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pianotuna

Regina, SK, Canada

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Joined: 12/18/2004

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Posted: 04/01/12 10:50am

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Hi DirtClods,

That's an outrageous price per watt.

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.

garyhartaz

Scottsdale, AZ

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Posted: 04/01/12 01:00pm

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Just do it! It is by far the single best investment you can make.

Check out my solar install thread here!

What's work? Oh, playing in the sand in the Southwest!
You can find us hanging in our Jayco T 24 ZX or out riding.

smkettner

Southern California

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Joined: 03/21/2005

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Posted: 04/01/12 02:41pm

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150w for $1200 just for parts. Holy

Forum Members Solar Installations With Pics

Try this home made kit.

BYD 235 Watt Panel $235 Measure to ensure fitment + buffer to minimize shadows.
Sunsaver MPPT controller $225 Tracks max power voltage and converts to charge 12v battery.
100' MC4 cable $70 Cut in half to pull power down to the controller, plug and play.
Two hole strain relief $5 Use this to connect wire through the fridge vent and down.
You will need some other minor supplies but you are basically good to go.
$535 for 235 watts including superior controller.
OK it will be a bit more for shipping unless you can find local and pick up.

Worth the cost, yes but not $1,200 for 150w.

* This post was last edited 04/01/12 10:12pm by smkettner * View edit history

2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
675 watts solar
Send a PM if I missed something

pigman1

Delaware

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Joined: 06/28/2004

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Posted: 04/01/12 04:20pm

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If you can get to Flagstaff AZ, you can pick up a wide variety of panels from these folks. Solar Electric. No tax on solar items in AZ and these guys have Kyocera panels in stock for pickup at reasonable prices.

John

Pigman & Piglady
2013 Tiffin Allegro Bus 43' QGP
2011 Chevy Silverado 1500
BlueOx Aventa LX Tow Bar
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BoonHauler

BoonDocks

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Posted: 04/01/12 05:38pm

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Here's a blog that you should read, the batteries are the key to any solar boondocking system. After reading though all of Bob's info and doing my own research, I was sold on Solar (no built in genset)
Handy Bob's Solar

I myself am planning on installing an 800 watt (6 panels)system with a 2800 watt Magnum Inverter/Charger at the heart of the power distribution system. I'll need a bigger battery bank (1200 amp hr) as I'll have a refrig & freezer that run on 12VDC and I'd like to be able to run my power tools as well.

05 RAM 3500 CTD 4x4 Q/C DRW/NV5600/3.73

pianotuna

Regina, SK, Canada

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Posted: 04/01/12 05:44pm

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You may find the handybob site wordy and it has some information that is dated at best.

Try these sites instead:

http://rvroadtrip.us/library/12v_system.php

http://rvroadtrip.us/library/solar_install.php

BoonHauler

BoonDocks

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Posted: 04/01/12 06:19pm

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pianotuna wrote:

Hey PianoTuna:

Thanks for posting those two links, I've read through them and they do have good information. One of the more important items here is properly charging your battery bank and to do that you need a properly wired battery bank.

Here's a good webpage that really goes into the correct way to wire your bank

Smart Gauge

Crazy Cooter

Redding, CA

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Posted: 04/01/12 06:41pm

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Best money I ever spent!

Since I have no on board generator, I installed 1110 Watts of panels. This way I really don't have to worry about conservation or dragging my generator along.

Here is my current build thread:Crazy Cooter's Build

Lots of good and not so good advice on here. Be honest with yourself about your needs vs. budget. This was my second RV solar build, so I learned a lot of what I wanted/needed on the first one. Figured this rig would be with us for 10+ years...may as well have the best I can afford.

Tony KI6WAO

2006 Dodge Ram 3500 DRW
1992 Jeep Wrangler YJ
2012 Cyclone 300C
2013 Can Am Maverick X-RS
2006 KTM 525 EXC CA Plated
2008 KTM 525 XC ATV
2008 Polaris 525 IRS
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