Solar panel position - pictures?

[davidz71]

Anyone with a 25-27' standard body Airstream have pictures of their solar panel mounting positions. I had plans for two 100 watt BP panels or four 65 watt BP panels to be mounted on either side of the front and/or rear Fantastic Vent fans and stretching toward the center of the trailer. The company I am talking to initially apparently is not keen on mounting that far from centerline of the trailer due to the skin radius. That does not leave me much in the way of wattage with only a 36" long panel mounted centerline between AC and front Fantastic Vent fan. I may only have space for a 32" long panel from rear Fantastic Vent fan and the batwing antenna support which would also require me to raise my antenna up to utilize the panel.

Surely a 21" wide panel should be able to be mounted on this radius whether the panel is 48-56" long or not. I'd love a few pictures. I want BP panels due to their high voltage output and am not considering other brands.

[cbharri]

I have always used Big Foot brackets from RV Solar Electric, and have always mounted the panels on the centerline, sizing the panels to fill the available space.

Brett

'97 34' Classic
'89 29' Classic before
'72 25' before that

[audiobox]

I had AM Solar use their narrower, 100w panels on our 34'. We have four on now and there's room for two more. I know you want the BP's, but with the AM Solar panels, I'll bet there would be room for four on your 25'.

If you click on my shinytrailer.com link, you can click on the 34' installation thumbnail on the GALLERY page and check it out.

Craig

[Motoman]

Here are pictures of two 130 watt Kyocera panels and the charge controller near the sofa that I installed on our 2005 25' CCD. It was tight but it fit. One of the issues I had to deal with was adjusting the support brackets for the curve of the roof and spacing the outside edge of the panels up so that the junction boxes underneath didn't contact the roof. Let me know, I might have a brief article and supporting pictures on the solar installtion that I could upload.

[craftsman]

Don, I'd like to add two panels to my 25'Classic. The articles and pictures would be a great help.Please download.
Thanks
jack

[Roadmaster39]

Hi Motoman,

I'd be very interested in seeing the details of your installation if you don't mind! I'm ready for solar and it would help eliminate some trial and error.

Thanks,

Erik

[Swanny]

Originally Posted by audiobox

I had AM Solar use their narrower, 100w panels on our 34'. We have four on now and there's room for two more. I know you want the BP's, but with the AM Solar panels, I'll bet there would be room for four on your 25'.

If you click on my shinytrailer.com link, you can click on the 34' installation thumbnail on the GALLERY page and check it out.

Craig

Craig...what is the expected cost of such an installation? I could probably run the wiring and complete the mounting on roof but was curious about how much the panels, control center, batteries, etc cost.

Mitch

[davidz71]

Originally Posted by audiobox

I had AM Solar use their narrower, 100w panels on our 34'. We have four on now and there's room for two more. I know you want the BP's, but with the AM Solar panels, I'll bet there would be room for four on your 25'.

If you click on my shinytrailer.com link, you can click on the 34' installation thumbnail on the GALLERY page and check it out.

Craig

Craig,
Actually, the AM100 panels are made by BP Solar for AMSolar. I do not want to eliminate my batwing antenna behind the AC otherwize this would be the perfect place to mount two AM100 panels right next to each other. Since the antenna support is only 6" wide (3" each side of centerline of the trailer), I don't see what the problem would be to mount each AM100 panel on either side of the antenna support. I had also planned on using tilt bars on the outside edge foots to raise the panel to level or higher if I needed to.

Mitch, go to Welcome to AM Solar - Your RV Solar Specialists since 1987 and click on products. Click on the Sunrunner 100 system and you will see that a one panel AM100 system with all wiring, mounts, control charger and combiner box runs $939. Tilt bars are extra as are the 3M mounting tapes. It is a great system but it seems that I must be having a communication problem regarding my question to AMSolar about where to mount the panels.

[Airstream25]

Here is a picture of a Kyocera 120 watt panel on a 25' Excella.

Originally Posted by davidz71

Anyone with a 25-27' standard body Airstream have pictures of their solar panel mounting positions.

[davidz71]

I appreciate those pictures. Since the AM100 panels are only 21" wide then I don't see why I can't mount them where I had planned to put them. It may be that I will not be able to use tilt bars but if I initially mount 2 panels behind the A/C with 6" space between them and then add additional panels next year to the front area. I really need to change over to a 2 battery system at the same time because I need the ability to run the 2 Fantastic fans much of the day and sometimes one during the night.

[JDL]

Motoman - Great shots!

Thanks I am trying to find space on my 19' Bambi to put in a 65 watt Kyocera panel.

Did you do anything special to attached the mounts to the roof panels? Or did you just screw them to the roof?

Thanks in advance.

JDL

Originally Posted by Motoman

Here are pictures of two 130 watt Kyocera panels and the charge controller near the sofa that I installed on our 2005 25' CCD. It was tight but it fit. One of the issues I had to deal with was adjusting the support brackets for the curve of the roof and spacing the outside edge of the panels up so that the junction boxes underneath didn't contact the roof. Let me know, I might have a brief article and supporting pictures on the solar installtion that I could upload.

[Motoman]

Here are two links to articles on installing two 130 watt Kyocera panels on our 2005 25' CCD; http://sierranevadaairstreams.org/sn...snu-nwsltr.pdf and http://sierranevadaairstreams.org/ow...uvt/index.html . The first is to my article in the April 2007 Sierra Nevada Unit newsletter, found on page 6 with pictures on page 7. The second link is to a "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.

One unique feature of our installation is the use of a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) charge controller with the solar or photo-voltaic (PV) panels wired in series, i.e. 24 volts. The MPPT technology can efficiently transform a higher voltage DC supply from the photo-voltaic panels to a lower voltage battery bank with very little loss of efficiency. The two key features of the MPPT controller are 1) the controllers ability to maintain the primary voltage from the PV panels at a level that maximizes total power output and 2) the use of a high speed switching network with a large inductor to transform the higher voltage down to that of the battery bank while power output is maintained.

While it is becoming more common to use a MPPT charge controller with photo-voltaic panels wired in series for home and commercial installtions I had not heard of anyone doing it with an RV or travel trailer. The advantage is that a smaller wire can be used on the primary side, often a long distance from the battery bank or inverters for residential and commercial installtions, with out excessive voltage drop in the wire. In these installations primary wiring can cost several thousand dollars.

A similar advantage exists for higher wattage solar installations in Airstream trailers. The 10 gauge wire pre-wired in the chassis by Airstream is adequate for 100 watts at 12 volts but undersized when power output is increased, in our case up to a maximum of 260 watts. I chose to use the MPPT controller to my advantage and not replace the wires installed by Airstream.

Read the articles and give me your comments and constructive criticism. I'll try to use it to improve the final article.

[Motoman]

JDL, the solar system kit came with all mounts and hardware to install the panels on the roof; expanding anchor bolts and stainless steel "Z" brackets. I did drill two new holes in each solar panel frame so that the mounts and anchor bolts were located at a point where the anchor bolt went through the outside skin and a rib. I did use the white leveling compound to further seal each hole and mount since we did experience a leak from panel mounting bolts on the first Airstream we owned, in that case our dealer did the installation prior to delivery.

Originally Posted by JDL

Motoman - Great shots!

Thanks I am trying to find space on my 19' Bambi to put in a 65 watt Kyocera panel.

Did you do anything special to attached the mounts to the roof panels? Or did you just screw them to the roof?

Thanks in advance.

JDL

[audiobox]

Originally Posted by Swanny

Craig...what is the expected cost of such an installation? I could probably run the wiring and complete the mounting on roof but was curious about how much the panels, control center, batteries, etc cost.

Mitch

Sorry I'm late getting back to this thread, I think the reply auto-notify email must have hiccupped with the URL name change. Mitch, Davidz71 has pointed you to the pricing. The 3M mounting tape is great because you don't have to pierce your shell, which has an innate desire to spring a leak anyway. The slimmer, high output panels really help with the AS narrow roof and integrating the panels with one of Am Solar's MPPT solar charge controllers and the serious wiring they include makes for a great system. Like Davidz71, I want to routinely run Fantastic Fans all night (and day) off-grid, which is why I also opted for a companion multi-AGM battery system. When AMS installed the system, they used a simple shop vice to match the angle on the stainless steel foot mounts to the curve of the AS roof. It's easy (says the guy videotaping the guy actually doing it) and it will ensure a tight bond with the 3M tape (surface prep is key here).

Davidz71 states, "Since the antenna support is only 6" wide (3" each side of centerline of the trailer), I don't see what the problem would be to mount each AM100 panel on either side of the antenna support."

I would be concerned about the shadow from the antenna, which could put a major dent in the output of whichever front panel it's falling on. My wife and I don't care about having TV reception, so that was a painless decision for us.

"It is a great system but it seems that I must be having a communication problem regarding my question to AMSolar about where to mount the panels."

AM Solar is a small shop that does great work and when it gets into "the season," Dave, the head installer, has RV's parked up and down the street and sometimes Greg and Deb, the owners, are off conducting a seminar somewhere. These guys have been there, done that and literally, "written the book" on RV solar installation and are sometimes deep into multitask mode. I had to be persistent too, but it all worked out. Give 'em a call and see if you can talk to Greg or Dave. Dave did the both installations for us and would have the hands-on perspective about an AS set up.

Craig

[davidz71]

Originally Posted by audiobox

...Davidz71 states, "Since the antenna support is only 6" wide (3" each side of centerline of the trailer), I don't see what the problem would be to mount each AM100 panel on either side of the antenna support."

I would be concerned about the shadow from the antenna, which could put a major dent in the output of whichever front panel it's falling on. My wife and I don't care about having TV reception, so that was a painless decision for us.
Craig

No problem. Raise the antenna and the antenna does not cast a shadow on the panels. The aluminum support is almost 2 feet from the base of the antenna which is next to the A/C. My trailer will be positioned at home and at the hunting camp for it not to be a problem.

Mitch, next week I will order a 2 panel system with tilt bars and 3M tape for the rocker feet. The system plus UPS shipping came to $1,721 I believe.

[davidz71]

Motoman, I experienced problems with the first link past pg. 3 but the second link was fine. Thanks.

audiobox, great pictures and good commentary for each picture. Thank you also.

[audiobox]

Originally Posted by davidz71

Motoman, I experienced problems with the first link past pg. 3 but the second link was fine. Thanks.

audiobox, great pictures and good commentary for each picture. Thank you also.

Glad there was something there for you. I think you're really going to like having those panels as your silent electrical workers. Long after the sting of the inital investment fades away, the pleasure of having your batteries constantly tricklecharged will continue to please you.

Craig

[davidz71]

Originally Posted by audiobox

Glad there was something there for you. I think you're really going to like having those panels as your silent electrical workers. Long after the sting of the inital investment fades away, the pleasure of having your batteries constantly tricklecharged will continue to please you.

Craig

You are difinately right about that! I have been using a 5 watt Pulsetech Solargizer solar charger for 5 years now and for the last 3 years I have added a 25 watt panel I bought off ebay. They really have helped but I wanted something over and above what I have now (and mounted so I don't have to worry about putting them out). I only run the generator when I want to watch TV but after changing batteries next year then I will be able to use my inverter which I have done already 3 or 4 times when I don't want to fire up the gen. The gen has also been great when the fans could not keep up with an extremely hot day when boondocking. When it is that hot, I have also taken a cot, placed it under the big awning and taken a nap.

[Pacerized]

http://http://www.solarpath1.com/us6...FRMzgQodulhpBQI've been reading these threads with great interest. We dry camp a lot, and I'm interested in solar to keep my 2 batteries charged. The trailer came with 1 battery, but I added another last year. I was hoping to find someone locally that installed on RVs but so far I've only found the local airstream dealer. They have a single 125w panel with charge converter kit for about $1500, plus installation. I'd be looking at around 2k. I checked out the AM solar site listed on this thread, and it sounds like a good system. Could someone tell me what they think of the kit from the above link from Solarpath. It's a 65w panel with converter. If it could handle a second panel. Do you think 2 65w panels could handle charging 2 size 27 batteries while dry camping?
Charlie

[Motoman]

Charlie, if you are willing to do it yoursellf you can get a 260 watt kit from several suppliers for about the same price, $1500. I bought mine from Solartron Technologies in Victoriville, CA. Their web site is http://www.partsonsale.com/slrelecar.html Two 65 watt panels will charge your batteries in good light. I went with the larger system to better charge during low light conditions such as winter and cloudy day.

Originally Posted by Pacerized

http://http://www.solarpath1.com/us6...FRMzgQodulhpBQI've been reading these threads with great interest. We dry camp a lot, and I'm interested in solar to keep my 2 batteries charged. The trailer came with 1 battery, but I added another last year. I was hoping to find someone locally that installed on RVs but so far I've only found the local airstream dealer. They have a single 125w panel with charge converter kit for about $1500, plus installation. I'd be looking at around 2k. I checked out the AM solar site listed on this thread, and it sounds like a good system. Could someone tell me what they think of the kit from the above link from Solarpath. It's a 65w panel with converter. If it could handle a second panel. Do you think 2 65w panels could handle charging 2 size 27 batteries while dry camping?
Charlie