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Beach Leo
04-19-2015, 08:57 PM
Thinking of putting 100w panel on motor-home

Have 4-12v batterys for house and 2 12v battery's for cab

The battery's sit for a while and do not seem to last as long if they are just sitting

Seems if I had solar charging system they would last longer

6 batterys times 100 bux a pop is a-lot for-em to go belly-up in a short time

Any-one ever done this?

If so lets talk

EPL
04-20-2015, 02:56 PM
We ran into a guy last year at Chappie one time and he had a roll out solar pad that glued to the roof. I looked them up one time but never followed up on it. Thought that was a good idea because you didn't have to put any holes in your roof .

Beach Leo
04-20-2015, 06:51 PM
Ya thats a good idea

Any-way what I am going to do is just install panel on rv carport

That way when rv here at home be able to keep-em fully- charged all the time

When I am traveling I have a 100 amp zap charge that will charge em 90% in about 15-20 minutes

I will post some pics when I have time to start this new project

EPL
04-20-2015, 09:41 PM
I'm lucky to be able to plug my trailer in where I park it.

KNB
04-20-2015, 09:46 PM
I'm getting ready to go full solar so when we dry camp I dont need to run the generator as much.

johnnycat8
04-20-2015, 09:49 PM
i have 3 panles and a controller on my toyhauler.... works great not a big system but helps a lot.

Beach Leo
04-20-2015, 10:54 PM
I can leave mine plugged in, but the cost of power here in the bay-area

Cost me an extra 100 buxs or so to do so

Any-way got a panel and controller for 170 buxs on amazon

If it just saves my battery life than it will pay for it-self many times over

Beach Leo
04-20-2015, 11:09 PM
You know I learn this stuff the hard way

This is the type of controller I should have got>>>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G3XTWTS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_7?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A05654602L3XUQ70M87BV


Way more efficient than mpt type

Got to keep on learning and reading more about Solar power

Lot of money to made in it

johnnycat8
04-20-2015, 11:44 PM
so many controllers out ther harbor freight has one for 20 mark had it worked fine but then he added more panles and needed better one. my controller came with my panles i only have 75w mounted but i also have 3 extras i can use marks up to a few hundred watts and it keeps his batterys fully charged and runs his a/c converter for a long time

LBR
04-21-2015, 12:42 AM
Maybe solar is what i need moreso than a 30 amp, 100% duty charger and generator. Am not having luck locating a charger so far.

DLFoust
04-21-2015, 07:29 AM
I have a couple of portable solar panels that I set up next to my trailer . That way there is no holes in my roof and I can angle them at the sun.

Beach Leo
04-21-2015, 11:34 AM
I have a couple of portable solar panels that I set up next to my trailer . That way there is no holes in my roof and I can angle them at the sun.Another Great Idea

Thank You

Askani
04-24-2015, 11:36 AM
How much solar do you think I would need to keep 6 battery's alive with out using the generator .

Beach Leo
04-24-2015, 03:15 PM
How much solar do you think I would need to keep 6 battery's alive with out using the generator .About 3- 100watt panels

or 2 150watt panel would do the trick

When you get panels make sure they are Monocrystalline they perform the best outa the 2 other type

Also when you get a controller make sure you get a MPPT Charge Controller for it per forms the beat as well

If you get a Inverter that turns the 12 volt DC to 120 volt AC

Make sure it a Pure Sine Wave Inverter

johnnycat8
04-24-2015, 05:26 PM
barb harbor freight has this portable set up might be what you need....

http://www.harborfreight.com/45-watt-solar-panel-kit-68751-8527.html

Beach Leo
04-25-2015, 11:15 PM
Got the panel up and wired it to motor-home

Seems to do the trick

Will post some pics

mandbklingler
04-26-2015, 08:04 AM
Our new Toy Hauler has a 200w solar installed - we haven't had it long - but so far I'm impressed!

johnnycat8
04-28-2015, 06:22 PM
a good thing to do is change out all your light bulbs for led's yhat alone will cut your power need's by about 80%. thing to look out for is the lumin rating and the color temp 5k is a good one 6k and higher gets too whitish blue i have 5k in mine and 4k in the bath more like a incandescent bulb.... chad and I have been playing with differant kinds of led's for a few years now.. he has found some good prices too

Beach Leo
04-28-2015, 07:04 PM
Got panel and controller up

Stuff works awesome

Have better controller one way

Now can keep all battery's up and good to go




http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad89/LeoBeach/IMG_9556_zpsbtqenaki.jpg

milosusa
04-29-2015, 12:08 AM
Just bought TH with the 180 watts solar charger system, but not to much time spend with trailer yet to actually say...hey it is working good .
milos

johnnycat8
04-29-2015, 02:09 AM
Just bought TH with the 180 watts solar charger system, but not to much time spend with trailer yet to actually say...hey it is working good .
milos

hey milos glad to see you here.

milosusa
04-29-2015, 07:51 AM
hey milos glad to see you here.

Thanks, glad to be here.
milos

Beach Leo
05-07-2015, 06:07 PM
Allright now that I have my mo-home solar up and running now it time for bigger and better grid tie system for Home

I am going to get 10 300watts panels they are more affordable nowa days at 75 cents per watt

So that will be about $ 2,250.00 for mono solar panels

Than will need 10 Enphase M250 240V Micro Inverter at $150.00 each = $1,500.00

Than mounting rails, hardware and wire That will be Aprox. $1,000.00

So my Total cost for my 3000watt Grid tie system will be Aprox 4,750.00 price shall not exceed $5,000,00

Than I minis my 30% tax rebate my total cost will be $3500.00

I am really thinking hard about going into this type of business

If I was just to write the check for this system to be installed complete. I believe a system of this type that I have designed

Would cost up-word to $20,000.00

Seems to me there is some big money to be made going green

MrH
07-21-2015, 08:36 AM
We bought our new trailer in November and it came with a 160 watt solar system for charging the batteries. Works great so far.

MrH
08-14-2015, 07:18 PM
We also have a 6,000 kW solar system up on our roof for the house. No more $600 electric bills in the summer.

Beach Leo
08-14-2015, 08:01 PM
What did you pay for your System Bill?

Did you install it or have a company install it?

I have not thrown the Ball Yet, Cause my Electric is about $90.00 a Month

MrH
08-14-2015, 08:55 PM
What did you pay for your System Bill?

Did you install it or have a company install it?

I have not thrown the Ball Yet, Cause my Electric is about $90.00 a Month

I leased the system. My average bill was $250 per month. I pay $153 a month and they maintain and repair when it goes down.

If your bill is only $90 a month I would say it's not worth it for you unless you buy outright and do it yourself.

I went back and forth doing it myself or having a company do it. I decided to keep my money and just lease. I'm saving a $100 a month plus I can use my a/c all day long if I want.

My system was turned on January 30th this year. As of yesterday I still have 1,400 kW in my reserve bank. I purposely had the system sized large for us because of future projects needing more power. Pge will owe us money next Jan.

AlfaBaz
08-14-2015, 08:58 PM
We also have a 6,000 kW solar system up on our roof for the house. No more $600 electric bills in the summer.

We had a 7.35 kW system put on our house 2 years ago. In the last year, we saved almost $3000 over the previous year without solar.

MrH
08-14-2015, 09:07 PM
We had a 7.35 kW system put on our house 2 years ago. In the last year, we saved almost $3000 over the previous year without solar.

The deals they have now on solar makes it a no brainer. We looked into it about 4 years ago but it didn't make sense then. Way different now.

Barry, who did your system? We used Hooked On Solar out of Auburn. I highly recommend them. Very professional.

Beach Leo
08-14-2015, 09:53 PM
Yep if we lived in the hot as hell Valley or redding for that matter my electric bill would be outa this world

Than I would be like you guys and get Solar for our Home in Concord

Only use AC about 20-30 days a year here

Have not needed to use it this month, but this week-end going to be hot as Hell here for 2 Days

The Solar has gotten so much more affordable the last 4 years or so

Kinda Like theme there Flat screen TVs They are 3 times cheaper now like Solar is

MrH
08-14-2015, 10:04 PM
I lived in Antioch back in the 90's and that delta breeze worked great to keep the triple digits away most of the time.

AlfaBaz
08-14-2015, 10:17 PM
The deals they have now on solar makes it a no brainer. We looked into it about 4 years ago but it didn't make sense then. Way different now.

Barry, who did your system? We used Hooked On Solar out of Auburn. I highly recommend them. Very professional.

We went with Paramount Solar, but there are a lot more out there now. Our project took over 6 months from first consideration to turning it on; most of that was the permit process and the OK from PGE to activate. We also leased, but pre-paid the 20 year lease.

The last full year before the solar system, our electricity was a little under $5K. July '14 through June '15 it was $2200. The pre-paid lease was $15K for 20 years- if you do the math, that's just about 18.7% return on my investment. I'm happy.

MrH
08-14-2015, 10:33 PM
Wow, six months to be up and running. We started in Nov and was turned on Jan 30th. About 3.5 months. Once the county signed off, it only took pge one week to give the ok to turn it on. We are in Amador County so it must be faster here.

Beach Leo
08-14-2015, 11:32 PM
We use about 13 kwh a day so thats about 400 kwh a month

May get a system from these guys up in Mt Shasta

Looks like a 450kwh Grid tie system would run a little over $7,500.00>>>http://www.wholesalesolar.com/enphase-solar-power-systems#solarworld

It would take about 6 years to pay for it-self, that ain't to shabby

How-ever most of my investments that I do, Like to get my return in 4 years

May-be if I wait a little longer for-em to go down in price than I would get my return in 4 years

CrazyCooter
08-15-2015, 12:30 AM
Isnt this the last year for the Irs credit? I have been thinking about jumping on board for the house too.

I have 1200 watts on the toyhauler already.

Beach Leo
08-16-2015, 12:07 AM
Isnt this the last year for the Irs credit? I have been thinking about jumping on board for the house too.

I have 1200 watts on the toyhauler already.I forgot about that

Thanks for the reminder Tony

I may get one this year

milosusa
08-16-2015, 07:38 AM
Isnt this the last year for the Irs credit? I have been thinking about jumping on board for the house too.

I have 1200 watts on the toyhauler already.

1200 watts on toy hauler ??? Must be lot of panels
milos

MrH
08-16-2015, 09:29 AM
1200 watts on toy hauler ??? Must be lot of panels
milos

Wow, I have 160 watts on mine. The panel is about 2'x4'.

CrazyCooter
08-16-2015, 09:44 AM
1200 watts on toy hauler ??? Must be lot of panels
milos

Just 6 panels. At the time, it was to largest install I had seen on an RV. My buddy just installed 1600 watts on his hauler and has 10 golf cart batteries.

Shadow
10-12-2015, 09:41 AM
Colman has great 30 amp digital Solar controller. Average cost 65.00 to 90.00.. simple to use easy install. Displays either voltage or amps. Switch. Have uses in several installs. Don't have to worry about turning off when connecting shore power or generator..eBay available.

Maverick4me
10-12-2015, 07:21 PM
We went with AM Solar in Springfield Oregon. Four panels on our motorhome. Works pretty well. Next move is to upgrade our 4 AGM batteries to Lithium! Just have to wait for that winning lottery ticket!

1071

Weird, picture was rotated correctly when I posted it. Wonder why it changed???

crazywatson
10-12-2015, 07:29 PM
I have a 100w panel on my rv with 2 ea. 6 volt golf cart batteries and never have ran then lower then 2/3 and we have regular light bulbs with my wife running all of them damn near. Lol It only takes maybe an hour or 2 before it says full charge when the sun comes out.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

EPL
10-12-2015, 08:22 PM
Weird, picture was rotated correctly when I posted it. Wonder why it changed???






You probably took the picture with your cellphone and had it turned long ways ! When you post with Tapatalk it takes that as being sideways !!