fly2low Posted September 6, 2016 Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 Just dropped off my rig at AM Solar. Getting 850 W of panels and 800 ah of LiFePO4 batteries. Can't wait to get it back and try it out. Victron MPPT controller and inverter. Rich and Carol 2007 Dynamax DQ 340 XL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redcrzr Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 I would appreciate learning more about how you arrived at the sizing and your choice in installers. A ballpark estimate of cost would be of interest. as well. PM or email to me is fine if you prefer. I will keep it confidential if you like. Todd E “…nothing so liberalizes a man and expands the kindly instincts that nature put in him as travel and contact with many kinds of people.” – Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale P Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Solar Links http://forums.trailerlife.com/Index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/25705772/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm Susan & Dale DaGirls Rv 2008 Alfa Gold SoLong ISL 425 Cummins 2015 Ford F-150 XLT Tow / Roadmaster Setup 1600W@45Vdc Magnum Inv/Chg&Solar880AmpHrDaGirlsRv Blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly2low Posted September 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Dale Are you one of the folks in the linked list? Cool pics Rich Rich and Carol 2007 Dynamax DQ 340 XL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly2low Posted September 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 dreamer2 PM sent Don't want to turn this into a ROI discussion. I got the system I wanted, with several items that were considered "nice but not necessary" that I had them install Rich and Carol 2007 Dynamax DQ 340 XL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryl&Rita Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 What's the point of posting, if it's going to turn into a PM-fest? I have been wrong before, I'll probably be wrong again. 2000 Kenworth T 2000 w/N-14 and 10 speed Gen1 Autoshift, deck built by Star Fabrication 2006 smart fourtwo cdi cabriolet 2007 32.5' Fleetwood QuantumPlease e-mail us here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Itinerant1 Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Fly2low, 800ah lithium you'll have more power than you'll use in a day but why only 850 watts solar. That seems like bottle knecking the system or are they going to be tiltable panels. Or are your thoughts that on a good sunny day that system will catch up? Summer I would think they would recharge the battery's no problem but winter with shorter days maybe playing catch up? 2016 F350 DRW Supercab XLT 4x4 6.7 3:73LS 2010 Carriage Cameo 34CK3 1,280 watt solar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldjohnt Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 I always enjoy Solar threads and am one who believes what a person choses and installs IS HIS OWN BUSINESS REGARDLESS OF ANY ROI CONCERNS. If I want to install a system, whether or not its the absolute best out there as far as ROI, is strictly my own choice. Some folks have much higher energy requirements then others on here and you hear anywhere from of a modest 50 watts a truck camping buddy of mine has, to my 470 solar watts and 450 battery Amp Hours that's supplies all my energy needs, to 1000 watts and 500 to 1000 Amp Hours some on here require. ALL SOLAR IS GOOD SOLAR LOL Wouldn't it be a boring world if we all had to make the same choices or had to do what some other person insisted was best or yielded the best ROI ??? fly2low, Congratulations on you new system and sharing it with us. John T A relatively low energy requirement kinda guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Mayer Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 My advice would be to max out your roof space with panels. They are relatively cheap in the overall system cost. You cannot have too many watts. The Blusolar 150 will handle 1000 watts pretty easily (at 12 volts). I'd at least max it out if you have the roof space. If you are not tiling panels you can overpower the wattage rating if you are close on adding another panel (for example, you can easily take it up to 1100 watts if that is what the panel configuration falls out as). But only if you do not tilt. Jack & Danielle Mayer #60376 Lifetime Member Living on the road since 2000PLEASE no PM's. Email me. jackdanmayer AT gmail 2016 DRV Houston 44' 5er (we still have it) 2022 New Horizons 43' 5er 2016 Itasca 27N 28' motorhome 2019 Volvo 860, D13 455/1850, 236" wb, I-Shift, battery-based APU No truck at the moment - we use one of our demo units 2016 smart Passion, piggyback on the truck -------------------------------------------------------------------------See our website for info on New Horizons 5th wheels, HDTs as tow vehicles, communications on the road, and use of solar powerwww.jackdanmayer.com Principal in RVH Lifestyles. RVH-Lifestyles.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hemsteadc Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Excellent stuff! You'll love it. And the batteries.. wow.. that's the best part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RV_Fan44 Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Thanks for the solar tips! Useful information to start my search.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redcrzr Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Fly2low I understand the ROI discussions. Everyone has opinions and choices based on their wants, needs and pocketbook. Get what you think is best for you and go with it and leave it up to others to do the same. Hope your install and the results will keep you happy and comfortable for the next several years. Thanks for sharing. Todd E. “…nothing so liberalizes a man and expands the kindly instincts that nature put in him as travel and contact with many kinds of people.” – Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly2low Posted September 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 I did max out my roof That is the most I could get up there. 35' class C with 2 AC units and 4 roof vents does not leave much room I am assuming I will run the generator an hour a day for breakfast/coffee, then let the panels do there thing. It will be a learning experience. Rich and Carol 2007 Dynamax DQ 340 XL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly2low Posted September 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Jack I want to thank you. You may not remember, but we had an e-mail discussion about Victron. Helped me get comfortable with them. Also talked to friends who had Victron based systems in their boats. Nothing but positive feedback. Good support from the company. I do plan on tilting the panels to get the most I can out of them. And to all, thank you for the kind words. I am excited. Once this is done, on to a residential fridge Rich and Carol 2007 Dynamax DQ 340 XL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Itinerant1 Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 I have 500ah lithium batteries with 1280 watts solar on the roof. Maybe after a couple days you might need to top off with generator depending on your power consumption, I bet you're going to love the system. Enjoy ? 2016 F350 DRW Supercab XLT 4x4 6.7 3:73LS 2010 Carriage Cameo 34CK3 1,280 watt solar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly2low Posted September 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Itnerant1 How deep do you discharge the batteries? Seems pretty much anywhere from 50 - 80% is acceptable, knowing the longevity of the bank is shortened (but still really long) the deeper you go. Rich and Carol 2007 Dynamax DQ 340 XL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Itinerant1 Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 I have had the battery's down to 35% left on the bank a couple times by morning. That's running the fridge all night, watching tv/dvd, charging a couple laptops, charging cell phones, making coffee in the morning and cooking breakfast in the microwave. This is early/ mid summer when there will be enough sun the next day and by noon the battery's are full. Late summer now with shorter sun I turn the fridge over to propane by 1900-2000 hours do the other things mentioned as normal. In the morning the battery's will show 65% left. Unless there is rain or severely overcast the battery's just about always get back to full. I have not had to plug the small generator in yet to charge the battery's. Winter will be another learning curve with shorter sun time. We have ours wired so 2 more panels ( 320 watts) can be added on the roof if we want, the panels do not tilt. We had the system installed middle of April and since then have boondocked everyday except for 17 days since. Using what we paid in RV sites last year (fulltime, some monthly, some weekly, some nightly) My entire system will pay for itself in approximately 560 boondock days. The best part though is just knowing that the option to be in the outdoors yet still have all the conveniences. Overall the lithium and Hybrid Inverter are fantastic. 2016 F350 DRW Supercab XLT 4x4 6.7 3:73LS 2010 Carriage Cameo 34CK3 1,280 watt solar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2gypsies Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 I did max out my roof That is the most I could get up there. 35' class C with 2 AC units and 4 roof vents does not leave much room I am assuming I will run the generator an hour a day for breakfast/coffee, then let the panels do there thing. It will be a learning experience. We only had 300w and did just fine in the western states with our 40' motorhome. Only used the generator if parked in a forest with minimal sun on the panels. You certainly don't need a generator for morning coffee, toast. Get a stovetop perc - makes awesome coffee and butter the bread and plop it in a fry pan for the toast - great. Full-timed for 16 YearsTraveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Motorhome and 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smitty77_7 Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 More of a question then a statement. But as I understood it, just as AGM's charge faster then Wet Cells - Lithium can charge faster then AGM's(?). So while I'm a fan, and recommend, going as big on Solar Panels Wattage as you can (And I like the 48V panels over 24V or 12V) - having a lithium batter bank should make getting by with less SP Wattage very possible. And yeah, even a 12,000 Watt solar panel system, will not do you much good in the thick woods... So it sure depends on many factors. Best of luck with the new system, looking forward to hearing how it works for you:)! Smitty Be safe, have fun, Smitty 04 CC Allure "RooII" - Our "E" ride for life! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarDreamers.us Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 Good sharing about our personal experience in solar and RV living. But, we may overlook that each of us may do things in a different way. That difference does not make it right or wrong, it just works for that person. That alone makes this forum so great! Thanks for sharing. Safe Travels! SKP #89742 - Lifetime membership - Member of the SKP Class of 2007Good Sam Club - Lifetime MemberDataStorm #5423Passport America - Lifetime MemberSons Of The American Revolution (SAR) - Lifetime MemberAmerican Legion - USAF - Lifetime MemberRotary Club Member - 30 years Escapee CARE Supporter National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hemsteadc Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 than. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmac9 Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 Thanks for all the post, we are in the learning /beginner phase of the solar discussion so all info appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sushidog Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 I did max out my roof That is the most I could get up there. 35' class C with 2 AC units and 4 roof vents does not leave much room I am assuming I will run the generator an hour a day for breakfast/coffee, then let the panels do there thing. It will be a learning experience. A few months ago I saw a bus that had a rack above his AC units and vents that took up the back half of the bus's roof. Based on the amount of roof coverage he had to have at least 2,000 watts of solar up there. Mounting them that high would also accomplish 2 things. First it would keep the panels cooler thus increasing their efficiency with more cooling airflow underneath. Second the shade provided would also keep the inside of the RV cooler. Here's an example of rack mounted panels above roof vents for someone with limited roof space: Another option is mounting swing-up panels on the side of the RV which could be angled into the sun in the winter and northern climes when the sun is low in the sky. Here's a couple examples: Where there's a will, there's a way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly2low Posted September 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2016 That is being creative. I thought about a rack, but figured I had enough things to worry about for now Rich and Carol 2007 Dynamax DQ 340 XL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VallAndMo Posted September 9, 2016 Report Share Posted September 9, 2016 Hi, Just dropped off my rig at AM Solar. Getting 850 W of panels and 800 ah of LiFePO4 batteries. Can't wait to get it back and try it out. Victron MPPT controller and inverter. Would you mind sharing the specific model of the Victron, as well as the brands/models for the solar panels and the batteries? Your system seems obviously well designed, and I would like to learn more of the matter by studying it. Thanks in advance, -- Vall. Getting ready to join the RV full-time lifestyle in 2017! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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