AM Solar SunRunner 100/H22B Install

[john hd]

easy,

put your batteries in a lockable vented box.

the box would have a plug just like the back of your tow vehicle.

set the box on the ground near the tounge.

lock the box to your safety chains with a padlock.

plug the umbilicle cord into the box.

john

[davidz71]

Originally Posted by john hd

easy,

put your batteries in a lockable vented box.

the box would have a plug just like the back of your tow vehicle.

set the box on the ground near the tounge.

lock the box to your safety chains with a padlock.

plug the umbilicle cord into the box.

john

John,
I even read somewhere that you could take a large solar panel, hook it to a controller and then wire it to a female 7 pin receptacle like you mention. You could then plug in the trailer umbilicle cord. Gee, why not run the portable solar panel to the box on the ground, chain panel & box then plug in to trailer umbilicle cord?

[5cats]

Thanks folks, I get it now. I was trying to picture these extra batteries mounted somehow to the tongue for towing!

(You only have to repeat things three times for me to "get it" )

Cheers,
-jd.

[davidz71]

I unplugged the shorepower at 7:20 a.m., turned the system on and switched to dry camp mode. Right off the bat, battery voltage registered 14.43 volts, array amps 2.0 and charging amps 2.7. MPPT was flashing which meant battery was charged within the top 10 %. I got home at 5:15 p.m. and the battery was still fully charged even while the two Fantastic Vent fans had been running all day long on low speed.

This was exactly what I was hoping for. Now, I'll experiment with medium speed and then high to determine what I can do with just the one 115 amp. hour battery. When dry camping, I will also have to figure in the draw from the refrigerator panel.

[davidz71]

My name is Craig and I have a problem. I have solaritis also know as solar panelitis. I've now located a slightly used AM65 panel and it will be shipped next week to add to my existing two 100 watt panels. Stop me before I add any more!

[audiobox]

Originally Posted by davidz71

My name is Craig and I have a problem. I have solaritis also know as solar panelitis. I've now located a slightly used AM65 panel and it will be shipped next week to add to my existing two 100 watt panels. Stop me before I add any more!

Craig,

There is no twelve-step program for solar panelitis. In fact, when compounded by aluminumitis, all you can do is let the fever run its course. No rest for you until you find the twin to the AM65!

Craig

[Boondocker]

Looking good there Craig! I'm currious if you would be willing to shoot out a round number for what your solar system has run cost wise. I can see how solar might be a nice addition for the trade wind down the road. By the way, I am just to your north this week camped in my moms yard.

[davidz71]

Originally Posted by Gen Disarray

Looking good there Craig! I'm currious if you would be willing to shoot out a round number for what your solar system has run cost wise. I can see how solar might be a nice addition for the trade wind down the road. By the way, I am just to your north this week camped in my moms yard.

No secret to pricing:

$569 X 2= $1,138 for the AM100 panels
$35 X 2= $70 for rocker foot mounts for the panels
$5 for 3M/VHB double sided tape already applied to rocker foot mounts and cable mount pads below
$75 for wire harness consisting of 10/2 and 8/2 wire, 3 cable ties & pads to hold cables to trailer, 30 amp breaker w/2 end connectors, two 8 ga. battery connections, wire identification stickers
$25 for wire, cable ties & pads for second panel
$25 for combiner box with 2 cable strain relief waterproof connections
$15 X 2= $30 for two tilt bar sets (tilt toward sun during winter & clean under panel)
$235 for HPV-22B charge controller with switch (boost type)
$20 X 2= $40 for solar panel repackaging
$78.50 for freight
_________________________
$1,721.50 total

Counseling for solar panelitis is extra. I won't know the total for the AM65 until the shipping is figured in but the used panel alone was $269 or so.

[pmclemore]

The Horror. The Horror.

My new one has a 45. I think.

Pat

[davidz71]

Originally Posted by pmclemore

The Horror. The Horror.

My new one has a 45. I think.

Pat

Pat, was that factory installed? If so, I thought they were around 53 watts each. The 40 or the 53 will keep a good charge on the battery(s). I wanted to run my two Fantastic Vent Fans on medium or high throughout the day when dry camping so that I could take a quick nap while turkey and deer hunting. One alternative has been to take a nap in a hammock under the awning. I also wanted to be able to run my small color TV and VCR/DVD through an inverter without having to always crank up the Yamaha 3000SEB.

[john hd]

$1,721.50 total

holy toledo!

i hope they are covered by your trailers insurance if you ever get hail!

john

[davidz71]

Originally Posted by john hd

holy toledo!

i hope they are covered by your trailers insurance if you ever get hail!

john

John,
I get a bonus check each year from my employer and I use it to buy play toys. Last year was the Yamaha generator. Next year it will be tires, aluminum rims, front segment protectors and maybe a kayak. I've been looking at the Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120, 140 or the Heritage Redfish 12 or 14 foot sit on top models. This would complete my picture of being able to hook up and go to one of our nearby 3 lakes for a peaceful weekend of leisure with friends as well as some exercise for this 56 yr. old body.

Insurance says if the panels are permanently attached then they are covered. I guess this means replacing the screw-on knobs with nuts and bolts.

[Fyrzowt]

Originally Posted by davidz71

John,
I get a bonus check each year from my employer and I use it to buy play toys. Last year was the Yamaha generator. Next year it will be tires, aluminum rims, front segment protectors and maybe a kayak. I've been looking at the Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120, 140 or the Heritage Redfish 12 or 14 foot sit on top models. This would complete my picture of being able to hook up and go to one of our nearby 3 lakes for a peaceful weekend of leisure with friends as well as some exercise for this 56 yr. old body.

Insurance says if the panels are permanently attached then they are covered. I guess this means replacing the screw-on knobs with nuts and bolts.

FWIW, When they totalled my Safari, Allstate offered me an extra $250.00 to cover the cost of both my Catalytic heater, and a solar system that was comparable to what you have.
You may want to have this discussion with your agent before any claims.
Dave

[HowieE]

Allstate

Your lucky you got $250.00. The agent must be related to you.

People don't buy Allstate insurance for coverage they buy it for the fun of the hassel factor.

[davidz71]

We have State Farm for our house, 5 vehicles and my trailer. They have been good to us and even had their attorney's squeeze money out of one business as well as another insurance company who didn't want to cough up an acceptable settlement. They even got our deductible out of a couple uninsured drunk hispanics who hit my daughter while she was in Myrtle Beach, S.C. during Spring Break a year ago. I can't complain. I've also had State Farm for over 30 years. I discussed whether the system would be covered before I put it on the trailer and let my agent know what the cost of the system was. If the trailer was hit by another vehicle, the trailer wrecked beyond it's 75% worth and the system not destroyed, I'd take it off and see that the other guy paid me acceptable labor plus mounting parts to install on another trailer. What they would cover regarding the system should I pull a bonehead stunt was not discussed but might be worth a discussion.

[LI Pets]

Just got back from the NY Metro Rally, an Airstreamer "Gosolar.com" did a demo and installed a system on a members 31'.

It was putting out about 10 amps on this very overcast day.

He did a demo with the panels similar to ones here and showed that any shadow stops the whole panel, one hand covering just one cell cut the juice by 80-90%.

Then he showed us these other panels that are peel and stick, shadows don't effect these at all.

They are better looking also.



Call Gary for more info, he knows his stuff.
info at gosolar.com | 631.727.2224

[davidz71]

This morning I added a used AM65 panel to the roof of my Sovereign. I have experimented with running my two Fantastic Vent fans on high with just the other two AM100 panels from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. and the single 115 amp hr battery is still fully charged when I turn the fans off. Hopefully the addition of the AM65 will help on any very overcast days.

[vswingfield]

Very nice installation, very nicely documented. Your workmanship looks first rate! I like the idea of solar, but out of my league right now, so it’s more a case of solar envy.

Vaughan

[davidz71]

At 10:20 a.m. this sunny morning, I ran a few tests to see how the system was working with the third panel. This is what I found the panels producing on a fully charged battery:

14.41 volts
.2 amps no load
1.4 amps with one Fantastic Vent fan on low
2.7 amps with two Fantastic Vent fans on low
3.1 amps with one FV fan on medium and the other on low
3.6 amps with two FV fans on medium
4.1 amps with one FV on high and one on medium
4.6 amps with two FV fans on high

I have accomplished what I set out to do and that is be able to run the two fans on medium or high during the day while out hunting and be able to charge the battery the next morning while running the fans at night on low. My next step, which will probably be next April (or if my 115 amp hr battery gives up the ghost, knock, knock) will be to add either two 6 volt batteries or two 12 volt batteries to a newly built box between the frame rails for extra battery capacity.

[craftsman]

Craig, very nice istall. I'm looking to do something similar on my 07 25' Classic. I 've been looking into getting a wind generator too.With this one you can get a telescoping pole with a base that your RV wheels set on for support.