|
|
06-14-2013, 06:25 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Maine
Posts: 3,357
SUN #2097
|
portable solar panel
I gave up searching for a cheap generator so I came up with an alternative, a 100 watt solar panel. I have few high power demands so it should deal with my batteries just fine. So far I’m $740 less than a new Honda 2000 and the tests I have done so far are extremely promising. I built the frame for about $60 worth of hardware and it weighs about 2 pounds the panel is 16.5 pounds so I’m under 20#. It is about 2’X4’ slightly smaller but close enough not hard to deal with. After playing with it I figuring 400 to 500 watts per day maybe be more then that because I can steer it, it’s a fairly complicated equation with a lot of variables. That’s more then I use so I’m a good bit ahead. Aiming it is a lot easier than one might think it’s just a matter of making the smallest shadow I have done voltage tests and have come very close to maximum output voltage. For me here in Maine the 70* angle is about right for June and could be left at that all day but if you need the max output the angle will have to change. It will store completely flat so it will live on the bed when I travel. The system connects to my batteries with a 50 amp connector as does my ham radios etc. Usually one has a controller at the batteries because of the higher voltage fro the panel but my run is short and I had some #10 SJ wire so the loss will be all most nil so the controller is at the panel.
__________________
__________________
|
|
|
06-14-2013, 06:31 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,125
SUN #4040
|
Cool
__________________
__________________
Jim and DW Darlene
2001 T-2553 Sunline Solaris
2006 GMC Sierra Duramax 2500HD 4X4
Firestone Transforce AT tires
Reese Dual Cam Sway Control
|
|
|
06-14-2013, 06:48 PM
|
#3
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 2,039
SUN #897
|
Very nice work...
Any chance on a few closeup pix?
|
|
|
06-15-2013, 06:06 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Maine
Posts: 3,357
SUN #2097
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by EMD_Driver
Very nice work...
Any chance on a few closeup pix?
|
Sure of what?
__________________
|
|
|
06-15-2013, 06:34 AM
|
#5
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 2,039
SUN #897
|
The hardware.. Wondering how you did the joints and slider bars.
|
|
|
06-15-2013, 10:36 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Maine
Posts: 3,357
SUN #2097
|
The first picture is of the end where it pivots I used 3/8 bolts with lock nuts so they would remain slightly tight open and closing. #2 is the top end where controller is and it shows the top mounting bracket for the support arms. #3 is it closed up it does sit slightly less than completely flat I did this because the controller is behind and the angle keeps is from hitting it. #4 is the controller so you can see how it’s protected it also keeps it dry. #5 because the solar panel sits on top of the frame work bolts there is a slight gap so the washers take up the gap and the locking nuts on the bolt keeps it just tight enough. #6 is how the angles are fastened together I don’t own a TIG welded and was not about to pay any one to weld it. #7 is the top end mounting for the angle braces (the whole panel is upside down). #10 shows the side brace mounted to the bottom frame. #11 is the 50 amp connection to the batteries. The entire frame is made of light aluminum I did not see a need for it to be super strong the panel is very ridged and all the frame does is hold up its 16.5 pounds. There is no real reason to ground the panel (unless of course it was on your house roof) but in my case it’s all about stray RF I am a ham so without a ground to the trailer frame the solar panel might become an unwanted antenna and could possible damage the solar controller.
__________________
|
|
|
06-15-2013, 10:38 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Maine
Posts: 3,357
SUN #2097
|
OK here is the rest as far as drilling the holes for the support bars you are on your own as the angles are different for each latitude mine are drilled for 3 months and to drop them for late morning and noontime.
__________________
|
|
|
06-15-2013, 06:04 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 1,515
SUN #768
|
That looks real nice and elegantly simple. I like it.
__________________
Gene & DW Ginny
2002 Sunline T-2363
2008 Toyota 4-runner 4wd 4.7L V-8
Reese Dual Cam straightline - P3 Brake controller
|
|
|
06-18-2013, 08:27 PM
|
#9
|
Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 12,643
SUN #89
|
Nice work, thanks for sharing.
What brand and where did the panel come from?
__________________
Current Sunlines: 2004 T310SR, 2004 T1950, 2004 T2475, 2007 T2499, 2004 T317SR
Prior Sunlines: 2004 T2499 - Fern Blue
2005 Ford F350 Lariat, 6.8L V10 W/ 4.10 rear axle, CC, Short Bed, SRW. Reese HP trunnion bar hitch W/ HP DC
Google Custom Search For Sunline Owners Club
|
|
|
06-19-2013, 05:02 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Maine
Posts: 3,357
SUN #2097
|
It was from Amazon as a kit panel,charge controller and connectors. At the time it was $209.99 and may still be. The panel is a Renogy RNG-100D monocrystalline 36 cell and the controller is a no name 12volt 10 amp. My wife is an Amazon junky and we get free prime shipping so I really don't know what the shipping costs were it's only about 17# controller and all so I don't think the shipping would be too bad. I have played with charging batteries one was a pretty dead 35 amp gel cell that I thought was heading for the recycle bin but is holding a good charge now several days latter the real test will be this weekend we are doing a ham radio event in NH and I am going to be all solar running my 100 watt ham radio and all the camper stuff (lights, pump etc) it will be charging 2 80 amp deep cycles.
__________________
|
|
|
08-03-2013, 01:42 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 161
SUN #5245
|
I have solar panels on my camper but I purchased the camper with them on. What exactly can I run using these solar panels? Coffee pot? Hair dryer? Curling iron? Fan? Microwave? TV? All of the above?
__________________
|
|
|
08-03-2013, 02:45 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 779
SUN #4050
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anita1
IWhat exactly can I run using these solar panels? Coffee pot? Hair dryer? Curling iron? Fan? Microwave? TV? All of the above?
|
All of the things that you've listed here run on 120V AC. They will only work when your camper is plugged into shore power. The 'fan' you mention, if it is the fan in the bathroom vent, will run on 12V DC.
As we understand it, the solar array is for charging the battery when shore power is not available, or when a generator is not available (or, if one is, and you just don't want to run it for whatever reason).
By the way, Mainah: beautiful work, and thanks for sharing the photos. If you're getting the sort of output you indicate, we're going to have to look into investing in a similar setup.
__________________
Matthew and Lisa
TT: '02 T-2363;
TV: 2012 Ford F-150, 4x4/Off-road, 5.0L V8, "Big Gray"
Reese Straitline w/ dual cam
|
|
|
08-03-2013, 02:57 PM
|
#13
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 2,039
SUN #897
|
Anita,
Building on what Matthew/Lisa said...
All of those things you listed, are most likely 120v AC.. The solar panels are designed to charge the 12v DC battery(ies) on your camper. To run your 12v AC items off the battery, you will need an inverter. They come in all shapes and sizes, as well as how much AC power they can safely put out.
A typical hair dryer runs at 1,500 watts AC. To be able to run that one thing, you would need a large enough inverter to power it.
There is a ton of useful information at THIS site. Here's an excerpt:
" Remember that an RV solar system is nothing more than a battery charger. So, you can run anything from your solar system that normally runs off your batteries. If you power your entire RV off your battery bank when dry camping, then using a solar panel (or a series of solar panels) can take the place of your generator for recharging your battery bank. When dry camping a device called an Inverter is needed to convert the 12v power from the batteries to 110v power for regular household appliances. And if you are always plugged in to shore power or ‘park power’, an RV solar system will probably not be very beneficial. Unless, of course, the park charges you extra for electricity"
|
|
|
08-03-2013, 04:38 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 161
SUN #5245
|
Thanks for the info. I can tell you this much, if it can't power my hairdryer and curling iron it's useless because I'm not going anywhere where I cannot use those two items. No day is good if it is a bad hair day. lol
I think it has an inverter because the prior owner said that he ground coffee beans with his coffee grinder and also watched tv using the panels. I wanted to tell him, "You know, the world has evolved....we don't have to grind out own coffee beans anymore. We have people for that."
__________________
|
|
|
08-03-2013, 05:38 PM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 779
SUN #4050
|
Quote:
I wanted to tell him, "You know, the world has evolved....we don't have to grind out own coffee beans anymore. We have people for that."
|
Oh, Anita, you poor, poor soul, pre-ground coffee does not hold a candle to freshly ground coffee.
__________________
Matthew and Lisa
TT: '02 T-2363;
TV: 2012 Ford F-150, 4x4/Off-road, 5.0L V8, "Big Gray"
Reese Straitline w/ dual cam
|
|
|
08-03-2013, 06:00 PM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Maine
Posts: 3,357
SUN #2097
|
Pretty much if your roof is covered with panels maybe 500-600 watts (a 100 watt panel is about 4'X2') that means you can charge batteries and help run an inverter but things like coffee pots and any thing else that heats uses a lot of watts. So if you need the gadgets you'll need to be plugged in. I use mine to keep the lights burning,the pump pumping doing a little ham radio stuff and a little TV news at night. I have two batteries and can pretty much supply the power for all my needs with no noise and gasoline with my 100 watt. If you are all ways plugged in the panels you have are not really helping you much they are more for people that are off grid.
__________________
|
|
|
08-03-2013, 06:26 PM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 161
SUN #5245
|
Mainah, Thanks! yeah, I'm thinking that we don't need them. My husband is a "green" guy and thinks they are nifty. What happens if I plug my curling iron in and it doesn't have enough power? Burn the camper down because the wires got too hot? I think I have 2 4x2 panels.
Wannabes, I have a coffee grinder for home use but isn't using pre ground-coffee what they mean by "roughing it?"
__________________
|
|
|
08-03-2013, 07:30 PM
|
#18
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 779
SUN #4050
|
Quote:
Wannabes, I have a coffee grinder for home use but isn't using pre ground-coffee what they mean by "roughing it?"
|
It would be "roughing it" in our camper. My husband, who is the coffee expert, brings along a burr grinder - no power needed except for some arm strength - on our trips. He grinds, brews, and serves... boy, am I spoiled!
We recently got a stainless steel percolator - it makes one smooth, strong cup of Joe. We use it on the stove so that we can rely on propane - we have visions of boondocking yet this summer. That's why the interest in the whole solar panel discussion.
__________________
Matthew and Lisa
TT: '02 T-2363;
TV: 2012 Ford F-150, 4x4/Off-road, 5.0L V8, "Big Gray"
Reese Straitline w/ dual cam
|
|
|
08-04-2013, 06:26 AM
|
#19
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Maine
Posts: 3,357
SUN #2097
|
No it won't cause you any problems but they won't do much either because your battery is being charged by your camper connection to the grid. While I was a working stiff my ideal of camping was a Master Card so I do see your point but I often end up in places that lack most forms of modern life and at that point you'll start to understand solar panels a lot better. It would be best to just leave them on the camper most likely they are pretty well attached and wired in so just think of it as a selling point when you up grade to a bigger camper with a generator big enough to run a coffee grinder and the crock pot at the same time!
__________________
|
|
|
08-04-2013, 06:41 AM
|
#20
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 162
SUN #1591
|
Portable Solar
Gary
That link you provided for portable solar is the company I bought my units from last Winter. (my album cover "winter 12-13" shows a pix of them)
Not having the technical skills of mainah, I needed a system that was ready to plug in. As a result I paid lots more than one would for a build it yourself system but I'm well pleased. As long as there's sun we never have battery issues. Units come w/ a bombproof alum case & offer many advantages over a roof-mount system
If one's into boondocking potable solar offers many advantages over a gas generator
__________________
__________________
Glen & Kathleen
06 4.7L Tundra
06 T-1950, our 6 months/yr traveling home
one of numerous canoes
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Sunline Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|