| Re: [GMCnet] Bought-Solar Panels [message #153899] |
Wed, 21 December 2011 09:48  |
Dan Winchester
Messages: 61
Registered: August 2006
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Last winter was our first trip to Arizona with solar pannel. 135 watt unit with top of the line controller with multi stage charging. Of the 6 weeks we spent in AZ 4 of those were spent boondocking. The batteries were almost always topped off by the end of the day. Generator was run only to operate the microwave. We only use microwave to warm things up so its run time was less then 5 minutes per day usually after batteries were fully charged so had no effect on battery charge. We have mostly 20 watt halogen lights and watch minimal TV preferring to read.
We do watch our power usage. Our only heat is the Suburban furnace but turn it off at night preferring to use down comforter when it gets cold. We are running with 2 6-volt batterys for the house bank, about 220 amp-hours giving about 110 usable.
In previous years when parked in one place for several weeks we had to run the generator 2 or more hours per day and after several days the batteries never reach full charge. After batteries reach 80% charge the charging rate drops so low that it is not economical to compleat charge with generator, it would just take to long.
If you have solar panels that do not have the capacity to replace all the power drawn the previous day or weather has gotten cloudy use the generator in the morning when batteries are at their lowest and maximum charge can be put in and let the solar panel top off the batteries.
If you are doing any amount of boondocking a good amp-hour meter is invaluable if not mandatory.
Dan Winchester
www.dwinchester.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Bought-Solar Panels [message #153905 is a reply to message #153899] |
Wed, 21 December 2011 10:15  |
Kudzu
Messages: 377
Registered: November 2011
Location: Marshville, NC
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Also, a Kill-A-Watt meter is handy for those plug-in items. It will tell you power consumption when the appliance is both on AND off.
1976 Eleganza II
1996 Chevy Impala SS
1999 Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad
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| Re: [GMCnet] Bought-Solar Panels [message #153908 is a reply to message #153899] |
Wed, 21 December 2011 10:37 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
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I boon dock exclusively and although I do have a minimal solar panel (around 50W) I too am an energy hog. I use 1 or 2 electric refrigerators depending on how much food I carry and run those off 2 separate inverters. I usually run the microwave off the inverter as well. Just an occasional top off with the little Kipor keeps me going almost indefinitely using 4 6V batts.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
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| Re: [GMCnet] Bought-Solar Panels [message #153915 is a reply to message #153899] |
Wed, 21 December 2011 11:52 |
Larry C
Messages: 1168
Registered: July 2004
Location: NE Illinois by the Illino...
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We are running with 2 6-volt batterys for the house bank, about 220 amp-hours giving about 110 usable.
Pardon me stepping in here for info. I am beginning a study of solar to get more in depth with what I already know and to study other peoples set ups. I am particularly interested in the operation of the smaller set ups such as yours.
When you say you have a house bank of 220 amp hours, are your batteries 110Amp hour rating?
When two 110 amp hour batteries are connected in series, you get the 12v increase but the amp hour stays the same at 110 amp hour.
thanks for any help.
DEC 21
We Catholics worry what the priest will say when we admit
our last confession was when Truman was president.
Erma Bombeck
Gatsbys' CRUISER  08-18-04
74 GLACIER X, 260/455-APC-4 Bagg'r
Remflex Manifold gaskets
CampGrounds needed, Add yours to "PLACES" />
http://www.gmceast.com/travel
_
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| Re: [GMCnet] Bought-Solar Panels [message #153917 is a reply to message #153915] |
Wed, 21 December 2011 12:23 |
Gary Worobec
Messages: 867
Registered: May 2005
Karma: -1
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We've had solar on our coach for the last 7 years and the used same panels
on a previous RV since 1994.
Our setup is 2 x 75watt BP panels going through a Trace C-40 controller,
then down to the batteries. The first battery set were 2 x 12V 125 amp AGMs.
They lasted for 7 years. I took them out this year and replaced them with 4
x 12V 120 amp AGM's. The batteries are inside and I'll be thrilled if I get
another 7 year life span on the new ones. Panels are mounted on the roof
side by side in a 44" x 44" frame of aluminum that is hinged on both sides.
It can be lifted up and aluminum support brackets used to set the panels at
a 45 degree angle if needed. What a great set-up. Have we ever used it??.
NOT. Too much hassle. So the panels stay flat all the time. Power from the
Trace Converter goes to a double throw switch which can send the power to
either the house batteries or the generator battery which is an Optima. One
thing that is real important with solar is to keep the panels very clean.
It's surprising how much efficiency is lost with just a thin layer of dust.
The first person that comes up with a system to automatically keep solar
panels in solar farms clean is going to make a bundle of cash.
We also have a 1000 watt Heart Interface Charger/Inverter that charges only
the house batteries.
In the front of the coach we have 2 x 125 amp AGMs for starting and then use
a separate 20 watt panel and Morningstar controller to keep these batteries
up.
All the batteries are interchangeable size wise so that if one fails I can
swap as needed.
The house and starting are tied together with a Yandina combiner so that
when we are driving all of the batteries are being charged. When using the
combiner though you have to manually switch it on and off because if you
don't the solar puts out enough power to trip it into automatic and you
could find yourself running all the batteries down when camping. Having the
combiner now allows me to run the fridge on 110 VOLT (through the inverter)
while travelling and not using propane.
Finally we have a 4.5 KW Generac
I did a presentation on Alternative Power that included costs for wind,
solar and fuel cell at a couple of rally's last year. You can see it here.
Might give you some more useful (or useless) info:
http://www.gmcws.org/Tech/Charging_Systems.pdf
Thanks
Gary and Joanne Worobec
1973 GMC Glacier
Anza, CA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry C" <slawrence111@yahoo.com>
To: <gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 9:52 AM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Bought-Solar Panels
>
>
> We are running with 2 6-volt batterys for the house bank, about 220
> amp-hours giving about 110 usable.
>
> Pardon me stepping in here for info. I am beginning a study of solar to
> get more in depth with what I already know and to study other peoples set
> ups. I am particularly interested in the operation of the smaller set ups
> such as yours.
>
> When you say you have a house bank of 220 amp hours, are your batteries
> 110Amp hour rating?
>
> When two 110 amp hour batteries are connected in series, you get the 12v
> increase but the amp hour stays the same at 110 amp hour.
>
> thanks for any help.
>
>
> DEC 21
> We Catholics worry what the priest will say when we admit
> our last confession was when Truman was president.
> Erma Bombeck
> --
> Gatsbys' CRUISER :d 08-18-04
> 74 GLACIER X, 260/455-APC-4 Bagg'r
> Remflex Manifold gaskets
>
> CampGrounds needed, Add yours to "PLACES" />
> http://www.gmceast.com/travel
>
> _
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: [GMCnet] Bought-Solar Panels [message #153971 is a reply to message #153917] |
Wed, 21 December 2011 19:11 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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| Gary Worobec wrote on Wed, 21 December 2011 10:23 |
... When using the
combiner though you have to manually switch it on and off because if you
don't the solar puts out enough power to trip it into automatic and you
could find yourself running all the batteries down when camping. ...
|
Something about this statement sounds "odd."
If the solar cells do not put out enough power to trip the combiner, how do you run down the engine (starting) battery? Do you have anything running off the starting battery while camping?
"Best practice" has NO draw on the starting battery with the engine off. It should stay charged for weeks or even months without any additional charge.
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Bought-Solar Panels [message #154002 is a reply to message #153917] |
Wed, 21 December 2011 21:28 |
Larry C
Messages: 1168
Registered: July 2004
Location: NE Illinois by the Illino...
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Panels are mounted on the roof side by side in a 44" x 44" frame of aluminum that is hinged on both sides.
It can be lifted up and aluminum support brackets used to set the panels at a 45 degree angle if needed. What a great set-up. Have we ever used it??. NOT. Too much hassle. So the panels stay flat all the time.
I have become convinced that it is easier to keep the panels down flat and make a reflector from a space blanket that you can pop up there at a 90 degree angle directing the sunlight onto the panels.
The reflector can be very light since it is only a space blanket and I think it can be set in place from the ground if you plan your mounting right.
A second idea might be to be able to slide the reflector from under the solar panels and use stretchy (bungy???) cords to hold in place.
The nice thing about solar blankets is if the wind catches it and tears it up, it really cheap to replace.
DEC 21
We Catholics worry what the priest will say when we admit
our last confession was when Truman was president.
Erma Bombeck
Gatsbys' CRUISER 08-18-04
74 GLACIER X, 260/455-APC-4 Bagg'r
Remflex Manifold gaskets
CampGrounds needed, Add yours to "PLACES" />
http://www.gmceast.com/travel
_
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| Re: [GMCnet] Bought-Solar Panels [message #154038 is a reply to message #154006] |
Thu, 22 December 2011 08:30 |
Ray Erspamer
Messages: 1707
Registered: May 2007
Location: Milwaukee Wisconsin
Karma: -3
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Senior Member |
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You could easily hinge the panels and use two small linear actuators for raising
and lowering them......very easy to do. Then just flip a switch inside the
coach to raise and lower them.
Ray
Ray & Lisa Erspamer
78 Royale "Great Lakes Eagle"
Center Kitchen TZE368V101144
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53226
Email: 78GMC-Royale@att.net
414-745-3188
Web Site: http://ray-lisa.page.tl/
----- Original Message ----
From: Gary Worobec <gtw5@earthlink.net>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Wed, December 21, 2011 10:01:31 PM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Bought-Solar Panels
Hi,
I have not got a ladder on my coach so anything I do on the roof is a real
hassle. At an RV show in Pomona a couple of years ago I saw a guy selling a
system using electromechanical screw jack deals that would raise the panels
with a flick of the switch. I actually thought about something like that but
all you really would gain is a few extra amps. It's all a trade off I guess.
Thanks
Gary and Joanne Worobec
1973 GMC Glacier
Anza, CA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry C" <slawrence111@yahoo.com>
To: <gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 7:28 PM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Bought-Solar Panels
>
>
> Panels are mounted on the roof side by side in a 44" x 44" frame of
> aluminum that is hinged on both sides.
> It can be lifted up and aluminum support brackets used to set the panels
> at a 45 degree angle if needed. What a great set-up. Have we ever used
> it??. NOT. Too much hassle. So the panels stay flat all the time.
>
>
> I have become convinced that it is easier to keep the panels down flat and
> make a reflector from a space blanket that you can pop up there at a 90
> degree angle directing the sunlight onto the panels.
>
> The reflector can be very light since it is only a space blanket and I
> think it can be set in place from the ground if you plan your mounting
> right.
>
> A second idea might be to be able to slide the reflector from under the
> solar panels and use stretchy (bungy???) cords to hold in place.
>
> The nice thing about solar blankets is if the wind catches it and tears it
> up, it really cheap to replace.
>
>
> DEC 21
> We Catholics worry what the priest will say when we admit
> our last confession was when Truman was president.
> Erma Bombeck
> --
> Gatsbys' CRUISER :d 08-18-04
> 74 GLACIER X, 260/455-APC-4 Bagg'r
> Remflex Manifold gaskets
>
> CampGrounds needed, Add yours to "PLACES" />
> http://www.gmceast.com/travel
>
> _
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
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Ray Erspamer
78 GMC Royale Center Kitchen
403, 3.70 Final Drive
Holley Sniper Quadrajet EFI System,
Holley Hyperspark Ignition System
414-484-9431
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