Al F Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 The Wheelinit.us blog is posting some great info about their recent upgrade to Lithium batteries and additional solar panels. Not only are they providing great info about the whats and whys of what they did, they provide a number of links, all in one spot, to a huge amount of technical detail about solar & batteries in RV's. Here are the first two entries. There are more entries to come in the near future. http://wheelingit.us/2016/02/24/the-big-beastly-solarbattery-upgrade-part-i-why/ http://wheelingit.us/2016/02/29/the-big-beastly-solarbattery-upgrade-part-ii-component-details/ Al & Sharon 2006 Winnebago Journey 36G 2020 Chevy Colorado Toad San Antonio, TX http://downtheroadaroundthebend.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale P Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 I saw the good info, but not at the cost of what I would want to pay. Current system 960 watts at 45 V open circuit, 34 volts max current. 660 Amp hour batteries usable to 330. Midnite 150 Classic Controller - Max Voltage 150VDC. MS2812 Magnum PSW inverter/charger with BMK shunt Kit. Recently playing with system, panels elevated but not directly. Reach 750 watts for 55 amps at 13.7 Vdc Last set of Batteries lasted 7 years. Boon dock quite a bit. Have residential refrigerator. Usually 20 amps per hour unless the refrigerator is making ice or coil cleaning mode or using the Crock Pot. Cost of solar = $2000 including MPPT charge controller Batteries = Costco = $90 ea. (x6). Maybe, if I did not have this investment, I would think about trading up. Maybe someday, the biggest improvement in solar is using High Voltage in Parallel and not in series. 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...
lappir Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 Interesting read. I'm not ready yet but following. Rod White 2000/2010Volvo VNL 770 with 7' Drom box with opposing doors, JOST slider hitch. 600 HP Cummins Signature 18 Speed three pedal auto shift. 1999 Isuzu VehiCross retired to a sticks and bricks garage. Brought out of storage the summer of 2022 2022 Jeep Wrangler Sport S Two door hard top. 2007 Honda GL 1800 2013 Space Craft Mfg S420 Custom built Toyhauler The Gold Volvo is still running and being emptied in July. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yarome Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 Cost of solar = $2000 including MPPT charge controller Maybe someday, the biggest improvement in solar is using High Voltage in Parallel and not in series. Wow! I've never seen a deal that good before. Even at a $1/watt that's already $960 in panels, $1k+ for the Magnum.. then the controller, shunt, fuses, wiring, brackets, c-box, BMK, breakers, cables, etc... Who do you know to stay at only $2k?? If I we're putting together a like system for someone like that I would probably tell them they would need to budget for more in the $4k range rather than 2.5k. Depending on your real estate and shadowing issues, you could probably still improve efficiency now by a simple re-wiring of your panels... going with combo series/parallel arrays to increase voltage to your MPPT controller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al F Posted March 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 Wow! I've never seen a deal that good before. Even at a $1/watt that's already $960 in panels, $1k+ for the Magnum.. then the controller, shunt, fuses, wiring, brackets, c-box, BMK, breakers, cables, etc... Who do you know to stay at only $2k?? If I we're putting together a like system for someone like that I would probably tell them they would need to budget for more in the $4k range rather than 2.5k. Depending on your real estate and shadowing issues, you could probably still improve efficiency now by a simple re-wiring of your panels... going with combo series/parallel arrays to increase voltage to your MPPT controller. Plus $720 for the batteries! But I don't think the inverter & batteries are included in the figure, nor are all the connecting materials and miscellaneous items. It sounds like just the panels and controller are included. I agree, the "shunt, fuses, wiring, brackets, c-box, BMK, breakers, cables, etc." cost a few hundred dollars by themselves. Al & Sharon 2006 Winnebago Journey 36G 2020 Chevy Colorado Toad San Antonio, TX http://downtheroadaroundthebend.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yarome Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 It sounds like just the panels and controller are included. I think you're right, Al. I think I misread what he meant with "cost of solar = $2000". For 960 watts and controller only.. 2k would be about right. Thanks for the clarification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom_M Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 Another article: http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/lifepo4_on_boats Tom—————————————————2005 Born Free 24' Rear Bath Towing 1978 VW Bug convertible Minneapolis, MN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daveh Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 Very nice write up..... Dave and Lana Hasper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.