Got my solar project finished.

[wincrasher]

It took me 3 weeks, but such is life.

I installed two, 80 watts Zamp solar panels on my Travato 59k. I ordered the parts from Solardealz.com. All in around $500.

I bolted the supporting brackets to the panels thru holes I drilled. I had to space the brackets so they would fit the grooves on the roof of the van. I stuck the brackets to the roof with 3M VHB tape (type 5952). I then coated the feet with black dicor. That stuff can be incredibly messy! WD-40 will take it off painted surfaces, glass, hands, arms, etc.

Here is what the finished product looks like.


I don't think they stick up too much. I doubt there is much wind up there anyways as the slope of the roof pushes the air up and over the van.
I could fashion a wind block for each panel. What do you think?

For the wiring, I got Zamp specific cabling, cut to length and crimped & soldered quick connects on it, and the leads from the panels. I guess I got it right, as there is no reverse polarity error, and current seems to be flowing. The sun is fairly weak so I'm not getting many amps today. With one panel partially shaded, it's putting out 3 amps collectively.

[BobB]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

I bolted the supporting brackets to the panels thru holes I drilled. I had to space the brackets so they would fit the grooves on the roof of the van. I stuck the brackets to the roof with 3M VHB tape (type 5952). I then coated the feet with black dicor. That stuff can be incredibly messy! WD-40 will take it off painted surfaces, glass, hands, arms, etc.

What do you think?

All looks very night and tidy! Like it was that way straight from the factory. Congrats!

Does look like you still have some room up there for future, too.

[wincrasher]

Unfortunately, I've filled all the ports on the combiner box on the roof, so I think I'm done.

I do have a portable panel I need to re-wire for the zamp wiring. That's another 120 watts.

The controller is only good for 450 watts.

[eric1514]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

...What do you think?...

I think the air conditioner is going to cast a shadow on something almost all day except a noon. Loose it.

Eric

[wincrasher]

Ha. No way - I live in the South!

That's is why I wanted more panels - there is always a shadow on something. So this is casting a bigger net. I don't really expect max output.

[BobB]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

I do have a portable panel I need to re-wire for the zamp wiring. That's another 120 watts.

The portable panel will be handy, when you want to park in the shade. Just wire in a 50+ ft. cord.

[wincrasher]

Well, on my trip down today, I got 7.8 amps out of the panels. Apparently, the temperature of the panels is a factor. With the warmer temps, bright day, it must have been alot warmer on the roof than yesterday. Shadows are still a factor I guess. Theoretical max per the specs would be 14.8 amps.

[BobB]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

Shadows are still a factor I guess.

Sun angles getting lower, too; give them a few months I have not read anywhere about temperature effects on the panels.

[booster]

There was a thread on here that had links to a couple of solar output calculators where you could put in you location, time of year, etc and get theoretical max out of your panels. Very useful to see how you are really doing.

[BobB]

Did a quick google and found it. Learn something every day.

You can read through all the math, but bottom line is "Solar cells love cold sunny environments"

Effect of Temperature | PVEducation

also

The Effects of Temperature on Solar Panel Power Production | Home Guides | SF Gate

[tbirdman]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

Unfortunately, I've filled all the ports on the combiner box on the roof, so I think I'm done.

I do have a portable panel I need to re-wire for the zamp wiring. That's another 120 watts.

The controller is only good for 450 watts.

Since all the combiner box does is wire-or all the outputs together to a single wire to the controller, your limit is beside space, is the load capability of the controller. You could always wire-or two panels together before they reach the combiner. I used the "standard" MC4 connectors with paralleling MC4 connectors which makes adding additional panels easy.

The other concern is the wire they use from the combiner to the controller. What size wire did they use. I saw in my research a bunch of places selling stuff with undersize wire which hurts the PVs efficiencies. WGO also used a cheaper PWM controller instead of a MPPT control which theoretically would decrease you efficiencies.

I only put two 100W panels on my roof as I wanted no AC shading. I'm finding that 2 100W panels are handling my power requirements fine although light with TV, laptop, Ipad/phone chargers and LED lighting.

Very nice job on the install. With the portable panel, you should be set and may not even need the portable panel.

Don't forget to take the tax credits including the batteries you have bought. They are all part of the solar system which you can claim although with the batteries you are suppose to reduce the value claimed by the amount of usage on the grid vs off the grid. I'm a 100% off the grid if the IRS wants to inquire.

[GigaGeek]

Hello Wincrasher,

How do you like the awning on your new coach compared to the one on your previous, which Winnebago uses when there is a roof rack?

[wincrasher]

I much prefer the Carefree awning over the Fiamma. Not only does it open and close without hitting the sliding door (if in the open position), but has the built in lights. I like having the lights. The add-on LED light kit you can buy is fiddly to install on the Fiamma and doesn't always stay stuck in place.

As far as the material of the awning, I can't tell any difference.

[BobB]

Did't know WGO use anything but Fiamma on the Travatos. Looked up Carefree; do you know what model they used?

[wincrasher]

Originally Posted by BobB

Did't know WGO use anything but Fiamma on the Travatos. Looked up Carefree; do you know what model they used?

All it says is Freedom RM Awning.

[wincrasher]

Just an update on my solar setup.

Contrary to some advice, this seems to be working great. With the pre-summer sun here in South Carolina, I'm getting 14.5 amps shown on the solar controller.

The theoretical max of these 3 panels according to Zamp is 14.8 amps.

Granted, you never get the max numbers, and there is some inaccuracy I'm sure on the controller measurement.

But that is more than I hoped, and I think justifies the expense. I'm very happy with it! I was beginning to be concerned that the naysayers were right, as the winter sun was giving me very low numbers.

[Jostalli]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

Just an update on my solar setup.

Contrary to some advice, this seems to be working great. With the pre-summer sun here in South Carolina, I'm getting 14.5 amps shown on the solar controller.

The theoretical max of these 3 panels according to Zamp is 14.8 amps.

Granted, you never get the max numbers, and there is some inaccuracy I'm sure on the controller measurement.

But that is more than I hoped, and I think justifies the expense. I'm very happy with it! I was beginning to be concerned that the naysayers were right, as the winter sun was giving me very low numbers.

I'm no naysayer. I was getting 31 amps with 600W in winter sun.

[booster]

One thing to remember is that while amps are important, it is watts that will show you how well the panels are producing, especially with MPPT controllers. If you are at the full controller setpoint for voltage, you may not be at full panel output. If you are below setpoint, you most likely are getting max output. The more current the batteries are accepting, or loads you have on, the lower the voltage will be, but the higher the amps, so it is really easy to get into comparing apples to oranges by using amps only. Using watts evens it all out so you always get an accurate comparison.

[gregmchugh]

Nattering nabobs of negativism here on this forum??

They need to be rooted out and eliminated...

[wincrasher]

Originally Posted by booster

One thing to remember is that while amps are important, it is watts that will show you how well the panels are producing, especially with MPPT controllers. If you are at the full controller setpoint for voltage, you may not be at full panel output. If you are below setpoint, you most likely are getting max output. The more current the batteries are accepting, or loads you have on, the lower the voltage will be, but the higher the amps, so it is really easy to get into comparing apples to oranges by using amps only. Using watts evens it all out so you always get an accurate comparison.

My PWM controller only displays voltage, ah, and total amps (for the day I'm assuming). While it was showing 14.5 ah, it was also showing 13.6 volts.