Solar install underway!

J

jackfish

Active member
Am currently in Springfield, OR getting solar installed on my U24MB. 500 watts of panels, 440 AH in four 6 volt batteries, Magnum MS2000 inverter, Blue Sky 3024iL controller, Blue Sky IPN Pro remote meter,etc.

Panels were likely installed today. I'll take some pictures tomorrow.
 
aljimenez

aljimenez

'13 LTV Serenity on '12 3
jackfish said:
Am currently in Springfield, OR getting solar installed on my U24MB. 500 watts of panels, 440 AH in four 6 volt batteries, Magnum MS2000 inverter, Blue Sky 3024iL controller, Blue Sky IPN Pro remote meter,etc.

Panels were likely installed today. I'll take some pictures tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Since I don't have a lot of money, ROI on such massive installion is pretty close to 0% for me. If you did an ROI for this expense, I would love to read about it. If you have lots of money, then probably there is no need to respond... Al
 
J

jackfish

Active member
Rather than a return on investment, I look at it as a lifestyle choice.





Two batteries will replace the stock batteries under the entry step and the other two will be in the storage compartment just behind the entry door.
 
Last edited:
R

Rysetter

New member
What a surprise. I was there watching your install that day, while they were putting together a much smaller system for me to install myself. I was a bit jealous seeing what you were having done. :) Mine is up and running, I'm happy with it so far. Hope all is good with your system.
 
I

icarus

Well-known member
joeframer44 said:
Did LTV explain what the 95 watt factory solar panel was capable of supporting?
Click to expand...
A 95 watt panel will deliver ~6 amps into 12 vdc under ideal siting. If you figure the off grid rule of 4 hour averge if good sun per day over the course of a year, it might deliver 25-50 ah of power. 300-600wh/day.

The bugaboo with PV on RVs is that they are seldom ideally sited, (since people tend to seek shade!) they tend to run hot, and ergo less efficiently and people most often over estimate the amont of real sun they get in a day.

In our off grid house, we live on 5-800 WH of power, supplied by 400 watts of PV. On an good day we can see 1.2 kwh of power, but all the PV is aimed well, and is not subject to partial shading. On a really great day, (cold temps, reflection off of snow) we can see 2 kwh.

That 3-600 WH would power a 100 watt tv for 3-6 hoursfor example. By the time you include basic battery chagrin loses (~20%) inverter and wiring loses, (maybe another 15% depending on hardare) might net, 2-400 WH.

Icarus
 
S

stxSteve

New member
jackfish - Would really like to see a few more pictures. Also, where did you put the new inverter and the solar controller (maybe some more pics)?

Thanks
 
atulin

atulin

New member
jackfish said:
Am currently in Springfield, OR getting solar installed on my U24MB. 500 watts of panels, 440 AH in four 6 volt batteries, Magnum MS2000 inverter, Blue Sky 3024iL controller, Blue Sky IPN Pro remote meter,etc.

Panels were likely installed today. I'll take some pictures tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Since I park in the sun most of the time I'm thinking about solar options. Do you have 5 panels?

What output to the batteries are you seeing at different times of the day? I'm just concerned that even if I can find room and spend the cash for 400 watts of panels that I'll only get 200 watts of output most of the time.
 
J

jackfish

Active member
I have five GS100 100 watt panels from AM Solar. Output to the batteries goes from a couple of amps in the morning and late afternoon to 25+ amps when the sun is its highest. I would imagine that if the batteries were discharged to 60% capacity, output could be as high 30+ amps with the MPPT doing its stuff during bulk charging. While output is a concern, the main concern is can the system charge the batteries during daylight so that they accommodate daily demand? I haven't done extensive boondocking yet to answer that, but based on projected usage and system capability, we designed the system so it can.
 
Last edited:
atulin

atulin

New member
jackfish said:
I have five GS100 100 watt panels from AM Solar. Output to the batteries goes from a couple of amps in the morning and late afternoon to 25+ amps when the sun is its highest. I would imagine that if the batteries were discharged to 60% capacity, output could be as high 30+ amps with the MPPT doing its stuff during bulk charging. While output is a concern, the main concern is can the system charge the batteries during daylight so that they accommodate daily demand? I haven't done extensive boondocking yet to answer that, but based on projected usage and system capability, we designed the system so it can.
Click to expand...
That is what I was worried about. When you have a chance, flip on your A/C around noon and see what you can get the output up to (volts and amps would be great). I might be able to fit 3 or 4 panels on mine but it's probably not worth the cost and the hassle of install to get a peak of 20 amps at noon. I can put 160+ amps to the bank while I'm moving but at a stoplight that drops to about 90 to 100amps so my time spent in stop and go traffic makes it hard to recharge. With the A/C and basic stuff running I'm using about 110 to 120amps so I'm looking for a solution to make up that difference. This is only a problem after I sit and run off the batteries for a few hours so my solution is probably going to be to get a generator to use when I know I'll be stopped for a while so I don't have as much need to recharge while driving.
 
J

jackfish

Active member
By A/C do you mean air conditioner? If so, the AC in my unit is not in the calculus for solar. It is only run when plugged into shore power or with the generator running. Solar is designed to charge the batteries, not run the AC.
 
atulin

atulin

New member
jackfish said:
By A/C do you mean air conditioner? If so, the AC in my unit is not in the calculus for solar. It is only run when plugged into shore power or with the generator running. Solar is designed to charge the batteries, not run the AC.
Click to expand...
Yes, but you have enough battery to run them off just the bank for this test. The idea is that the additional load will show you what the max output is from your solar panels even if the bank is fully charged. Depending on your A/C unit you can probably run for about an hour off just the bank without dropping it below 80%.
 
atulin

atulin

New member
jackfish said:
I doubt it. I have a 2000 watt inverter. Not enough to run the AC.
Click to expand...
You might be surprised. The surge rating on your inverter is 29amps for 10 seconds so that should cover it's startup.

For the purposes of the test I was talking about, you could turn on anything else that would draw 15 or 20 amps DC from the bank to see if that increases the charging from the solar panels during peak conditions.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top Bottom