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Old 03-31-2014, 11:15 PM   #1
TDG
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Solar Upgrade

Last weekend I installed 1 130watt solar panel and a 30amp controller.
I plan on adding 1 more 130 watt panel (soon as funds permite)
attached a few pictures
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Old 04-01-2014, 08:27 AM   #2
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Looking sweet Tony.
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Old 04-01-2014, 01:13 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TDG View Post
Last weekend I installed 1 130watt solar panel and a 30amp controller.
I plan on adding 1 more 130 watt panel (soon as funds permite)
attached a few pictures
Could you elaborate on where you obtained your system?

Thank you!
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Old 04-01-2014, 05:30 PM   #4
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more info

Tell us what you think it will provide for power/charging power? Any idea on what to expect? Also, please post what costs you have into it.
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Old 04-01-2014, 05:37 PM   #5
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Tell us what you think it will provide for power/charging power? Any idea on what to expect? Also, please post what costs you have into it.
I am curious too.
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Old 04-01-2014, 06:52 PM   #6
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I have a similar setup. You can get them here.
http://rvsolarelectric.com/
In the fall we go to a NF campground during grouse hunting season. Usually stay for approx. a month. The panel will keep the batteries charged without running the generator for the first couple weeks. Depending on the amount of sunshine we get. Then it starts getting colder and the sun is rapidly lowering the arc, so we end up needing the generator occasionally to top off the batteries. We try and time it so it happens when we want to run the micro wave or the wife needs the hair dryer.
Prices have come down since i installed mine.

Wish I had one more panel and two more batteries tho.
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Old 04-01-2014, 07:19 PM   #7
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I hope this answers some of your questions
Iam using (1) 130 watt poly-crystalline solar panel it will produce 8amp max at 12 noon in Arizona in July 4-6 amp is realistic execpt in Washington clouldy days they suffer. So using 2 panels would be great.
(4) 6volt golf cart battery are the best way to go
Iam using (2) 6volt batterys because of space
The controller is another impotant part of a solar system
i purchased a Sunforce 30amp part # 60032 digital which would hold up to (4) 130amp panels since they will never produce 32 amps total.They would in my opinion get you 28 amps at best.
Sunforce is an average unit.Shows,voltage,battery level, and charge amps
its about 81.00 delivered amazon
The solar panel is a max of 17 volts dc purchesed ebay about 185.00 delivered
I used 12ga wire so i could add on with out replacing the wire from the panel to the controller then ran the wire to the fuse box to the battery input lug
Dont forget to put A fuse inline
this setup I installed in my 2013 Jefferson
even pluged into shore power it helps (less converter fan noise and cheaper electric bill)
I Also Replaced all my lights with LEDs
Any other question please ask
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Old 04-02-2014, 01:34 PM   #8
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Have they improved the panels in the last couple years??
I have a 135 watt Kyocera panel and it's rated at 7.63 amps.
Here's a pic of the panel, and the controller, which is rated for 25 amps.
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Old 04-02-2014, 01:44 PM   #9
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What's the average charge. Rate in amps
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Old 04-02-2014, 02:00 PM   #10
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I really don't know there is an answer for that. Everything depends on the sun. How much, and what angle you are getting it.
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Old 04-02-2014, 02:03 PM   #11
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That's is so true. But I get 3-5 amps between 11:00am and 3pm
After that. Plug it back in
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Old 04-02-2014, 02:16 PM   #12
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That's is so true. But I get 3-5 amps between 11:00am and 3pm
After that. Plug it back in
I guess I don't know what you mean by--After that. Plug it back in

I
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Old 04-02-2014, 02:18 PM   #13
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After about 2:30 pm solar charge rate drops off drastically so it would be time to plug back into shore power
Was supost to be a joke
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Old 04-02-2014, 02:26 PM   #14
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After about 2:30 pm solar charge rate drops off drastically so it would be time to plug back into shore power
Was supost to be a joke

OH. I thought we were having a serious discussion.
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Old 04-02-2014, 02:29 PM   #15
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We were. I was just saying when the sun goes down its time to plug the trailer back in to shore power. That was the joke.
But the rest was serious
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