Solar project anyone?
- Thread starter Nabsim
- Start date
SquirrellCook
Forum Member
But will it fly? 
wildebus
Forum Member
I was actually going to do this (and have even got a 12V Actuator bought for the purpose) but decided not bother. But I reckon it is a great way to add more panels.As far as I am aware nobody seems to have done this yet on a van. These slide outs are really getting some lateral (no pun intended) thinking going, love some of the things people are doing with them. Is this Dave’s next project?
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I have seen (on YouTube) this done by a few American RVers.
This chap - Rambling Camperman - was the first time I saw it and thought what a good idea. There are a few more hi-tech setup videos around as well
mistericeman
Forum Member
One of these would be very 'Bond'
wildebus
Forum Member
That kind of thing could be brilliant on a Motorhome
SquirrellCook
Forum Member
We have made Murky polarised with our panel changes. Even 600W on inclement days is not good.
It seems we need to park north south or vice versa for best results.
The panels are wire in series rows along the roof each side. Curved roof with furniture down the middle.
At the M62 camp we were pointing west east.
Just an edit to avoid confusion, each row of series panels are paralleled to each side. So hopefully the side in shadow isn't dragging the sunny side down.
It seems we need to park north south or vice versa for best results.
The panels are wire in series rows along the roof each side. Curved roof with furniture down the middle.
At the M62 camp we were pointing west east.
Just an edit to avoid confusion, each row of series panels are paralleled to each side. So hopefully the side in shadow isn't dragging the sunny side down.
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wildebus
Forum Member
I did some swapping around when I had 4 x 100W panels and I honestly found no noticable difference between going all series or all parallel or doing a mix. I think if I had even potential shadow-casters on the roof I would go parallel cabling where my controller permitted it.
If I understand you right, the left and right side panels are in series together? If so, I would definately have those independant - either different controllers or in parallel, not in series. I think series connection will hurt the harvesting in that layout.
If I understand you right, the left and right side panels are in series together? If so, I would definately have those independant - either different controllers or in parallel, not in series. I think series connection will hurt the harvesting in that layout.
Nabsim
Forum Member
In summer/strong continuous sunshine maybe Trev but definitely not all year round in the U.K. I can leave it today but will need to run the genny tomorrow and that’s 300W solar with 200ah Lifepo4200w and 200ah battery bank should be plenty for most vans unless you are planing a mars orbit.
SquirrellCook
Forum Member
That was my conclusion, either two controllers or wire them all parallel. Parallel is a lot of rewiring and piggy back connectors. At the times series would be an advantage, chances it wouldn't be pointing the right way.
So the best way would be to have two controllers. Still an extra hole in the roof and running another set of cables. Or have the controllers under the roof and connect the cables together at the controllers end and bypass where the existing controller was. Still a lot of work.
Simple answer, just put another pair of panels on the roof to make up for the losses.
The Betty build has panels running down each side in series, but each with independent controllers. If I can shoehorn in some smaller panels in the space left they will also have their own controller.
wildebus
Forum Member
Just a thought on roof furniture and panels....
I had 4 x 100W on the roof and tried to position them so they would not be too affected by shadow. The only problem would be with very low sun from the front or just possibly from rear (and when the sun would be that low, solar would be virtually useless anyway).
When I added another pair of 30W panels to do some "in-filling", I did give myself a potential problem
Clarence - 460W PV by David, on Flickr
The two 30W panels could potentially be shadowed from the left when the fan vent is up in low sun and from the rear, especially if the roof basket is used.
Due to the mix of panels, I have 2 x 100W and 1 x 30W in parallel, and then in series with the remaining 2 x 100W & 1 x 30W wired in parallel. Can't do them all in parallel as the cable I used is a little thin for be optimum for that much current If I had 6mm2 solar cable installed, I think I would go all parallel.
If I were to rewire for thicker cable, I think I would also leave the existing cable in place for an extra little controller as well to use with the small panels
Generally there is no shadow hitting the panels, but in my own case I would probably want to park facing East-South-East for maximum harvesting throughout the day.
I had 4 x 100W on the roof and tried to position them so they would not be too affected by shadow. The only problem would be with very low sun from the front or just possibly from rear (and when the sun would be that low, solar would be virtually useless anyway).
When I added another pair of 30W panels to do some "in-filling", I did give myself a potential problem
Clarence - 460W PV by David, on Flickr
The two 30W panels could potentially be shadowed from the left when the fan vent is up in low sun and from the rear, especially if the roof basket is used.
Due to the mix of panels, I have 2 x 100W and 1 x 30W in parallel, and then in series with the remaining 2 x 100W & 1 x 30W wired in parallel. Can't do them all in parallel as the cable I used is a little thin for be optimum for that much current
If I had 6mm2 solar cable installed, I think I would go all parallel.If I were to rewire for thicker cable, I think I would also leave the existing cable in place for an extra little controller as well to use with the small panels
Generally there is no shadow hitting the panels, but in my own case I would probably want to park facing East-South-East for maximum harvesting throughout the day.
wildebus
Forum Member
You can get the multiple MC4 Paralleling connectors (that is what I used in fact) but what you can also use very effectively is those little WAGO terminals to join panels together with no soldering or screwing down.
You could use these 5-way ones (https://amzn.to/3ht8M6i) to join up 4 panels and then the 5th connection to the controller (or another WAGO to have even more panels!).
After some testing, I came to a similar kind of conclusion ... Series does have an advantage in some circumstances, but the actual harvesting improvement over parallel in those circumstances is pretty irrelevant (twice x bugger all solar is still bugger all!)
SquirrellCook
Forum Member
Edited above
SquirrellCook
Forum Member
Until I started using the Victron controllers I never had much choice. On those wet overcast days an Amp is more welcome than no Amps. Having a higher panel voltage sure does help then. Though is series you'll never get more current than your worst panel. And if one goes open circuit you loose the string.
wildebus
Forum Member
You'd wire it up and treat it the same as an electric step - buzzer, warning light and maybe emergency retraction on engine start
trevskoda
Forum Member
You only require 3 wires coming in,2 pos and 1 neg from both .