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lsbrodsky · 05-08-2017, 03:42 AM

Rich, I have the same problem with gray water! Cannot get my wife to use less. We do some boondocking next month so I get to test my system in use.
Larry

Troutboy · 05-08-2017, 07:36 AM

Cool Larry. I have read a thread or two where they combined the grey and black tanks, now I see why.

Sounds Like too much work. At one point I was holding grey in the sink then using a bucket to put it in the black! I guess you get better the more you practice!

Dannyfishes · 05-11-2017, 05:07 PM

This is a solar newbie question. Any chance you can fire up an Air Conditioner with this system? Maybe with the addition of an EasyStart?

Troutboy · 05-11-2017, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dannyfishes

This is a solar newbie question. Any chance you can fire up an Air Conditioner with this system? Maybe with the addition of an EasyStart?

Check out this post:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f449...ll-166625.html

I explain how I ran AC and Rawn77 the OP discussed how he runs AC at night. He has a massive battery bank. That is the key. But with a hybrid inverter and large batteries, you can do it for short times.

Dannyfishes · 05-11-2017, 08:40 PM

Thanks!

fran&frank · 06-13-2017, 08:22 PM

My air conditioner starts fine without an easy start, but that's more a function of the 330 AH lithium battery and victron 3000 multiplus inverter than the solar upgrades. Will have to see how long I can run it with and without the help of the sun and solar system. --Frank

fran&frank · 06-24-2018, 06:42 AM

I decided to add a fifth panel to my system while panels are still reasonably priced. Decided to put it in the front where it was not likely to be shaded by an AC unit and also so it had a slightly different pitch so it might be better oriented to the sun when some of the others are not. Since it was at the very front of the trailer I used a continuous piece of aluminum angle for the front mount to keep the wind from getting under it. I just notched the one side of the angle then bent it to match the curvature of the roof, and attached with vhb tape and sikaflex. I also added a Victron Venus GX (that's a different post) so now I need to get out and start monitoring its performance --Frank

marter · 08-21-2018, 10:32 AM

Fran&Frank,

I love your panel mounts and want to do something similar for a couple Renogy panels on my 19' International. In view of the potential of a voided warranty, I'm considering using the VHB tape and Sikaflex method with Renogy"s mounting brackets [URL="https://www.renogy.com/renogy-solar-panel-mounting-z-bracket-set-of-4"] but wonder if they would provide enough surface area for adhesion.

Any opinion? BTW great job on your solar and thanks for posting.

Happy trails,
Mike

fran&frank · 10-28-2018, 08:09 AM

Sorry I have no experience with the Renogy mounts. I only became aware of the possible warranty issue related to screwing through the side of the panel after mounting my panels my way. Had I thought of that before hand I might have mounted them differently using homemade brackets that utilized existing holes on the panels.

fran&frank · 03-11-2020, 06:31 PM

It must be a disease. I decided to add a sixth solar panel to the roof of my trailer. So in looking at where to place it I came up with this location at the back of the trailer because there is less chance of it being shaded than if placed next to one of the AC units. I just have it temporarily sitting there at the moment. I don't think I have seen any posts of anyone putting a panel in this location. Does anyone see a downside to this location? It does require folding the radio antenna horizontal and will cover about half of it. --Frank

TouringDan · 03-14-2020, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fran&frank

It must be a disease. I decided to add a sixth solar panel to the roof of my trailer. So in looking at where to place it I came up with this location at the back of the trailer because there is less chance of it being shaded than if placed next to one of the AC units. I just have it temporarily sitting there at the moment. I don't think I have seen any posts of anyone putting a panel in this location. Does anyone see a downside to this location? It does require folding the radio antenna horizontal and will cover about half of it. --Frank

Frank

It looks good to me. Solar panels are relatively cheap. I say as long as you have room for more solar, go ahead and install it. You need to cover yourself when you are camping in the shade or there is cloudy weather.

Dan

Re-Pete · 06-07-2021, 11:04 AM

Frank, Nice install and an interesting thread. I'm getting ready to do large install myself. So, today I'm just kind of lurking, looking for shoulders to stand on. Heh, heh.

I couldn't help but notice that the dialog ended abruptly about the time Covid 19 took off. I hope you and yours are doing okay. If you have more posted elsewhere please let me know.
Best wishes.

Bauxter · 09-21-2023, 05:59 AM

Several folks on this thread built their own solar panel mounting brackets using off the shelf aluminum angle.
Does anyone have any regrets using that product. I ask because AM Solar uses stainless steel for their pivoting mounts, which seems stronger, and looks great, but is a great deal more money than stock aluminum angle.

I was curious if anyone had metal fatigue issues with the aluminum angle brackets.