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Finally some progress on my RV solar.

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  • Finally some progress on my RV solar.

    I sure wish I could remember who told me that you cannot put enough solar on your RV to be worth the trouble......

    I just got my panels on the roof and am getting them fastened down. I will have 4x series pairs of 300 watt panels, The four pairs will be paralleled using a Midnite Solar combiner. I am over paneling to make up for less than "solar ideal" locations. I hope to have my batteries in a week or two and I can commission my system.
    Attached Files

  • #2
    Looks great. I would have to remove both of my air conditioners along with the sky lights and vent fans to do that.

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    • #3
      With all that power and shade you or the OP could probably install a more efficient split system mounted somewhere else. .
      9 kW solar, 42kWh LFP storage. EV owner since 2012

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      • #4
        Might have been me. Most RV's don't have enough clear acreage for enough solar to make much of a dent. I read from above, you have 8, 300w panels ? 2S4P ?
        Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
        || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
        || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

        solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
        gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

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        • #5
          I like that roof.

          On my 35’ RV, After putting six hundred watts panels on my roof and avoiding 2 A/C units, 2 skylights, 3 vents, 4 pipes, I may be able to put down 350 watts more, but its like a Jenga puzzle. I could give up the walkway on the North side, and I may get an additional 400 to 600 watts, but those would be shaded at least partially for most of the day from all the obstructions.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Ampster View Post
            With all that power and shade you or the OP could probably install a more efficient split system mounted somewhere else. .
            Or I can just sell my beast of an RV and go with something that is more solar friendly.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Ampster View Post
              With all that power and shade you or the OP could probably install a more efficient split system mounted somewhere else. .
              I am installing two of them. One 9k btu and one 12k btu.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Mike90250 View Post
                Might have been me. Most RV's don't have enough clear acreage for enough solar to make much of a dent. I read from above, you have 8, 300w panels ? 2S4P ?
                Yup. 8x300 watt. 2s4p.

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                • #9
                  We have opted not to buy a diesel generator like I had on my last one. I am considering adding an additional alternator (24v) for my house batteries but have not found a bracket yet. If anyone here knows of a source for a second alternator on an 8.3 Cummins please share it with me.

                  Thanks

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                  • #10
                    Balmar may have a mount
                    https://balmar.net/balmar-technology...on-technology/
                    Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
                    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
                    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

                    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
                    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Mike90250 View Post
                      Thank you.

                      I have already tried Balmar. They have some awesome alternators though. They would be my go to for the 24v alternator.

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                      • #12
                        Quite a few companies make second alternator brackets for the little 5.9 but I have yet to find one for the 8.3.

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                        • #13
                          Get a MIG welder. Many things suddenly become possible. Bruce Roe

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by bcroe View Post
                            Get a MIG welder. Many things suddenly become possible. Bruce Roe
                            I have a mig welder. I had to have one for the roof raise and water tank mounts. Building a properly functioning alternator bracket is beyond my skillet.

                            You are most welcome to come over and show/teach me.....

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by PNW_Steve View Post

                              I have a mig welder. I had to have one for the roof raise and water tank mounts. Building a properly functioning alternator bracket is beyond my skillet.

                              You are most welcome to come over and show/teach me.....
                              FWIW, having done a fair amount of structural design as well as more than a little experience in design of weldments, what a bracket is attached to is often at least as important as the bracket, and the weldment is often the critical part of the considerations. I once caught a neophyte designer spending a couple hrs. designing a lifting lug and weld good for >> than design called for and would be welded to a 16 ga. steel pressure vessel wall that would fail if the lug were place where the designer intended. He hadn't learned the bigger picture yet.

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