I currently have a grid tie system that has worked beautifully for more than 4 years so I began to consider solar for my 5th wheel as well. We are not full timers, more like frequent weekend warriors who are considering a 1-2 month trip in it later this year. But I am a believer in the technology and I began to look into the possibility of adding it to our trailer mostly out of curiosity. I know the owner of the company who installed my grid-tie system and asked him how much he would charge to install solar in my 5er and he politely declined the project. However, he did offer to get me anything I needed at his cost and even offered me some used 165w panels relatively cheap which he took off another client's house who recently upgraded to newer panels. At this point the idea became a real possibility especially if I could double the system as a supplemental setup for my home. I can't tie them into the grid like my existing home system but if I could find a way to utilize the setup with a battery bank at home when I am not using my RV I could justify a much larger price tag for my RV system.
Anyone have any experience utilizing a PV system for more than one designated purpose? According to my grid tie contractor it is doable if I was willing to do all the transfer of equipment each time I needed it and he mentioned something about quick disconnects so I could more easily move the inverter and charge controller(s) to my home so I wouldn't have to duplicate those costs. I wouldn't have to move the panels because I could get them cheap enough to just buy more, and I doubt I would want to move the battery bank so I would probably buy a duplicate GC2 setup, but the supporting equipment adds several thousand dollars that would kill this project if I can't find a way to use it the other 300+ days a year when I am not camping.
The RV system would include somewhere between 6-9 panels, an 80amp MPPT controller (or two 40a, or possibly even three 30a Kid controllers), an inverter or maybe an inverter/charger and monitoring displays. The home system could be as large as 12 panels.
How realistic is it to think the inverter and charge controllers could be setup in a way that it could be reasonably moved between my house and my trailer? Anyone ever thought about something like this? I can't imagine I am the first part time camper to want solar but who needs to cost justify it with a duplicate purpose?
Without trying to complicate this scenario any more I should add that I have also considered setting it up as an isolated 24v system, separate from my12v RV batteries, but I am concerned that might add too much complexity to an already unique setup. Although that would certainly make it easier to run as a home system if I can find a way to make it work in the RV.
Is this just a pipe dream? Any thoughts are appreciated.
Anyone have any experience utilizing a PV system for more than one designated purpose? According to my grid tie contractor it is doable if I was willing to do all the transfer of equipment each time I needed it and he mentioned something about quick disconnects so I could more easily move the inverter and charge controller(s) to my home so I wouldn't have to duplicate those costs. I wouldn't have to move the panels because I could get them cheap enough to just buy more, and I doubt I would want to move the battery bank so I would probably buy a duplicate GC2 setup, but the supporting equipment adds several thousand dollars that would kill this project if I can't find a way to use it the other 300+ days a year when I am not camping.
The RV system would include somewhere between 6-9 panels, an 80amp MPPT controller (or two 40a, or possibly even three 30a Kid controllers), an inverter or maybe an inverter/charger and monitoring displays. The home system could be as large as 12 panels.
How realistic is it to think the inverter and charge controllers could be setup in a way that it could be reasonably moved between my house and my trailer? Anyone ever thought about something like this? I can't imagine I am the first part time camper to want solar but who needs to cost justify it with a duplicate purpose?
Without trying to complicate this scenario any more I should add that I have also considered setting it up as an isolated 24v system, separate from my12v RV batteries, but I am concerned that might add too much complexity to an already unique setup. Although that would certainly make it easier to run as a home system if I can find a way to make it work in the RV.
Is this just a pipe dream? Any thoughts are appreciated.
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