Bragging

[jimmoore13]

Want to brag about my newly completed solar installation. This is my version of Solar on the Side.

400 watts of Renology.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Similar from Windy Nation would be as good. I had a 100 watt Windy Nation system on my previous PUP.

2 x 6 volt GC2's from Duracell on the tongue.
https://www.batteriesplus.com/productdetails/sligc115

500 watt inverter inside to run the electric blanket for about 20 minutes to take the chill off the bed at the cost of about 20 AH.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

In sunny Colorado, when the sun goes down we have full batteries every night.

Yup, the one at the rear is slightly crooked. My chalk line ran out, and I had to eyeball it.

☀️

[Screwby]

You won’t be sorry. Have had my 400w Renogy system for 4 years now and she’s still going strong!

[parallax]

Man,, nice setup, now I'm feeling the Jealousy.

[jimmoore13]

By the way, I mounted them on what is almost always the south side of the camper. We primarily camp at a nearby lake. The first two photos are of my old PUP on the shore.

But now and again we boondock in the national forest in a place called Lost Park Wilderness. That was a sunny, warm weekend in March 2 years ago.

[MichaelO]

I got the Renogy 400w solar setup too; I did upgrade the controller to the 40A mppt controller. I installed mine last summer. Did you hook up the panels in series or parallel? I started off in series and found for my situation parallel was better so I changed it to parallel.

[MichaelO]

Did you add any fuses to your solar wires? It’s good to have something in-between the panel’s and the controller and also between the controller and the batteries. I used a circuit breaker before and one after the controller.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...1?ie=UTF8&th=1
Since you want to disconnect the panels from the controller before disconnected the batteries from it, the circuit breakers make it easy to do.

[Screwby]

I went parallel as well. We camp in a lot of shady areas and didn’t want a shaded panel pulling down the charging efficiency of the whole group. I almost upgraded my controller but the flush mount worked so well for where I wanted to mount he system.

I took a couple pieces of Eternabond tape and secured the wires in a few places that go across the roof from the panels. Figured it would keep them from flapping in the wind going down the road and causing wear to the roof or connections.

[Screwby]

Originally Posted by MichaelO

Did you add any fuses to your solar wires? It’s good to have something in-between the panel’s and the controller and also between the controller and the batteries. I used a circuit breaker before and one after the controller.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...1?ie=UTF8&th=1
Since you want to disconnect the panels from the controller before disconnected the batteries from it, the circuit breakers make it easy to do.

Yes, I have an in-line fuse from the battery to the controller and another between the panels and the controller. I spent a lot of time on the phone with Renogy making sure I didn’t mess something up lol.

[Screwby]

This is what happens after 4 years of driving around and not checking connections. Lesson learned, this could have been bad. Now it’s part of my annual routine.

[MichaelO]

Originally Posted by Screwby

This is what happens after 4 years of driving around and not checking connections. Lesson learned, this could have been bad. Now it’s part of my annual routine.

Ouch. It is good to check connections on a regular basis; something thats easily forgotten.

[jimmoore13]

Originally Posted by MichaelO

I got the Renogy 400w solar setup too; I did upgrade the controller to the 40A mppt controller. I installed mine last summer. Did you hook up the panels in series or parallel? I started off in series and found for my situation parallel was better so I changed it to parallel.

I did parallel, because we are often in dappled shade, and that might impact the performance of 2 panels instead of just the shaded panel. The factory pre-wire was #10 AWG, which can handle 30 amps, so that's just right for 4 panels.

My old setup (one panel on a PUP) had a PWM controller, and I was satisfied. I suppose I could upgrade at some point if necessary, but CO is very sunny, so we had good luck with the basics.

Would never be without solar again. Nice setup on your rig.

Just installed my 500 watt inverter yesterday...Tough job for an old fart like me. I was on my back on the ground - up and down - at least 30 times, but it's in and works well. It even ran my shop vac...albeit a bit slowly.

Gonna fill up the fresh tank and some spare water jugs today...and we're ready to roll on Thursday.