AM Solar SunRunner 100/H22B Install

davidz71 · 05-26-2007, 07:57 AM

With the help of one of my sons (cost me a Super Supreme pizza), I installed two of AM Solar's 100 watt panels to my roof yesterday evening. The sun came up about 11 o'clock in relation to the streetside of my trailer and I was pleasently surprised that the Winegard antenna (down) and rear Fantastic Vent fan cover did not project a shadow onto either panel. The panels were mounted with rocker type feet and 3M tape then covered with Trempro 635 caulk.

davidz71 · 05-26-2007, 08:01 AM

Couple more pics showing rocker foot mount. I also ordered two sets of tilt bars for cleaning up uner the panels or tilting the panels during winter months.

davidz71 · 05-26-2007, 08:05 AM

The shadows you see on the cardboard are from the sun around 6 p.m. in the evening when it was very low. That was to be expected. This morning's sun at 8 a.m. CST did not do this.

**john hd** · 05-26-2007, 11:35 AM

think the tape will hold?

or are you going belt and suspenders and rivet them in place?

john

davidz71 · 05-26-2007, 11:49 AM

AM Solar said they have not lost a panel yet IF the tape was put on in over 50 degree temps. It was in the 80's yesterday evening. I plan on running a safety wire near my antenna just to be on the safe side.

davidz71 · 06-03-2007, 12:47 PM

A few last pictures of the SunRunner system. It is working great. Next year I will add two smaller panels (65-70 watt) on the front.

HowieE · 06-03-2007, 01:11 PM

Hi davidz71

Are you planning to use them just as a charging system or are you going to install an invertor and use any 110 equipement?

Are they just held on with double sided tape? The hatches on my kayak are magnetic but I still use a strap over them when on the road.

pmclemore · 06-03-2007, 01:38 PM

Craig,

Your posts here are giving me confidence to try this myself. Great job log and pix. I presume you are satisfied with AMSolar's materials and instructions?

Your rocker feet - are they on all four corners so you can tilt east or west?

Thanks and congrats - Pat

audiobox · 06-03-2007, 03:37 PM

Nice installation and photos Craig! When I interviewed Greg and asked him what the number one problem was for DIY RV solar installations, he told me it was failure due to wire chafing. It looks like you've done a good job with the wire hold-downs to prevent this. I think you did well in labor negotiations too!

Craig

davidz71 · 06-03-2007, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HowieE

Hi davidz71

Are you planning to use them just as a charging system or are you going to install an invertor and use any 110 equipement?

Are they just held on with double sided tape? The hatches on my kayak are magnetic but I still use a strap over them when on the road.

Howie,
AM Solar claims that the 3M tape will hold better than rivets. I've thought about a safety cable/wire of some type to be on the safe side but don't know what I will do at this point.

I have a Coleman 800 watt inverter that I am thinking of mounting in the space under the streetside couch arm. I am also going to two 6 v. batteries in the near future which will be mounted in a new box constructed between the frame rails where a storage box now resides.

davidz71 · 06-03-2007, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmclemore

Craig,

Your posts here are giving me confidence to try this myself. Great job log and pix. I presume you are satisfied with AMSolar's materials and instructions?

Your rocker feet - are they on all four corners so you can tilt east or west?

Thanks and congrats - Pat

Pat,
The toughest job was planning what I was going to do next. The panels both mounted within a couple hours after moving them around to find just the right spot. Wiring took much of the time because I was thinking a step ahead as to placement of the charge controller.

Rocker feet were set up to raise the outside edges up to catch additional sun during the winter when the sun is lower in the sky. I've also though about drilling an extra hold in each tilt bar to level the panels when parked. I'm going to experiment to see if that makes a difference in the output.

I'm happly with the material sent by AM Solar. Instructions were included in many of the packets and the wiring harness was top notch. The HPV-22B controller was a nice touch. I'll probably place a clear plastic cover over the controller to keep dust down but want to make sure that there is air at the bottom of the cover to allow air to move around the panel as mentioned in the directions.

davidz71 · 06-03-2007, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audiobox

Nice installation and photos Craig! When I interviewed Greg and asked him what the number one problem was for DIY RV solar installations, he told me it was failure due to wire chafing. It looks like you've done a good job with the wire hold-downs to prevent this. I think you did well in labor negotiations too!

Craig

Craig,
Thanks. I also added wire loom over the 8/2 cable where it ran over the refrigerator fins and near the refrigerator coils. I was concerned about heat as well as chafing. I am going to caulk the hole where the cable entered the credenza tonight and that will do it.

LI Pets · 06-03-2007, 06:14 PM

I was looking at these panels they are about $1500 and adds about 50 pounds to the roof, to say nothing of wind resistance.

Why not get four 6 volt batteries?

audiobox · 06-03-2007, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidz71

Craig,
Thanks. I also added wire loom over the 8/2 cable where it ran over the refrigerator fins and near the refrigerator coils. I was concerned about heat as well as chafing. I am going to caulk the hole where the cable entered the credenza tonight and that will do it.

Good plan. The AMSolar guys loom almost all of their "on the wall" cable runs. I know you'll enjoy having your system ticking away for you this year.

Craig