smkettner
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Some wanted to see these bad boys once completed so here you go.
3x Phono Solar 225w panels. These are 24v panel wired in series. Just a simple strain relief to send the power down. No combiner box or extra connections.
Picture of the rack mount system. No provision was made to tilt the panels.
Here is the Morningstar MPPT 60 that converts the ~120vdc from the panels to the 12v needed to charge the battery. To the right is a high voltage switch to cut power from the panels. Inside the box are some Edison base 10a fuses.
Everyone seems to like a battery picture.
And for all you techies, a pic of my battery monitor.
Any comments or red flags to address please let me know.
Primary equipment was just under $1,500 Probably $250 more to complete the install.
Panels, controller and wire bought here: www.solarblvd.com
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
675 watts solar
Send a PM if I missed something
|
BFL13
Victoria, BC
Senior Member
Joined: 02/15/2006
View Profile
 Offline
|
That ought to work! 
-The wires might be too loose in the wind when driving? Suggest at least secure to bottom of a/c to tighen them up?
-It is good the panels are slightly tilted so rain will drain off. My panel instructions say to have at least 5 degrees for that, so you don't get damage from long periods of standing water on them.
-I bet that "monitor's" voltage drops a bunch more than the real battery voltage when you have something plugged into that 12v socket
2003 Chev 2500HD Gas, 2003 Komfort 26FS 5er
See Profile for Equipment List
|
sonicsix
Jerry n' Cynthia
Senior Member
Joined: 10/11/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
A little dab of Dicor in a couple spots will secure those wires without making more holes. Overall, the system looks good... lots of watts for just 4 batteries. They could go from 50% to 100% in an hour - LOL.
|
mena661
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Nice job! Super clean and obviously well thought out.
2009 Newmar Canyon Star 3205, Ford F53 V10
Trojan L16 6V's 740 Amp-hours
|
MrWizard
Traveling
Moderator
Joined: 06/27/2004
View Profile
|
lovely, tape the wires with Eternabond, or use some dicor , just so they don't flop in the wind
Options, always have options, and the journey goes much smoother
....
Connected thru Verizon with HotSopt WiFi using a Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Member of the Verizon Wireless Customer Council
I BOUGHTthis phone
|
|
|
shooted
Vancouver
Full Member
Joined: 06/17/2011
View Profile
|
Hi smkettner,
Is the battery box vented? It looks open to the compartment with the electronics and the big propane bottle. Maybe they are AGM? Your install looks great!
|
KJINTF
Montana
Senior Member
Joined: 09/04/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
smkettner
As mentioned by others the wires could use something to hold them to the roof.
Might even consider a few drops of silicon
Why no Ethernet or RS232 Serial data cable from that wonderful MS TS MPPT-60 controller? What about the voltage sense and temperature sense lines? Consider an upgrade, as in change the crude dip switch setting configuration to something proper, as in a computer interface with MSVIEW. Morningstar supplies upgrade firmware and loads of configuration possibilities all for free. That MPPT 60 might be the best of the best available today why not take full advantage of its capabilities?
Enjoy your new system
Ken
Thompson Falls Electronics
Always more projects than time
|
smkettner
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
shooted wrote:Hi smkettner,
Is the battery box vented? It looks open to the compartment with the electronics and the big propane bottle. Maybe they are AGM? Your install looks great!
The oem vent tube is wedged in at the top right of the pic. Originally it went to the group 24 battery box. Compartment is not near sealed and actually has a big gap at the top and various cut out holes in the bottom. Those are 6 year old Costco GC2, no agm.
* This post was
edited 02/26/12 08:38pm by smkettner *
|
pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 12/18/2004
View Profile
 Online
|
Hi smk,
It is a nice clean install.
It may be good to have more of an angle on the panels to allow them to drain off any moisture from rain. I believe 5% is the recommended minimum from level.
I don't understand the wiring on the battery bank as it does not appear to be balanced--at least to my tired eyes.
Is there a temperature sensor on the battery bank somewhere?
I'll be eager to hear about charging results.
The one thing I'm sure of is you will wonder why you didn't go solar sooner!
Regards, Don
Kustom Koach Class C 28'5" 256 watts Unisolar, 875 amp hours in two battery banks 12 volt batteries, 2500 MSW watt inverter.
|
smkettner
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
KJINTF, I do not plan to drag the data cable indoors. I intend to use only the monitor shown
Yes I have the temp sensor but with mild temps it is not on yet. Should have it on before summer. The strain relief for the ground wire has a second hole where the wire will come through.
I have strong doubts I need the sense wires since it is installed so close. If it is off by .1v it will not be an issue.
I do need to change the charge settings. I will temporarily attach the cat-5 and once set forget about it.
|
|
|
