frame... they said it should be ok. Sorry for the not upright photos I had them turned but for some reason they wont stay that way...

Seann45 · 12-28-2011, 05:37 PM

As a foot note I have been on solar only .. since Oct 19 and will not be near a campground or power hookups till mid April... I watch TV at night for several hours, surf the web, use the microwave, treat it just like my home. This is my 3rd winter on solar power... and the winter before that I was only down here for 5 weeks... to get it installed and see if I liked the life style.

**Crabman** · 12-28-2011, 05:53 PM

Nice setup Seann. A real plus to be able to make your own power, anywhere, for free.

Quahog · 12-28-2011, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seann45

As a foot note I have been on solar only .. since Oct 19 and will not be near a campground or power hookups till mid April... I watch TV at night for several hours, surf the web, use the microwave, treat it just like my home. This is my 3rd winter on solar power... and the winter before that I was only down here for 5 weeks... to get it installed and see if I liked the life style.

Seann,

That is a pretty impressive setup you have there. I'd love to see a wiring diagram (schematic) if you happen to have one for your system. :hihi:

Parcany · 12-28-2011, 09:20 PM

Nice setup. Going down the road are the panels flush with the roof. Can the panels be tilted the other way just in case you can't get a space where the door is facing south. I had 4 panels at our other house [64 watts apiece, with 15 each 12 volt batterys and a 380 watt wind generator, with a 2500 watt inverter.] we only went down there for the weekends and it worked out really good. Nice job Ernie

Larry G. · 12-28-2011, 09:39 PM

We installed solar 6 months after purchasing our 2010 Nomad TT to keep the batteries up when we dry camp.

Another reason was when in storage and want to hookup I can count on power being there to operate our electric tongue jack.

Had problems with both of the above in the past but not now.

shepwv · 12-29-2011, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quahog

Seann,

That is a pretty impressive setup you have there. I'd love to see a wiring diagram (schematic) if you happen to have one for your system. :hihi:

Me Too!!!!

Flytyer · 12-29-2011, 08:28 AM

That is one serious system! Nice. I have been ienvestigating a smaller capacity system for long weekneds in rural AZ. 2 batteris ~ 135 watts of solar,,, Mounting the pannells on a new roof seems risky while its still under waranty....

Terry · 12-29-2011, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parcany

Nice setup. Going down the road are the panels flush with the roof. Can the panels be tilted the other way just in case you can't get a space where the door is facing south. I had 4 panels at our other house [64 watts apiece, with 15 each 12 volt batterys and a 380 watt wind generator, with a 2500 watt inverter.] we only went down there for the weekends and it worked out really good. Nice job Ernie

I was having the same thought - can you adjust the tilt or angle to maximize the sun depending on the season or direction the trailer is facing.

I know if you have to ask you cant afford it - but about how much do you have invested in your system?

Seann45 · 12-29-2011, 11:11 AM

Panels can tilt either way... the lead one is down only to get the morning sun...
The panels were (re)installed by the selling dealer at the time of purchase... they moved them over from the old trailer... (and did a very poor job of it)
wiring diagram sorry ... but the panels go down to the charge controller, then into the batteries. 3 pairs of 6 volt Trojans, the Pos lead goes into the N battery and neg lead goes into the S battery coming out to go to the inverter the pos comes out the S battery and the neg comes out the N battery. this forces current to go through all the batteries. The inverter is whole house style.. Unfortunately I had to drill 3 holes in the floor for the cables. all 3 were then plugged with expanding foam insulation and then from the outside sprayed with truck box liner material. . 1ga copper wire was used from the junction box on the roof to the charge controller, 00ga from the controller to the batteries and from the batteries to the inverter. THIS SYSTEM IS NOT CHEAP but since it allows me to stay away from campgrounds it has already paid for itself. Nothing I hate more than being forced to camp 6' from your neighbor and having to listen to their crappy music...

clutch · 12-29-2011, 10:25 PM

Seann, that is way to technical for me. I will stick to a generator if I can't plug it in.

Seann45 · 12-30-2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clutch

Seann, that is way to technical for me. I will stick to a generator if I can't plug it in.

then just stay 500 meters from me please.... although my group all has generators in case of bad weather we never use them... well one afternoon a month to exercise them...

SecretCoveDave · 12-30-2011, 10:53 AM

I have added one solar panel and LED's are next. I have seen small wind turbines on sailboats, have you thought of adding one?

Do not know the output but at Hwy speeds may be a lot.

Dave.

David472 · 12-30-2011, 02:57 PM

Very nice set-up there Seann. Lots of nice heavy gauge copper. I would bet the cableing is a sizable portion of the costs, but cannot be scrimpt on for power levels like that.

Murphie · 12-31-2011, 01:34 AM

Very impressive Seann. During the winter months you probably don't need to run a air conditioner but would your system be able to do that? When you mentioned it could run a microwave I wondered if it could with a larger capacitor installed in the AC. That's pretty neat that it's paid for itself already. I guess the idea now is to set money aside to replace the batteries when the time comes. Was it cheaper to buy the system down south compared to at home? No provincial incentives to go off the grid? Thanks for sharing with us. Much appreciated.

Seann45 · 12-31-2011, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecretCoveDave

I have added one solar panel and LED's are next. I have seen small wind turbines on sailboats, have you thought of adding one?

Do not know the output but at Hwy speeds may be a lot.

Dave.

I have one but this was about solar not wind.... the 2 big alligator clips you see on the batteries are from the wind gen. they wont work while towing commercial wind generators are designed to "stall" out at 45 mph besides building it strong enough to take 60+ mph would cost too much.

Seann45 · 12-31-2011, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphie

Very impressive Seann. During the winter months you probably don't need to run a air conditioner but would your system be able to do that? When you mentioned it could run a microwave I wondered if it could with a larger capacitor installed in the AC. That's pretty neat that it's paid for itself already. I guess the idea now is to set money aside to replace the batteries when the time comes. Was it cheaper to buy the system down south compared to at home? No provincial incentives to go off the grid? Thanks for sharing with us. Much appreciated.

It will run the A/C unit... but the power coming out would be more than the solar panels are putting into the batteries and would kill them in about 90 min.. (my estimate).. besides on days like that I would rather be outside canoeing or hiking in the forest.

Seann45 · 12-31-2011, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David472

Very nice set-up there Seann. Lots of nice heavy gauge copper. I would bet the cabling is a sizable portion of the costs, but cannot be scrimp on for power levels like that.

I like to go with quality... all the cables are fine strand... for best power transmission... but like I have said the system has paid for itself with what I have saved in campground fees over the the last 3 years...

SecretCoveDave · 12-31-2011, 11:30 AM

Thanks for the info Seann. Saved me a lot of time & $.

Had no idea about turbine staall speed, cheers, Dave.

Idaho Spud · 01-04-2012, 05:34 PM

HI, Quick question. You mentioned 6 batteries, but on your picture i only see 4. Are all 6 on the A frame |? If so how does this effect your tongue weight. 6 batteries times 60 lbs or so would make a difference i would guess.

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