Need help picking solar panels

[kellykellyi]

Originally Posted by sparkymark

I have 3 135w panels installed by AM Solar, they did a great job and the system works fantastically! 25' 2012 Eddie Bauer Edition

Hey SparkyMark! Did you take your AS to AM Solar or find someone local?

[wando1997]

Thanks so much to you all for the help!

Jo & David

[albert]

can I ask... where did you install your xantrex inverter? I bought one but am trying to figure out the best way to be able to use it. Should it be mounted by the kitchen and use an extension cord? Wire it to the front for tv, etc, but then what about the coffee maker, etc? Help please. THANKS!

Originally Posted by Papou

Good day Joe & David,
I purchase the Go Power solar panel and controller with my 2011 Flying Cloud 23FB and this kit was installed by CanAm just prior to the delivery of the trailer. Fully satisfied of the product and the quality of the installation. I have one 95 watts panel. The controller software take care to maintain the health of the batteries by applying a ‘Bulk/Absortion Charge’ to the batteries each morning.
Our Xantrex 600Watt pure sine wave inverter is mostly used for the TV and WiFi active antenna and for charging the lap top computer.
In boondocking we are not a big energy consumer. Actually with this installation we never experience ‘dead battery’ situation.
Attached some information and a evaluation table that can be helpful for you in your future choice.

Michel

[albert]

Anyone?

[Kyle401]

Inverters should be installed as close to the batteries as practical. Make your longer wiring runs with 120VAC so the voltage drop is lower.

[NJtoNC]

And how would an inverter charger work with a converter charger? Or are there all-in-ones?

[lewster]

If you install a quality inverter/charger, you eliminate the converter. The charger section of a good inv/chg unit is leaps and bounds ahead of any converter.

[blkmagikca]

Lew is correct. I have the Xantrex Freedom 3000, and it works like a charm. The inverted AC is routed to the main breaker panel, so all my wall sockets are live when the inverted is engaged.

[switz]

It is possible to have a super solar system on an Airstream by careful selection of the components from a vendor like AM Solar.

We have eight 100 watt AM Solar panels on the roof of the 2014 Classic 30 feeding into a TriStar 60 MPPT charge controller housed inside the cabinet behind the dinette with a vent fan for cooling. The Magnum MS-2800 charger/converter resides under the sofa where the factory converter was formerly installed. The factory battery box is now the home for the Titan disc brakes controller and electronics. A custom stainless steel battery box is on top of the frame between the propane tanks and the trailer body housing four Lifeline 6Vdc 300-amp hour batteries.

We did install a new primary circuit breaker box under the street side twin bed to handle the large (15,000 BTU) living room air conditioner, the AC electrics for the refrigerator and water heater and a 30 amp 240Vac breaker feeding into the Magnum MS-2800. When shore power or the generator is not in use, the Magnum continues to feed the original circuit panel from the batteries. All the 120Vac outlets both inside and outside of the trailer, the microwave and small air conditioner remain in the original panel and are capable of operation all the time (well not the air conditioner as it draws too much power from the batteries for extended use).

We did also install the Maxim skylights to head off that problematic leak prone area and put the FanTastic should over their fan. Since a lot of the interior furniture was in temporary storage, we had other customizations done at the same time

Photos of the installation and other modifications to follow after I get the trailer back home to Arizona.

[blkmagikca]

Nice, switz.