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 05-09-2010, 04:59 PM   #1
Rivet Master
 
boondockdad's Avatar
 
2008 30' Classic S/O
Dearborn , Michigan
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,403
Images: 21
How much PV wattage installed?

Rough measurements, it appears my 30' Classic would support (4)175W panels at 62"x32" each.

Anyone max'd out their roof real estate on a 30' model? How much wattage are you sporting? What kind of performance do you get?
__________________
A family of eight, blogging all things camping from our Airstream
https://boondockdad.com/
boondockdad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2010, 05:52 PM   #2
_
 
. , .
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,812
hi fc'

there are a couple of threads here on 4 panel systems approaching 4-600 whatz....

not 1 of them but see posts starting at #33 here for a 390w array...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f448...ice-39392.html

not a 30 foota' and...

not on the trailer either

and still plenty of roof top space.

but the artman is running a DEEP freeze with this set up and has a 'hole lotta party lights...

IF going to the expense of 4 panels consider 4 batteries minimum...

and perhaps consider MIXING panel types (like include 1 that is optimized for partial shade?)

cheers
2air'
__________________
all of the true things that i am about to tell you are shameless lies. l.b.j.

we are here on earth to fart around. don't let anybody tell you any different. k.v.
2airishuman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2010, 06:30 PM   #3
Rivet Master
 
1975 29' Ambassador
Reno , Nevada
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,351
Rule of thumb is to match a watt of solar for each pound of battery.

But realize that RV's are quite limited both for the amount of energy they can carry in batteries (about 10 to 15 watt hours per pound) and in the area available for solar (very seldom more than 500 watts). That's perhaps fifty cents of electricity if you bought it off the grid or maybe a tenth of nominal indoor household use.
bryanl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2010, 04:03 PM   #4
Rivet Master
 
boondockdad's Avatar
 
2008 30' Classic S/O
Dearborn , Michigan
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,403
Images: 21
That's interesting. My (2) SRM27's are a total of 110lbs, and 200 Ahr... loading up with 700W of panel would be be wasting a lot of free sunshine, yes- but cover all the bases (if u will) on cloudy days, tree shadows, non-optimal solar orientation...
__________________
A family of eight, blogging all things camping from our Airstream
https://boondockdad.com/
boondockdad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2010, 11:25 PM   #5
Rivet Master
 
1975 29' Ambassador
Reno , Nevada
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,351
200 AH @ 12v = 2400 watt hours. at 110 lb, that's 22 watt hours per pound. Since the cost effective use recommendation is a nominal 50% capacity, that's 11 watt hours per pound usable battery capacity in this case.

700 watts of solar panel would be an interesting challenge to get on top of an Airstream trailer. Even class A's have difficulty squeezing that much panel up top. At 4 hours peak to accommodate averaging, that's 2800 watt hours daily energy input.

Considering that typical average daily use should be about 40% of available battery capacity, that's 480 watt hours per day for a 2400 WH battery bank. A 700 watt solar system is providing almost 6 times the nominal battery refill needs. That means a lot of leeway for solar efficiency reduction.
bryanl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-04-2010, 06:46 PM   #6
2 Rivet Member
 
SilverBeast's Avatar
 
2008 30' Classic S/O
Tustin , California
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 33
Images: 5
AM Solar on Riveted Blog

Hi Joe,

I don’t have any answers for you on the roof real estate issue, but i have been kicking around this same idea.

I was really impressed with this set-up ( Riveted: Technology ) by AM Solar. So I contacted them to get a price. This is what Roger at AM sent me back:

400 watts of solar, a 30 amp MPPT controller, a 1000 watt inverter with built-in converter/charger and battery monitor, 6 AGM batteries (total capacity of 900 amp hours), and all the interconnecting hardware, fuses, sub panels and breakers for $9700.00.


That includes installation, but Wow, not cheep! I figure about $6000.00 of that price is labor. I think it’s going to be a DIY project if I decide to do it.

I was think I could fit some AGM’s under the bed, and replace the two stock batteries as well. But the biggest obstacle in my mind is running the wiring.

JC may have a roof drawing for the 30’ Classic, I found this one but has not been much help for me.

-Steve-
Attached Files
File Type: pdf solar 27.pdf (40.4 KB, 66 views)
SilverBeast is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2010, 10:26 PM   #7
3 Rivet Member
 
2012 27' Flying Cloud
Denver , Colorado
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 102
We just hooked up a single 130 watt panel to our Airstream. Take a look at this PDF of our little project. We're quite pleased with the results.
Attached Files
File Type: pdf Denver solar panel.pdf (329.5 KB, 506 views)
__________________
Jim and Marsha
JimmyT 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
Matching Generator Wattage with Power Requirements Streamer1 Generators & Solar Power 7 08-10-2007 10:11 PM
Next question. What is wattage on original '69 Caravel refridgerator? Lone Rangerette 1969-1971 Caravel 2 10-08-2006 08:15 PM
Peak wattage draw on the original 1979 air unit wacnstac Furnaces, Heaters, Fireplaces & Air Conditioning 5 04-20-2006 10:59 AM
Please help determine MAX running light wattage Westfalia Electrical - Systems, Generators, Batteries & Solar 4 01-17-2006 01:50 AM
lower wattage halogen fotobryant General Interior Topics 2 11-14-2005 12:17 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 02:48 PM.


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