Auxiliary solar panel

[wagoneer]

Past experiences at the RTR have gotten me thinking about using an extra solar panel to beef up my charging rate since my fixed panel on the roof has limitations in the winter months. aside getting the 200 dollar suitcase using the one I already have with 25 ft. of line and building some kind of light wood tilting system, anyone done this any tips? tThanks in advance Adrian

 

[BobBski]

I use a portable system (2, 100w panels joined with angle iron).  Instead of building legs...early morning/late day I just lean them up on vehicle....the rest of the day I just lay it on one of those collapsible foot stools.  Nice low profile/stable for those windy days.  Been working great for last 14 months.

 

[BobBski]

My footstool is similar to this, paid $8 at Walmart.

 

[jacks18614]

[size=large]STEEL ADJUSTABLE ANGLE SOLAR PANEL MOUNTING RACK KIT WALL ROOF OR GROUND MOUNT[/size]

[size=large]$16.99 on ebay[/size]
[size=large]

[/size]

 

[jacks18614]

My twin 50's ground mounts with 35' of cable

 

[mnpaul]

jacks18 that ebay frame fits panels 2'x4' or smaller.
Here's an expensive one from renogy $51.99
https://www.ebay.com/p/Solar-Panel-...d=191477099620&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851
Shows a picture of individual parts and measurements if you wanted to copy and DIY

 

[mnpaul]

Renogy frame parts picture:

Says it for boat,rv or roof but don't know if you could secure it flat to a roof rack for travel and then easily pop it up while parked?

 

[Almost There]

I have a pair of 5 gallon square food buckets that are empty so I lean my two panels against each bucket.

The buckets store stacked and under my other bucket that has my extra pine shavings in it.

If it's windy, I put some rocks in the buckets to stabilize them and then return the rocks to the ground when I leave.

The buckets weigh only ounces each, take up no extra floor space and required no initial cost nor assembly!

 

[DLTooley]

My 100 watt is on my hood so I always park southish. I put the 50 watt I upgraded from on the windshield. It works great. A mppt controller will also boost your collection.

 

[wagoneer]

Separate controller with alligator clips? Or wire into the main controller, Thanks for chiming in.

 

[BobBski]

Separate controller with alligator clips

 

[jacks18614]

Separate controller with alligator clips? Or wire into the main controller, Thanks for chiming in.

Hard wired (20' with mc4 ends+15' mc4 ended extension cord (if needed) to an mc4 "Y" to two 50watt Renogy polys) into one main controller plus two 30 watt Acopower monos fixed roof mounts hard wired "Y" into same single 20amp $20 controller.

 

[DLTooley]

Separate controller with alligator clips? Or wire into the main controller, Thanks for chiming in.

Whichever works best for your specific situation. Besides the above a hard wire to your exterior with a weatherproof connector like an mc4 would be another option. All would work. People say you don’t need to fuse panels. I don’t fully understand that.

 

[John61CT]

If you have a lot of amps , parallel panels, and low gauge wiring maybe CP between panels and controller is needed.

But not if all that wiring is sized for the total Isc of the entire array, no over-current possible

But code or insurance may require it.