Factory Installed Solar Charging System

[Troutboy]

Long thread but educational/documentation of what I went through to install a new solar. I knew zero about solar and did this with help from many on the site and amsolar

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f382...-a-162955.html

[Shiny16]

I just ordered a 100 watt panel from AM Solar for my 2016 sport 16. The limited space on the roof leads to limited choices of panels. The smaller and more expensive 100 watt panel is 20.9 x 41 inches and should fit nicely in the front left corner of the roof.

100 watts should more then meet my needs.

[lrankine]

I'm very interested in having solar on my AS Classic (when I get it) and it appears to me from reading this thread that after market is the way to go. I've read through Troutboy's installation (which was magnificent!) but won't be spending that kind of coin nor attempting a DIY project either. My question to the solar crowd is as follows:

1) Is after market really better (and cheaper) than the factory installed system?
2) If the answer to number one is yes, who would/should do the installation and what does that cost?

[lsbrodsky]

1. Yes
2. Lewster while he is in Florida over the winter

Larry

[toskeysam]

Originally Posted by lsbrodsky

1. Yes

2. Lewster while he is in Florida over the winter



Larry

I second this.....Lew did my AI in Feb down at his Naples shop.
400 watts solar, 480ahrs lithium batteries, 3000 watt inverter. Quality job, with quality components.

[Troutboy]

Irankine,

Thanks for the compliment. It really depends on what you want to do with the solar. I am a tech junkie and like go high end etc. I had the money so spent it. However, I also had a system planned out for much less, like $2000. The lithium batteries really drive the cost of materials up, almost 2x.

It doesn't have to be all the bells and whistles and all lithium. I'm not sure about labor to install, but if I were to pay someone, it would Lewster. I tried to pay him for all his help and insight on my install and all he will take is a couple beers if I see him out and about.

I love the system I installed, but having camped a few times now, it seems like overkill. We are doing 4 nights remote this weekend, and it may rain, so this will be a good test.

Good luck and ask if you need help or advice!

[Tim and Tam]

We had ours installed after market. Long story short, we started with 2 and added some more. Then we changed our original equipment battery for the AGMs. The trickle charge through cloudy winter days keeps us ready for Spring and time to roll. We dry camped in cloudy Western WA, and even with the clouds we recharged our batteries after all night of running the furnace. We still carry a generator for those appliances where the amps are too high (microwave), but we only use the generator when we need it when we are boondocking. Where we camp, and frugality of running stuff, we can survive for weeks without a generator (but we do need a sewer dump).

[lrankine]

Originally Posted by Troutboy

Irankine,

Thanks for the compliment. It really depends on what you want to do with the solar. I am a tech junkie and like go high end etc. I had the money so spent it. However, I also had a system planned out for much less, like $2000. The lithium batteries really drive the cost of materials up, almost 2x.

It doesn't have to be all the bells and whistles and all lithium. I'm not sure about labor to install, but if I were to pay someone, it would Lewster. I tried to pay him for all his help and insight on my install and all he will take is a couple beers if I see him out and about.

I love the system I installed, but having camped a few times now, it seems like overkill. We are doing 4 nights remote this weekend, and it may rain, so this will be a good test.

Good luck and ask if you need help or advice!

Could you give me the thumbnail version of what your $2K system was? I would definitely like to go with the lithium option and $4K plus labor isn't unreasonable considering what a Classic goes for these days.

[lsbrodsky]

Troutboy and I have installed similar systems. You won't get a Lithium system for 2K or even 4K. You can certainly do solar for 2k. Think about what your needs for capacity are first. How many amp-hours do you expect to use between charges? With conventional lead-acid batteries you need double that capacity. Stock Airstreams can only handle 80 amp-hours before needing recharging, actually fine for an overnight or 2.
If you have the Interstates, you will want to upgrade to AGM's, maybe $500. If you need more capacity add more AGM's. Then think about how many solar panels you want. Your roof will easily have room for 4. Serious boondocking will require more, but 4 is still a lot. You will need a new solar controller.
Browse the AM Solar website for a lot of products and information. Again, you can add 4 solar panels, controller, new batteries, and hardware for $2k or a bit more.
When you get into Lithium, a new inverter/charger you begin to talk real money.
Larry

[Troutboy]

I have a wiring diagram for my first system. It was a solid system that included trimetric solar charger, trimetric battery monitor, a 1000W magnum and 300w on top. Then the plan was to use 2 or 4 AGM batteries. This system would have cost around $2K. And would serve well. I have a rough diagram I can post later of this system. I built this based off the Handybobsolar.wordpress.com website.

If you search these forums Fran and frank did a nice system and he sourced many of the components on his own driving price down.

[lrankine]

I don't plan on what you might call "serious "boondocking" but do want a system that will have no trouble keeping things charged up and running. I'm still very much a novice at all this so it's really a "I don't know what I don't know" situation for me. I'll continue hanging out on this thread to learn as much as I can. Thanks to everyone who is contributing the discussion!

Larry

[lrankine]

Originally Posted by toskeysam

I second this.....Lew did my AI in Feb down at his Naples shop.
400 watts solar, 480ahrs lithium batteries, 3000 watt inverter. Quality job, with quality components.

If you don't mind my asking.....what did this cost you?

[Rich Jenkins]

Originally Posted by lrankine

I'm very interested in having solar on my AS Classic (when I get it) and it appears to me from reading this thread that after market is the way to go. I've read through Troutboy's installation (which was magnificent!) but won't be spending that kind of coin nor attempting a DIY project either. My question to the solar crowd is as follows:

1) Is after market really better (and cheaper) than the factory installed system?
2) If the answer to number one is yes, who would/should do the installation and what does that cost?

We had Factory solar and AGM batteries on the used '16 FC 30 foot rear queen we bought from Patrick at Colonial last year. I'm glad it did; I would not have an AS without Solar at this point.

I'm not what you call a serious boondocker, but I do like having the batteries topped up while the AS is off power, or the occasional overnight.

So far, I've managed to live with the factory controller.

If I were ordering a new Classic at this point, and I boondocked more than once a month, I'd probably go aftermarket, save some money, get a better charger/controller, and bigger panels.

Either way, I'd get AGM batteries for sure. Filling wet cells every month is a pain.

[Pete B55]

I went the AM solar DIY route with 700w solar and 640Ah Lithium on a 2017 Classic.I agree with Troutboy and others that the solar is not very expensive and was a pretty easy install. The Lithiums are where the bulk of the cost and installation work is. You can do all your research on the AM solar website and talk to them - their support is FANTASTIC.

Also a significant cost on the solar side is the mounts where you can cut costs if you use alternative/homemade brackets - but the AM solution makes it quick and easy.

The answer to the question on the Airstream OEM vs aftermarket is really that for the same cost of the Airstream package you can double the solar capability. There is no hard rule but aim your solar to battery ratio at approximately 100 Watts to 100Ah

[lrankine]

Originally Posted by Pete B55

I went the AM solar DIY route with 700w solar and 640Ah Lithium on a 2017 Classic.I agree with Troutboy and others that the solar is not very expensive and was a pretty easy install. The Lithiums are where the bulk of the cost and installation work is. You can do all your research on the AM solar website and talk to them - their support is FANTASTIC.

Also a significant cost on the solar side is the mounts where you can cut costs if you use alternative/homemade brackets - but the AM solution makes it quick and easy.

The answer to the question on the Airstream OEM vs aftermarket is really that for the same cost of the Airstream package you can double the solar capability. There is no hard rule but aim your solar to battery ratio at approximately 100 Watts to 100Ah

Thanks Pete! What did your Lithium rig cost you?

[lsbrodsky]

You already indicated that you were not going the pricey route, but I'll give you my numbers. For the Lithium batteries, solar controller, inverter/charger, BT dongles, cables, etc, I spent $5600. About half of that was for my Lithiums, 180 amp-hour because that was all I felt I needed. The Lithiums, still, are the most expensive part and you can spend a lot more for more amp-hours.
I did the project so my labor was free, but it was two full days of work, plus time on the front end of that to layout, plan and prep.

Larry

[Troutboy]

Pete, that is a massive system. Must work awesome.

[Troutboy]

Larry is better than me, mine cost more and it took me much more time, I would say around 6 days, maybe 7!

[lsbrodsky]

I had more space, I think, in the 25FB, and after a helper helped in removing the bed plywood, access was amazingly easy..for 1 person. I had already measured, did a to-scale drawing, and pre-located everything. I know Rich used cutouts, but I did not bother with that.

Larry

[Pete B55]

Originally Posted by lrankine

Thanks Pete! What did your Lithium rig cost you?

You can find exact pricing on the AM Solar site - shipping is only $12 regardless of the size of the shipment. I had to buy the batteries separately due to availability.