GlennWest Posted May 14, 2021 Report Share Posted May 14, 2021 Adding solar to keep batteries up. Do I need to isolate from charging system and what do you recommend Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuiteSuccess Posted May 14, 2021 Report Share Posted May 14, 2021 Do you mean to isolate so charger won’t backfeed into solar controller/panel? Quote 2006 Volvo 780 "Hoss" Volvo D12, 465hp, 1650 ft/lbs tq., ultrashift Bed Build by "JW Morgan's Custom Welding" 2017 DRV 39DBRS3 2013 Smart Passion Coupe "Itty Bitty" "Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryl&Rita Posted May 14, 2021 Report Share Posted May 14, 2021 29 minutes ago, GlennWest said: Adding solar to keep batteries up. Do I need to isolate from charging system and what do you recommend Charge controller, sized to match the panels you're using. Quote 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...
GlennWest Posted May 14, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2021 1 hour ago, SuiteSuccess said: Do you mean to isolate so charger won’t backfeed into solar controller/panel? Yes, don't really want to disconnect when truck running. Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 14, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2021 1 hour ago, Darryl&Rita said: Charge controller, sized to match the panels you're using. https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Monocrystalline-Negative-Controller-Connectors/dp/B00BFCNFRM/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=solar+for+charging+truck&qid=1621028378&sr=8-5 Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Dreamer Posted May 14, 2021 Report Share Posted May 14, 2021 I don't think you need to do anything. For example currently our trailer has solar charging the batteries all the time plus the batteries get charged when either we are hooked up to shore power or to the generator thru the standard battery charger converter in the trailer so there are two different sources with out any isolators except the normal fusing. The solar charge controller should be able to handle the voltage your alternator is putting out. Quote 2005 Freightliner Century S/T, Singled, Air ride ET Jr. hitch 2019 46'+ Dune Sport Man Cave custom 5th wheel toy hauler Owner of the 1978 Custom Van "Star Dreamer" which might be seen at a local car show near you! Check out http://www.hhrvresource.com/ for much more info on HDT's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 14, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2021 (edited) Thank you. Know it isn't a lot of solar but need to trickle charge my batteries to keep them up. Find having to park in over flow a lot. Edited May 14, 2021 by GlennWest Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanZemke Posted May 15, 2021 Report Share Posted May 15, 2021 Glenn, That looks like a great choice. Quote Volvo 770, New Horizons Majestic and an upcoming Smart car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 15, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2021 My truck is full height. Ideal spot for solar would be roof of truck. Now I do scrap tree branches sometimes. City right lane mostly. Will this damage panel? Doesn't seem to hurt truck. Only other spot I have is the rear cab mount for the fleet tracking device. Bracket still there. It would be shaded part of the day. I could fabricate a mount near level with top of cab. Any suggestions? I never saw need for drom box. That would be ideal. Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyretired Posted May 15, 2021 Report Share Posted May 15, 2021 Our truck has a small short 42" sleeper. I mounted a 33 watt panel to the roof and wired it to a little controller. Fused a lead to the battery. Works great and it is connected all of the time. Batteries stay charged. I already had that panel or I probably would have chosen one a little bigger just in case. Quote Randy 2001 Volvo VNL 42 Cummins ISX Autoshift Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Dreamer Posted May 15, 2021 Report Share Posted May 15, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, GlennWest said: My truck is full height. Ideal spot for solar would be roof of truck. Now I do scrap tree branches sometimes. City right lane mostly. Will this damage panel? Doesn't seem to hurt truck. Only other spot I have is the rear cab mount for the fleet tracking device. Bracket still there. It would be shaded part of the day. I could fabricate a mount near level with top of cab. Any suggestions? I never saw need for drom box. That would be ideal. On our mid roof, I think I have brackets on both sides of the cab and I would run a support from one side to the other side and then do a hinged mount for the panel on that, so you can pivot it up when parked and be level or slightly above the cab. Then when traveling you could pivot it down against the back of the cab for protection. It may also allow you to pivot at an angle and get more sun depending on the trucks orientation when parked. Edited May 15, 2021 by Star Dreamer Quote 2005 Freightliner Century S/T, Singled, Air ride ET Jr. hitch 2019 46'+ Dune Sport Man Cave custom 5th wheel toy hauler Owner of the 1978 Custom Van "Star Dreamer" which might be seen at a local car show near you! Check out http://www.hhrvresource.com/ for much more info on HDT's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 15, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2021 Don't remember a bracket on side of can. But at work now. Will look on a few hours. That good idea. I could add a hinge to panel and truck. Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanZemke Posted May 15, 2021 Report Share Posted May 15, 2021 (edited) I also have a bracket for fleet tracking on my 2000 Volvo 770. It's bolted to the back of the cab with 4 bolts and seems to be fairly sturdy. In my case, the flat top of the bracket is 7 inches below the top edge of the roof. That should avoid almost all tree branch danger and allow you to mount it fairly flat, so the direction you park the truck won't affect power output much. Maybe use a slight tilt for the panel to shed water. I suspect the panel assumes support at all for corners. So only supporting it from the middle may, or may not be a problem. There seem to be several places on my truck that could brace the ends of the solar panel. https://i.imgur.com/QGTV35m.jpg Edited May 15, 2021 by DanZemke Quote Volvo 770, New Horizons Majestic and an upcoming Smart car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 16, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2021 Assuming mine bolts on too, I could remove it and make a mount using the bolt holes for the panel. Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2021 (edited) Bolted angle iron to that bracket for the fleet tracking. It came out as sturdy as back of sleeper can be. It will move around. Back of cab/sleeper not solid. May need to run additional angle to side furlins brackets. But something interesting, I bought some Rust-oleum red paint for steel. Had lot left over. Touched up some areas on back where brackets had been removed. Looked good. Looked at my badly peeled faded fender and said can't hurt. Sprayed it too. Looks pretty good to my surprise. I might buy more. Lol Edited May 30, 2021 by GlennWest Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanZemke Posted May 30, 2021 Report Share Posted May 30, 2021 Glenn, Sometimes life can be kind. It appears it smiled on you for this. Hope it works well for you. After you've used it for a few months, please consider posting a brief review. Assuming it works well for you, I'll probably follow your lead. ----------------- It looks to me like our trucks probably have the same paint. Does the Rust-oleum paint you purchased have a product number or more specific name than red? I have a roughly 2 by 6 inch part of my roof that is black instead of red. I suspect the paint was scraped off and I'm seeing primer. I'd like to give the paint you discovered a try. Dan Quote Volvo 770, New Horizons Majestic and an upcoming Smart car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpsinc Posted May 30, 2021 Report Share Posted May 30, 2021 As to doing any type of touch up on those truck surfaces, even when using Rustoleum, get a catalyst so that the material will fully cure and get hard. I have used Rustoleum both with and without and I can say I will use it WITH most times. Can find the catalyst(sometimes called hardner) at auto paint stores and even at Tractor Supply. But then again if you need to go to auto paint stores, might as well get the right color and do that way. Quote Marcel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2021 (edited) 31 minutes ago, DanZemke said: Glenn, Sometimes life can be kind. It appears it smiled on you for this. Hope it works well for you. After you've used it for a few months, please consider posting a brief review. Assuming it works well for you, I'll probably follow your lead. ----------------- It looks to me like our trucks probably have the same paint. Does the Rust-oleum paint you purchased have a product number or more specific name than red? I have a roughly 2 by 6 inch part of my roof that is black instead of red. I suspect the paint was scraped off and I'm seeing primer. I'd like to give the paint you discovered a try. Dan i will attempt to find a better match. what i have a little too red. needs more black. I simply got some 1"X1/8' angle from lowes. A 3' length was long enough to catch panel so solid piece on back bolted to bracket. Front is on about a 45 degree catching holes in panel for mounts. I did buy 2 4" pipe nipples and 5" bolts for back of panel to raise it up for tilt. Edited May 30, 2021 by GlennWest Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big5er Posted May 30, 2021 Report Share Posted May 30, 2021 I have considered using that same panel on my truck, but was planning on just flat mounting it on top of my drum box. I "assumed" it would work well enough since it was mainly just there to maintain the batteries. Am I wrong? Quote MY PEOPLE SKILLS ARE JUST FINE.~It's my tolerance to idiots that needs work.~ 2005 Volvo 780 VED12 465hp / Freedomline transmission singled mid position / Bed by Larry Herrin2018 customed Mobile Suites 40KSSB3 2014 smart Fortwo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2021 (edited) Should work fine. I tilted mine just because I could. They catch more sun tilted. If I had a drom box that is where mine would be. But knowing me I would tilt it. Panels aimed south gets most sun. Just park accordingly when you can. Mine right now pointed west so catches evening sun only. Charging batteries right up too. Also that controller also has a load connection for powering whatever. Edited May 30, 2021 by GlennWest Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted May 31, 2021 Report Share Posted May 31, 2021 Phil You will be fine. I have a 100 watt mounted flat on my deck and it will keep my batteries full every day except for a week or two either side of Christmas. We are about the same Latitude as Detroit and at that time of year the days are quite short and the sun is pretty low in the sky. Nigel Quote 2006 Volvo VNL 430, 2006 smart cabrio cdi, 2000 Triple E Topaz 30' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porky69 Posted May 31, 2021 Report Share Posted May 31, 2021 Have you considered something like this.....no personal experience just have seen trucks with them.... Flexible Solar Panels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted May 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2021 10 minutes ago, porky69 said: Have you considered something like this.....no personal experience just have seen trucks with them.... Flexible Solar Panels All I have heard and read about them is short life. Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cotreker Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 My solar is on a board mounted to the back of cab with 2 braces. Had a 75 watt panel not being used purchased a controller and it keeps batteries up each day. Wire is up and leave let it work. [IMG]https://i.imgur.com/GyR1BTEl.jpg[/IMG] [URL=https://i.imgur.com/GyR1BTE.jpg "target=new"][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/GyR1BTEl.jpg "border=0"[/IMG][/URL] [IMG]https://i.imgur.com/m3zZPvb.png[/IMG][URL=https://i.imgur.com/GyR1BTE.jpg "target=new"]Click For Full-Size Image[/URL]. Quote Volvo 670 / 2006 10-Speed ATV's & Sleds 2017 Host Mammoth Slide-In Camper on Deck Jackalopee Build article published here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted June 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 (edited) How did attach to back of cab? Mine is thin. Your links don't work either Edited June 3, 2021 by GlennWest Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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