We compare the different types of RV solar panels including monocrystalline and polycrystalline, rigid and flexible, as well as mounting your RV solar panels on your roof or getting a portable panel. We also talk about solar charge controllers and how they work with your RV battery bank and RV solar panels and what we ended up choosing for our Class C RV.
Charge Controller Blog Post: http://eatseerv.com/solar-charge-controller
Solar Panels Blog Post: http://eatseerv.com/rv-solar-panels
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23 Comments
Great job! Very informative, as usual. What percentage of the time would you estimate you two are off grid? We're looking to buy a Sprinter Class C in the next couple years, so I'm just trying to estimate how much solar we might need. Right now, in our TT, we don't boondock at all. But we hope to travel more far and wide with the Class C, including National Parks, where we would be without hook-ups for maybe 3-4 days at a time.
I'll have a flat roof T.T. and can easily mount 500 wts. of rigid panels including penetration. What I'm not easy with is after market modifications and the extent of components. Saftey is my concern, mainly fire. Where can I find the best of the best?
My husband and I are considering all of the options available. It sounds like Battle Born may be the way to go at this point. Let me know your thoughts,
Thanks for a great video on solar panels and solar controller. You taught me a lot or at least broke it down for me to understand better. It’s also good to hear from someone who went with the flexible panels. Thanks for sharing!
I put on 6 Mono Crystalline 250 W panels and screwed them into my roof and used Sealers and eternal bond. To seal up the hole so they will never leak I also got Go pro 3000 W inverter pure sine wave and a Victron smart controller 150/100, 3 life blue 100 watt batteries And everything that went along with it thank you and take care have a happy and healthy new year for you guys
Great VLOG, and I like your chairs as well.
Great information. We are going Full Time this year and want a solar system installed, this is helpful, thank you!
Great insite, thanks for your time.
You may have the concept of solar. Look at Continuous Resources.
For my RV on order I chose to have the dealer remove the standard flat panels and install 400w of flat mono glass panels. Warranty, performance, and shade areas under the panels for the roof instead of adhered hot spots were what was important to me.
🤣 wood chipper
PWM controllers will also charge or try to charge a dead battery. They only take 1 volt or less on the battery side of the controller to make it kick in and start charging. An MPPT controller must have a higher voltage from the battery to have it kick in. Most take 7 to 9 volts for them to start the charger up. The MPPT charger likes a high input voltage. So make sure you know what the max voltage is and try to achieve it. The higher the input voltage the more efficient it will work and output amps will be higher. Mine likes to have around 105 volts. We call it "waiting on sound" when the noisy equipment fires up when shooting a video. We also blame the sound guys for every delay. It's in inside joke.
I really need to learn more about solar the rig we wants has it but i just don't understand all the components to it
Thanks for the info.. Been looking at solar for a while.. Unfortunately we don't have very good conditions for solar here in Canada..😀👍
Liz & Dennis, another great vid. I agree staying with the same brand for the complete system as much as possible. Really looking forward to where you put your batteries and the rest of the system in your RV. A Class C might be in our future and this series has been a great help in planning and learning.I like the idea of a couple of panels on the roof and a suitcase portable on the ground to help chase the sun. Would like to have between 400-500 watts in the panels.
Love you guys, God Bless, safe travels!!!
Really well done video and solid guide to solar! Energy audits are key, like when you have a 12v compressor fridge… 😮
I came for the solar info…but dang… tell me about those chairs…I love my Z.G. but you guys have taken it to the next level…could you provide a link or a product name please…I'll never understand boondockers that hang out in five dollar wal mart camp chairs…
I am just learning about solar. I will be going back and watching all the info you all have put together. Thank you very much.
I"m amazed you bent that flexible panel that far. Hope it still works.
end of video was priceless.
What is your battery set up?
The idea that anyone needs to buy solar components that are from the same manufacturer shows a fundamental ignorance of solar charging systems. There is no reason to buy panels, controllers, cables, etc. that are branded the same as they are UNIVERSALLY compatible so long as you look at the voltage and power specs. (don't use a 24V volt panel on a 12V PWM controller, for example)
6:30 There is no "wasted power." By giving this advice you mislead people to think that 1.) a 1kW solar array actually produces 1kW all day, every day. 2.) That the charge controller does not support a direct load. Also, it's ENERGY that is used/wasted, not power.
Most people, including yourselves, mount solar panels flat on an RV roof. This, alone, makes them operate far below their rated capability so your advertised 1kW solar array may only be generating less than 50% of that. Sizing an array so it meets the typical demand with average nominal output is what should be recommended.
The second point is that during the day the solar controller should have enough available power to BOTH charge the batteries and support small, nominal loads. The idea that all power goes to charging the battery and then loads will run off the batteries is patently false. If you have 500W of solar power and your batteries are only 235Ah (your "two six volt batteries" example) those batteries will be charged in about 7 hours. (depends on charge controller) However, that charge rate is greater than the manufacturer's recommended C10 rate and can harm the batteries. This does not mean you size the solar array for ideal conditions as ideal conditions are seldom present.
Nevertheless, if you're listening to music, using lights, running water (pump), etc. you are consuming power during the day and that can be provided by the solar array WHILE charging the batteries at the recommended C rate. There is NO WASTED ENERGY.
Even if you're day hiking and the RV is completely shut down, there is no "wasted" anything as the Sun will continue to radiate the same power regardless of whether you use it or not.
Should someone put 2kW of array on the roof if they don't have any such demand? Only if they want to ensure they have enough energy for their needs even on cloudy and rainy days, but there is still nothing "wasted" on rare full-sun days as the array was sized for the application and nominal conditions and the Sun shines on the panels no matter if they're connected, used, functional, etc.