1000 Watts of Solar!

[ProTech]

Originally Posted by coasttocoast

Thanks for going green!

No, thanks for going quiet.

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by ProTech

No, thanks for going quiet.

Haha. Not generator/jackhammer for us.

[wulfraat]

Originally Posted by GMFL;

Haha. Not generator/jackhammer for us.

Yes its great. I only used my Honda 2000 once last year in hybrid mode when we needed to turn the air conditioner most of the day. It really was quite annoying though as quiet as it is .

With 800w/600ah we are rarely short on battery. I think you are doing it right with 1000/800.

On a good summer day I get about 4.5kwh / ~325ah back in a day with 800w. You should get 400ah back for sure with 1000w. 800ah gives you lots of backstop. We enjoy 100% always on residential power. We rarely if ever turn the multi off.

Lithium and solar are a good thing

Love that Globetrotter 30'. I think it's the best model + floorpan Airstream sell today. But I'm bias to the 30' floor plan

On another note you'll enjoy the propride too with that trailer. We are at the grand canyon south rim this week. On the trip out through Colorado and Utah we got hit very hard several times with massive sidewind gusts while driving @ 70mph+. Enough to move the entire train sideways but zero sway whatsoever. I don't even think about passing or being passed by big rigs anymore. ProPride really works well with a 52' long + setup.

[pcskier]

Originally Posted by GMFL

Haha. Not generator/jackhammer for us.

You know how I feel about this issue!!!

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by pcskier

You know how I feel about this issue!!!

You are the person who showed me the light!
(Not that we were ever generator people anyway)
I remember it like it was yesterday. Setting by the campfire in Gros Ventre campground.....at 10PM when the generator guys had to shut it down.
You said, “Listen” and as the generators died off one by one you could start to hear the rushing sound of the Gros Ventre river, and as the last Generator stopped for the evenings quite hours it was so peaceful. The only sounds that could be heard were the river and the crackling of the campfire.

That brought awareness to me..... well and also the jerk with the open framed contractor/ job site Home Depot unit that literally sounds like a jack hammer from 1/2 mile away.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by GMFL

I’m thinking the 150/85 is the plan. We all know these panels will never produce 80 amps in the real world.

Hi

I've actually seen my roof setup produce *more* than the rated capacity of the panels. Yes, the temperature and orientation had to be "just right" for that to happen. The other 99.9% of the time ... not so much.

One "alternative" (if you didn't already have the panels ....) would be to use some that are targeted at the 28 to 44V range used in residential setups. No idea if they come in rational sizes for roof mount though.

Bob

[GMFL]

Went with the Victron 150/100. The Victron 150/85 is not available

[guskmg]

I have 800 on the roof and 600 under the bed in the back. I use the old BluSky solar controller and 3000 Magnum converter (old style AM Solar and lewster). The system has performed flawlessly fo 4.5 years. The best mod I ever did. With my compost toilet all I ever need is water.
guskmg

[AirMiles]

"also the jerk with the open framed contractor/ job site Home Depot unit that literally sounds like a jack hammer from 1/2 mile away."

This guy seems to follow me around to all the non-electric campgrounds!

Hey GMFL, glad you went with the 150/100. Like Uncle_Bob, I have maxed out the wattage on my solar panels. I hit 407W on my 400W installation and 584W on my 600W installation. Both of these high occurrences happened on partly cloudy days when the sun reappeared out of a cloud. I think the cloudy days keep the panels cooler and the sun gets magnified at the edges of clouds. Interesting that you will be using a series-parallel configuration. Is that because the Amps would just get too high with 1000W causing you to need really heavy gauge wire? I used series-parallel so I could install 600W of panels on the factory prewire. You will soon see the Victron MPPT controllers work most efficiently with the higher voltage from series pairs of 100W panels. Looking forward to seeing your installation pictures.

Lastly, please install solar on that open-frame generator guy's camper!

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by GMFL

Went with the Victron 150/100. The Victron 150/85 is not available

Hi

The other "interesting" issue is that we rarely install these (at least I don't) in exactly the fashion the Victron suggests. The devices are efficient, but not 100%. There is power dissipated from the unit. They do heat up a bit (though not a lot).

Inevitably the max power rating on any device is temperature related. With less than perfect ventilation, they will get warmer. That will cut into the max rating. Also MTBF numbers are always temperature driven. Cut the temp even a little and the lifespan goes up noticeably.

------

Speaking of camping in the Rockies (who would ever do that .... ). The max rated output on the controllers only applies to 2,000 meters of altitude. They can't be used above 5,000 meters. Same issue with cooling, but another reason to derate a bit.

Lots of fun !!!

Bob

[CarterKraft]

Originally Posted by GMFL

Looking at the Victron 150/70 VE. We will install them series/parallel so should run around 50volts @ 23Amps on the input side. Output should be 14.4 volts @ 65 amps

I'm late but this application seems perfect for dual charge controllers. Treat each side as a separate array.

Use which ever Victron charge controller matches each strings V/A parameters. Double redundancy and better MPPT tracking for each angled array.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by CarterKraft

I'm late but this application seems perfect for dual charge controllers. Treat each side as a separate array.

Use which ever Victron charge controller matches each strings V/A parameters. Double redundancy and better MPPT tracking for each angled array.

Hi

To get that to work properly, you will need a "manager" of some sort to keep them both in sync .....

Bob

[wulfraat]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi



To get that to work properly, you will need a "manager" of some sort to keep them both in sync .....



Bob

DVCC (Distributed Voltage and Current Control) with shared voltage sense enabled will do this for you in a VE.Bus networked GX Victron install.

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by CarterKraft

I'm late but this application seems perfect for dual charge controllers. Treat each side as a separate array.

Use which ever Victron charge controller matches each strings V/A parameters. Double redundancy and better MPPT tracking for each angled array.

Can’t do this because I’m running 5 pairs of 2 panels.

[CarterKraft]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

To get that to work properly, you will need a "manager" of some sort to keep them both in sync .....

Bob

The I believe the the recent Victron controllers have this built in from version v1.47+.

There are many ways to do it but with the most recent chargers it can be done on the VE network.

https://www.victronenergy.com/live/v...art-networking

[CarterKraft]

Originally Posted by GMFL

Can’t do this because I’m running 5 pairs of 2 panels.

The hangup is the 39 cell panels in series will exceed the offerings from Victron, is that correct?

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by CarterKraft

The hangup is the 39 cell panels in series will exceed the offerings from Victron, is that correct?

No,
Each panel will produce 22 volt roughly. So 5 in series would be 110volts so Victron could cover it. I just don’t want that many panels in series. I prefer 2 in series for 44 volts. ( which is safe at around 48 volts). Anything higher than that starts to get scary with shorts and fire risk. Heck 44 is plenty.....

[mrchinup]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

I've actually seen my roof setup produce *more* than the rated capacity of the panels. Yes, the temperature and orientation had to be "just right" for that to happen. The other 99.9% of the time ... not so much.

One "alternative" (if you didn't already have the panels ....) would be to use some that are targeted at the 28 to 44V range used in residential setups. No idea if they come in rational sizes for roof mount though.

Bob

If I get another AS gotta find a way to put two of my commercial 435 watt 72 volt panels up there. Love the high voltage on them superior to my 200 watt 18+V panel on my tiffin. Easy to position two panels without shadows rather than 8 or 10 with the obstacles up there. I bought 4 extra in case I needed them. I think I can put two up the long way on an old AS, one with less stuff on the roof.

[mrchinup]

Originally Posted by GMFL

No,
Each panel will produce 22 volt roughly. So 5 in series would be 110volts so Victron could cover it. I just don’t want that many panels in series. I prefer 2 in series for 44 volts. ( which is safe at around 48 volts). Anything higher than that starts to get scary with shorts and fire risk. Heck 44 is plenty.....

I've had no problems with mine for 5 years now. They are superior on cloudy and low light days. I've actually had my 3 best days when it was partly cloudy. In the morning and at sunset they outperform. I have hardly any loss from wires. Gotta make sure those wires are secure though and I've done that.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by CarterKraft

The I believe the the recent Victron controllers have this built in from version v1.47+.

There are many ways to do it but with the most recent chargers it can be done on the VE network.

https://www.victronenergy.com/live/v...art-networking

Hi

They have the ability to "talk" to a supervisor (like the GX or the Venus). The gotcha there is that the parasitic drain of the supervisor now figures into all your math. Probably not a big deal with 1KW on the roof when in the sun. If use in the shade (or covered storage) is in the picture, it will matter.

Bob