24v solar panel charging my 12v system.

[Abdullah]

Hello there, this is my first post here and I just started reading about solar about a month ago.

I bought a type 3 ambulance, ford e450 with the 6.0 Diesel engine, and I'm working on converting it to a camper. The project is almost done, now I need to have power.

So let me tell you what I have and what I'm planning to do:

Two six volt gulf battery's in series, maybe 4 later

I found a new renogy 40a mppt charge controller for 150.99$.

I found a used suntech 245w for 170$, its 24v. I'm thinking about getting two of them.
Here's the specs http://store.affordable-solar.com/st...5W-Solar-Panel

Should I go for it or do you guys have any other/better ideas?

[Mike90250]

Why not use the engine alternator as a battery charger ? Way more power than a couple of 300W pv panels on the roof (about 300w harvest max) and it's likely already got the alternator, isolator and house battery?

[Abdullah]

That's what we are doing right now, we usually go dry camping for 3-4 days, but with the Diesel engine it's too loud for our camping neighbors. and it'll hurt the engine if I keep turning it on and shutting it off, specially that I have nearly 200 thousand miles on the 6.0 powerstroke(not bulletproofed).