Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 05-04-2021, 09:54 AM   #41
2 Rivet Member
 
Humboldt Air's Avatar
 
1968 24' Tradewind
Eureka , California
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 53
Quote:
Originally Posted by uncle_bob View Post
Hi



If you do go for raw cells ( I have piles of them sitting here), you also will need:



1) An enclosure that properly supports / protects them.



2) A good / reliable BMS with all the right features and current ratings.



3) Interconnects and possibly fusing (depending on config).



At that point you still don't have a 10 year warranty on the result .....



Bob


I think the warranty isn’t worth the price difference. I could buy this set up 4 more times for the price of Battle Borns. With the quality of the cells, I don’t think that could ever happen. Battle Born is counting on the same thing.
Humboldt Air is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2021, 03:13 PM   #42
Always learning
 
1974 27' Overlander
2007 25' Safari FB SE
Woodway , WA
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 14
This is great, I'd never head of that battery type in my search so i'll be looking into these as well for sure!
Thanks!
barryz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2021, 08:18 AM   #43
Rivet Master
 
Hermes's Avatar
 
2016 28' International
Trois-Rivieres , Quebec
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 696
There are two components that secure the feet, the VHB tape (there are different grades) and the Sikaflex 221 which has to completely cover the foot on all 4 sides. With that setup the VHB is protected from the elements and the Sikaflex becomes a strong complementary adhesive.
__________________
2016 International Signature CCD, RBQ, Dual A/C, 28'
2018 GMC Sierra SLE 2500HD, 4x4, Crew Cab, Duramax Diesel, Leer cap
Lift kit, 16" wheels, Michelin Agilis CC LT
DIY Solar: 500W Renogy panels, AM Solar hdw, Blue Sky MPPT controller, 470ah Rolls battery bank, 2000W Renogy inverter.
Hermes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2021, 09:25 AM   #44
2 Rivet Member
 
Humboldt Air's Avatar
 
1968 24' Tradewind
Eureka , California
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 53
This is my current 200Ah setup

Quote:
Originally Posted by barryz View Post
This is great, I'd never head of that battery type in my search so i'll be looking into these as well for sure!
Thanks!

These are the CALB cells. Nothing fancy but very effective. Still testing at 100%.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_4319.JPG
Views:	58
Size:	568.4 KB
ID:	394930   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_4320.JPG
Views:	68
Size:	581.2 KB
ID:	394931  

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_4321.JPG
Views:	64
Size:	588.6 KB
ID:	394932  
Humboldt Air is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2021, 07:41 PM   #45
Always learning
 
1974 27' Overlander
2007 25' Safari FB SE
Woodway , WA
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 14
Wow, thanks for the pics, I've never seen that sort of set up but i'm liking it! Need to get by brain around that layout!
barryz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 08:36 AM   #46
2 Rivet Member
 
Humboldt Air's Avatar
 
1968 24' Tradewind
Eureka , California
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 53
Quote:
Originally Posted by barryz View Post
Wow, thanks for the pics, I've never seen that sort of set up but i'm liking it! Need to get by brain around that layout!


Check out some info at Mobile-solarpower.com. This system is very easy. Don’t let the look of it make you think it is difficult.

There are 5 parts. 4 individual batteries @3.2volts. All of them are tied in series connection to make 12.8volts. Then add the BMS. If you are interested the money savings is large! But I do understand that many people don’t have the time to work on ever bit.

Good luck. If you want more information PM me and I will help with anything you may need.
Humboldt Air is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2021, 02:21 PM   #47
Rivet Master
 
truckasaurus's Avatar
 
1960 33' Custom
Athens , Georgia
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,373
Images: 25
I'm loving the Miasole CIGS panels! I found 50 watt panels and could run 4 down the centre of my trailer roof inline between the vents which I think would look good. Just wondering if combining them in parallel or series is the way to go on a 12V battery with a Victron 100/30 MPPT? The panel specs say Pmax 50W, Vmpp 13V, Impp 4.0A, Voc 16V and Isc 4.7A, which if my extremely basic understanding is sound means I'd be OK and would end up with peak Voltage of 16v x 4, 64V in parallel. Anyone got any guidance?
__________________
1960 Sovereign 33' Pacific Railroad Custom
truckasaurus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2021, 03:11 PM   #48
Rivet Master
 
waninae39's Avatar
 
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR , Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,085
check this site. he has many panels under review

waninae39 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2021, 03:14 PM   #49
Rivet Master
 
truckasaurus's Avatar
 
1960 33' Custom
Athens , Georgia
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,373
Images: 25
I have watched that one, he has another one here talking about the CIGS panels, it's pretty convincing stuff, starts on CIGS at 1:32.
__________________
1960 Sovereign 33' Pacific Railroad Custom
truckasaurus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2021, 04:41 PM   #50
Lost in America
 
mojo's Avatar
 
2015 27' FB International
2006 25' Safari FB SE
2004 19' International CCD
Santa Fe , New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,151
Quote:
Originally Posted by truckasaurus View Post
I'm loving the Miasole CIGS panels! I found 50 watt panels and could run 4 down the centre of my trailer roof inline between the vents which I think would look good.

Where did you buy and what was the cost?
__________________
This is the strangest life I've ever known - J. Morrison

2015 Airstream International Serenity 27FB
2017
Chevy Silverado 2500HD Duramax Diesel

mojo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2021, 05:47 PM   #51
Rivet Master
 
gator.bigfoot's Avatar
 
2007 30' Classic
KW , Ontario
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 996
Quote:
Originally Posted by truckasaurus View Post
I'm loving the Miasole CIGS panels! I found 50 watt panels and could run 4 down the centre of my trailer roof inline between the vents which I think would look good. Just wondering if combining them in parallel or series is the way to go on a 12V battery with a Victron 100/30 MPPT? The panel specs say Pmax 50W, Vmpp 13V, Impp 4.0A, Voc 16V and Isc 4.7A, which if my extremely basic understanding is sound means I'd be OK and would end up with peak Voltage of 16v x 4, 64V in parallel. Anyone got any guidance?
Parallel adds the current not the voltage and series adds the voltage and not the current.

Also, if your roof vents shade your panels you've wasted your money.
gator.bigfoot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2021, 07:30 AM   #52
Rivet Master
 
truckasaurus's Avatar
 
1960 33' Custom
Athens , Georgia
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,373
Images: 25
Quote:
Originally Posted by mojo View Post
Where did you buy and what was the cost?
They're on amazon, however I contacted Miasole and these are velcro backed rather than adhesive which is less appealing.
__________________
1960 Sovereign 33' Pacific Railroad Custom
truckasaurus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2021, 03:33 AM   #53
Keen amature
 
martin300662's Avatar

 
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield , Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,534
The CIGS panels in general have got me thinking, so some questions.

It looks like you have panels running north/south? How do you have them connected? I am going to go with a 24v system, which means the open circuit voltage needs to be at least approx 40v for the charger controller to work. If all the panels are in series, at least 50% will be in a non-optimal inclination. Or do you have them setup as arrays in parallel? Individually they are under 40v, but in pairs you should always have one side in direct inclination? Of course the center panel would need to be part of one array as that panel on its own would not reach 40v? Or maybe this is just a issue of having a 24v system!
martin300662 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2021, 04:20 PM   #54
2 Rivet Member
 
Humboldt Air's Avatar
 
1968 24' Tradewind
Eureka , California
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 53
Quote:
Originally Posted by martin300662 View Post
The CIGS panels in general have got me thinking, so some questions.



It looks like you have panels running north/south? How do you have them connected? I am going to go with a 24v system, which means the open circuit voltage needs to be at least approx 40v for the charger controller to work. If all the panels are in series, at least 50% will be in a non-optimal inclination. Or do you have them setup as arrays in parallel? Individually they are under 40v, but in pairs you should always have one side in direct inclination? Of course the center panel would need to be part of one array as that panel on its own would not reach 40v? Or maybe this is just a issue of having a 24v system!


I’m no solar expert, but I can say that with my limited knowledge, I’m impressed by the tolerance of my array. I installed all of the panels in parallel. I expected to get some not great results through winter, but I think because of the by pass diodes I’m still getting good power.
In retrospect I should have made at least two different arrays but I’m having great results.
Just got back from a trip and was producing over 2 KW hrs per day.
Humboldt Air is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2021, 07:01 AM   #55
Half a Rivet Short
 
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle , Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,684
Hi

All the Wonderful videos on Youtube that get into how terrible shading a panel is are really showing you something different. They are showing you that your 12V controller will not do well if it is fed < 12V. Indeed most cut out at a significantly higher voltage. As long as you keep the controller input voltage "ok" you will get power out of the array.

One "interesting" take on this is to go even further in the series wiring stuff and use a controller that will handle a high input voltage. Victron makes some, so do others.

Bob
uncle_bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2021, 07:53 AM   #56
Keen amature
 
martin300662's Avatar

 
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield , Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,534
Quote:
Originally Posted by uncle_bob View Post
Hi

All the Wonderful videos on Youtube that get into how terrible shading a panel is are really showing you something different. They are showing you that your 12V controller will not do well if it is fed < 12V. Indeed most cut out at a significantly higher voltage. As long as you keep the controller input voltage "ok" you will get power out of the array.

One "interesting" take on this is to go even further in the series wiring stuff and use a controller that will handle a high input voltage. Victron makes some, so do others.

Bob
Which is the basis for my question...I plan to use with a 24v battery (to keep the amps low on the high draw systems like inverter, fridge and macerator toilet) so need the voltage to be well above 24v to be useable, most easily achieved by have the panels setup in pairs in series (the MiaSole Flex-2N are 37v OCV) rather than individually. If shading is bad on one side it could drop below useful voltage but at least the opposite bank should remain above the minimum useful voltage.
martin300662 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2021, 07:24 AM   #57
Half a Rivet Short
 
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle , Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,684
Quote:
Originally Posted by martin300662 View Post
Which is the basis for my question...I plan to use with a 24v battery (to keep the amps low on the high draw systems like inverter, fridge and macerator toilet) so need the voltage to be well above 24v to be useable, most easily achieved by have the panels setup in pairs in series (the MiaSole Flex-2N are 37v OCV) rather than individually. If shading is bad on one side it could drop below useful voltage but at least the opposite bank should remain above the minimum useful voltage.
Hi

There will *always* be a situation that shade happens. You have flat panels and no way to adjust things. Simply hook them up as best you can and move on. Even if you hook them up as one big series string, it's still going to work. Indeed in a few cases, that would work best.

Bob
uncle_bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2021, 05:36 AM   #58
Keen amature
 
martin300662's Avatar

 
1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield , Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,534
So....

After a bit of searching, unlike regular PV panels which are internally wired in series and so if the series is blocked by shading you can literally loose the output of the whole series possibly panel. The CiGS panels are internally wired in parallel so you literally only loose the shaded areas contribution. Also means you should wire the panels in parallel.

For anyone interested there is now a manufacturer (in the UK) making just about any combination of lengths with the three standard widths (single, double, triple) so you can choice panels to cover whatever area you want rather than having to deal with fixed length runs, (https://mipvsolarpanels.co.uk/products/)
martin300662 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2021, 07:47 AM   #59
2 Rivet Member
 
Humboldt Air's Avatar
 
1968 24' Tradewind
Eureka , California
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 53
Quote:
Originally Posted by martin300662 View Post
So....

After a bit of searching, unlike regular PV panels which are internally wired in series and so if the series is blocked by shading you can literally loose the output of the whole series possibly panel. The CiGS panels are internally wired in parallel so you literally only loose the shaded areas contribution. Also means you should wire the panels in parallel.

For anyone interested there is now a manufacturer (in the UK) making just about any combination of lengths with the three standard widths (single, double, triple) so you can choice panels to cover whatever area you want rather than having to deal with fixed length runs, (https://mipvsolarpanels.co.uk/products/)
After being out this summer many times now Im more convinced that CIGS is by far the best option for solar on vehicles of any type, but of course the ability to wrap around curves makes them perfection for Airstreams. I have been meticulously monitoring and trying to stress my setup as much as possible. I drive with my absorbtion fridge ON every where I go now with confidence I will arive at my destination with around 90% battery. This has been the case even when I drive the coast for 5 to 6 hours through fog and forests.

The array is completely shade tolerant and produces great power from the moment very small amounts of sun is dancing on the panels till late into the day. And on foggy or overcast days I'm still producing high amounts of power.

There was some chatter about the panels being black and producing heat but honestly IMHO it is a non issue. If the airstream is in direct sunlight Im running my fans through the day constantly and the inside of the airstream remains cool even in high outside temperatures. My youngest daughter has even taken naps in her upper bunk in the middle of the day, 85 degrees without any problems.

With all things considered from the ease of install, wieght savings and performace I stand firmly behind the idea that CIGS panels are the BEST fit for airstreams.
Humboldt Air is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2021, 09:00 AM   #60
Half a Rivet Short
 
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle , Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,684
Quote:
Originally Posted by martin300662 View Post
So....

After a bit of searching, unlike regular PV panels which are internally wired in series and so if the series is blocked by shading you can literally loose the output of the whole series possibly panel. The CiGS panels are internally wired in parallel so you literally only loose the shaded areas contribution. Also means you should wire the panels in parallel.
Hi

If they *have* wired all the cells in parallel, then the panels will only put out < 1V in full sun. That would take a *very* unusual controller ....

The only way to get things to work and put out the ~20V the normal controller is looking for is to have cells in series.

Bob
uncle_bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Solar panel connection in addition or in place of Rooftop solar panels? D Shauberger Base Camp 42 05-07-2022 12:23 PM
Startup Voltage for Solar Charger and 12v solar panels ggreen63304 Generators & Solar Power 12 09-01-2017 06:58 PM
Best Quality Solar Panels & Solar Controllers to use | Opinions Wanted BoldAdventure Generators & Solar Power 54 03-17-2016 06:04 AM
Adding panels on top of panels instead of replacing? The-Marco Ribs, Skins & Rivets 18 08-02-2014 04:53 PM
What Solar panels Best fit a 06 Safari FB25? RichHog Generators & Solar Power 5 03-26-2013 09:53 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:56 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.