Future Solar Setup

[Oopslala]

[font=Arial, sans-serif]I plan on buying the RENOGY® Premium Solar Panel Kit 400W Monocrystalline Off Grid: 4pc 100W Mono solar panel UL Listed+ 40A MPPT Charge Controller+ MC4 20ft Adapter Kit+ Mounting Z Brackets eventually once I get my entire rig figured out.[/font]


[font=Arial, sans-serif]After reading reviews for that kit, it's leaving me questioning whether I'll be getting everything that I'll need.[/font]

[font=Arial, sans-serif]I also may potentially upgrade to more panels after I buy these ones, depending on how much energy I use, and the peace of mind on those stormy weeks that I won't run out of power.  With that being said, from what I under stand, I won't get everything I may need for upgrading after the initial purchase, so that's why I'm making this thread.[/font]

[font=Arial, sans-serif]When it comes to all of the solar 'things' I may need, what should I buy to handle lets say 800w of solar panels. I'm thinking I'll need to upgrade the charge controller and probably get a 4000w 1000w inverter?  [/font]

[font=Arial, sans-serif]I know I won't need the bigger battery bank until I upgrade the system, but for the initial 4 panels what batteries would you suggest (I plan on using AGM)?[/font]

[font=Arial, sans-serif]Thanks in advance![/font]

 

[Oneleggedcowboy]

Wow you need to read threads on here because this is a awesome resource for solar. Start off with a thread I put on here called 36 volt solar panel. In it someone kindly put a link to " solarbobs" nlog. It's got everything about the basics. I am just learning but I would wire the two panels into two sets of 24 volt to optimize the mppt conttoller you have. Be careful to check the ground of the conttoller. Renogy sells some that are positive ground and you could have a disaster should the grounds between the vehicle cross with this. Remember your entire metal of the vehicle is a negative ground. Some of the pros on here please correct me if I am misleading. Also I don't know how to put links up and besides Solarbobs there is Northern Az. Wind and Sun. Enjoy your prohect.

 

[Oneleggedcowboy]

Hmm also your battery amps should match your solar watts. Like a 400 watt panel a ray should have 400 ah of battery bank which would be 4 Trojan GC 6 volts wire into two sets of 12 that is then wired in parallel. It's a lot of info right there that is probably confusing but others on here can explain better. Bob the guy who owns this site has very good explanations under his heading of either Electrical or Solar. These tell you all the concepts in very easy understood wsys. They are a must read first!!!

 

[jimindenver]

The only thing you need to upgrade now is the wiring.

I have a 750w set up, it can be a lot of power depending on what you need. For us it's power to play with when the sun shines and enough power to keep us going when it's cloudy. Just maybe not as lavishly.

The wire I will use to bring the power down from the roof and go to the batteries is 1/0 welding cable. It's a third of a inch without the insulation. That will move the power around with as little voltage drop as possible.

I just got my first set of AGM's and while they are cool for their ability to take a charge faster, can be put on their side, no checking the acid, ect. They can also be a pain in the neck to keep charged up. They like lots of amps and some wicked high voltages at times. I still need to find a charger to use while not on the solar system.

 

[Seraphim]

Renogy has an 800 watt kit, and they use a 40 amp MPPT controller - the same one I have. When you purchase the 400 watt kit, just make sure that's the controller you order. It's like a $79 upgrade from the 30 amp PMW controller. The MPPT controller will handle the additional panels. I currently use the 400 watt kit and the MPPT controller.

Matching battery size to panel size is kind of a general guideline; your battery size really depends on how much power you use, and how many days you'd like to be in the field without needing to recharge the batteries - in case of stormy weather. We have a 210ah battery array, which lasts us four days without needing to recharge. We have low power usage, however. Your first step should be to estimate your daily power usage in amp hours. Our estimate was about 25 amps used a day. Then decide how many days you want to be able to go without recharging. We chose four days, in case of inclement weather. That means we wanted 100 amps available to use (25 per day times 4 days). Since you dang want to run your batteries below 50%, then double that storage capability. (100 amps x 2 = 200). So we have 210 ah of storage.

400 amps of batteries would work fine for us as well, but would be heavier and more expensive.

The size of your panel array depends on how fast you want to be able to recharge batteries in a given environment. Theoretically, 400 watts will recharge twice as fast as 200 watts. 800 twice as fast as 400. Theoretically. 800 watts will give you more amps per hour available for recharging, but the charge controller may not use them all, depending on battery level.

So more may be considered better, but there's a point of diminishing returns. Decide how much power you need first - then you can determine what you really need. Or, if you're wealthy, buy a whole lot of everything and dont worry about it lol.

 

[akrvbob]

400 watts is plenty for most vandwellers, very few need more. I have 380 watts and I just barely use any of it including the microwave. I rarely drop below 12.5 volts which is almost full. RVers may not be happy with that since they are recreating an apartment in a vehicle. What will you be living in and what are you using that needs that much power?

Unless you know you need that much power, I would suggest you just start with the 400 watt kit. If you find you just have to have more power then buy another kit. I agree with Seraphim and suggest getting the 40 amp controller, better a little too big than just barely big enough.

That 40 amp controller isn't going to handle 800 watts. You'll have to upgrade to a quality controller like Morningstar Tristar, or Midnight Solar. That's big bucks!

Instead, I suggest you just get a second 400 watt kit with 40 amp controller. The bad news is you will have redundancy, two controllers. The very, very good news is you will have redundancy!! If one controller fails (and eventually it will) you still have power. It won't const more than spending the money on one high amp, high quality controller.

I'd start with 4 golf carts for 400 watts. If you need to add more solar then add extra batteries or just stay with the 4.

You will have to buy a few things, but not much. I don;t think they give you fuses and that's a mistake, you'll need to buy fuses. You may want to use bigger wires, I think they go a little too small.

Even so, it's not perfect but it's a very good kit. I'd buy it and then have us walk you through the install and we'll suggest what else you need to buy and change.
Bob

 

[Oopslala]

400 watts is plenty for most vandwellers, very few  need more.  I have 380 watts and I just barely use any of it including the microwave. I rarely drop below 12.5 volts which is almost full. RVers may not be happy with that since they are recreating an apartment in a vehicle. What will you be living in and what are you using that needs that much power?

Unless you know you need that much power, I would suggest you just start with the 400 watt kit. If you find you just have to have more power then buy another kit. I agree with Seraphim and suggest getting the 40 amp controller, better a little too big than just barely big enough.

That 40 amp controller isn't going to handle 800 watts. You'll have to upgrade to a quality controller like Morningstar Tristar, or Midnight Solar. That's big bucks!

Instead, I suggest you just get a second 400 watt kit with 40 amp controller. The bad news is you will have redundancy, two controllers. The very, very good news is you will have redundancy!! If one controller fails (and eventually it will) you still have power. It won't const more than spending the money on one high amp, high quality controller.

I'd start with 4 golf carts for 400 watts. If you need to add more solar then add extra batteries or just stay with the 4.

You will have to buy a few things, but not much. I don;t think they give you fuses and that's a mistake, you'll need to buy fuses. You may want to use bigger wires, I think they go a little too small.

Even so, it's not perfect but it's a very good kit. I'd buy it and then have us walk you through the install and we'll suggest what else you need to buy and change.
Bob

As of right now, my rig will be a 21 foot fifth wheel.  

I'd like to make use of most of the appliances that come with it.  Refrigerator, freezer, microwave, and possibly the shower, depending on how much juice that might use.  I have no problem with buying a solar shower, but if I have the shower and it's cheap to use, I might as well utilize it right?  I'll also use lights at night, but I'll switch the bulbs to LED.  As for other items that aren't coming with the trailer.  I'll have a laptop, cell phone, 19-20 inch tv or my computer monitor to hook up to my laptop, camera charger, fan, and im sure a couple other small small things I can't think of.  I know usage is different for everyone, even with all of those items, I'm just looking to ball park it at this point and have an idea in my mind.

My plan is still to get the 400w renogy kit, but I'll wire it as if I had another 2-4 depending on room on the roof, possibly.  

I'll most definitely be utilizing this forum as much as I can when it comes to wiring and getting the rig set up.  

It'll be interesting seeing everyone's opinions on everything.

 

[highdesertranger]

the shower uses the less electricity of all you mentioned. the only power is for the water pump(minuscule). the hot water is propane. the micro and the refer is what is going to suck power. run the refer off propane when in camp. one of the problems with that is you are consuming propane. highdesertranger

 

[akrvbob]

Most RVers would be better off with 800 watts, but there are exceptions. You can still start with 400 and add another 400 later.

Be aware though that you want your batteries to be very close in age. If you start with 4 golf carts and a year later decide you want more, it'll be too late, they can't go together. You'll need to seperate the banks.
Bob