Solar panel position - pictures?

[Motoman]

Originally Posted by Don Stewart

Hello Don:I have a 25ft Classic and am considering installing two 130W Kyocera panels. Northern Arizona Wind and Sun seems to have a pretty competitive price. I would appreciate seeing your photos and what you used for mounts. I was considering the flat mount that NAW&S lists. Don Stewart donjulie@roadrunner.com

Don, look at my earlier posts on this thread for some photos and comments, however I am repeating the link for my article in the April 2007 Sierra Nevada Unit newsletter on installing two 130 watt Kyocera panels on our 2005 25' CCD; http://sierranevadaairstreams.org/sn...snu-nwsltr.pdf look at page 6 with pictures on page 7. Also check http://sierranevadaairstreams.org/ow...uvt/index.html a link to my "DRAFT" unabridged version that is not complete. The DRAFT includes detailed comments about our installtion with the pictures so be sure to click the link for the step by step photo gallery.

Note there can be a problem in trying to page down through the newsletter pdf unless it is fully downloaded to your computer. Email me separately if there is a problem reading it.

Regarding the mounts, I used the "Z" shaped stainless steel mounts that Solartron has made for their kits which require drilling the roof for the expanding bolts used to atached them to the trailer. I located my mounts so the holes were drilled through the skin and a rib.

The NAWS lists their flat mounts as Z shaped 1"x1"x1" aluminum (no picture of the flat mount). The Z mounts I used were a little larger, approximately 1 x 1-1/2" x 1". Not enought difference to matter.

[Wabbiteer]

Partial shading limits the current - a panel's output is limited by its weakest cell; string 35 1/2 volt 3-amp cells and you got 17.5 volts at 3 amps but add in a 1/2 volt 1-amp cell and your output voltage rises to 18V but current is limited to one amp. Block even one cell w/ shade and whole array can be set back to near-idle...

It's woodlands camping that make detachable smaller panels a good idea but they are such an attractive nuisance you'd always have to keep them secured...