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10-17-2016, 09:48 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Longwood, FL
Posts: 1,561
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Solar install - round two
As most of you know, my first SMB was stolen the weekend after I finished installing the two flexible solar panels. So, I'm now in the process of installing solar on our new van.
I started by ordering a Renogy 100w RV kit with the Adventurer PWM controller w/LCD display, with a second 100w panel to arrive later. I hooked everything up for a dry run and everything looked good...
Then I consulted rallypanam because I wanted to set up the mounting system the same way he did, using aluminum unistrut and aluminum cross members, like this...
I went down to a local supply house and bought two 10’ lengths of aluminum Unistrut for $100. Then I sanded, primed and painted them and mounted them along the edges of the PH top...
Then it was off to Lowes for three 6’ pieces of 1.25” aluminum angle iron for the cross members for $60. And, of course, more sanding, priming and painting.
Then I received the second 100w panel in the mail...
__________________
Greg
Old van: 1997 E250 EB30 (Stolen)
New van: 2003 E250 EB10
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10-17-2016, 10:12 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Longwood, FL
Posts: 1,561
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__________________
Greg
Old van: 1997 E250 EB30 (Stolen)
New van: 2003 E250 EB10
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10-17-2016, 11:23 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Longwood, FL
Posts: 1,561
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__________________
Greg
Old van: 1997 E250 EB30 (Stolen)
New van: 2003 E250 EB10
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10-18-2016, 12:07 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Longwood, FL
Posts: 1,561
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Then I got started on running the tray cables…
Routing them through the wall took a while. I was happy to find there’s lots of insulation in there though. And, yes, that coat hanger is stuck in there now. Great.
So, that’s where it stands now. Next up is drilling holes in the PH top and van roof
__________________
Greg
Old van: 1997 E250 EB30 (Stolen)
New van: 2003 E250 EB10
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10-18-2016, 07:40 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: TN
Posts: 10,239
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Looks awesome Greg. Just FYI, if you do much more metal fab find yourself a metal supply house. Buying material from Lowe's is a total rip off. I got a 25' section of aluminum angle for Twogone's solar for $20 at a local metal supply.
Nice work though, congrats on getting back to where you were!
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10-18-2016, 09:39 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: San Francisco/Nevada City
Posts: 3,769
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 86Scotty
Just FYI, if you do much more metal fab find yourself a metal supply house. Buying material from Lowe's is a total rip off. I got a 25' section of aluminum angle for Twogone's solar for $20 at a local metal supply.
Nice work though, congrats on getting back to where you were!
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I tried to tell him! I just haven't found a good aluminum supplier, so I didn't have a name. But the Unistrut was from a supply house I've used.
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10-18-2016, 10:36 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: TN
Posts: 10,239
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I don't have one that keeps it in stock, but they will order it for me. They had to cancel the order of 3 25' pieces. I might go back for the other two.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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10-18-2016, 10:47 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 1,420
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I do like the low profile unistrut a lot.
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10-18-2016, 11:03 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Longwood, FL
Posts: 1,561
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 86Scotty
Looks awesome Greg. Just FYI, if you do much more metal fab find yourself a metal supply house. Buying material from Lowe's is a total rip off. I got a 25' section of aluminum angle for Twogone's solar for $20 at a local metal supply.
Nice work though, congrats on getting back to where you were!
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Yeah, it was pretty pricey. Even had to go to multiple Lowes just to find 1/8" stock. Unfortunately the supply house where I got the unistrut didn't have any angle iron in stock. Could have picked some up cheaper in the east bay, but I didn't feel like crossing a bridge to go get it.
__________________
Greg
Old van: 1997 E250 EB30 (Stolen)
New van: 2003 E250 EB10
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10-18-2016, 01:35 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: OrangeCounty, CA
Posts: 1,275
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Hey nice work so far!!!
Thanks for taking the time to post this install thread. Really looking forward to seeing how it completes.
*** Jumping ahead of things a little bit here.....I have a question revolving around the installation of solar panels in general: Are there precautions that must be taken to prevent the panels from generating any current until the entire system is installed and wired fully?
Curious if people cover the panels with masking tape (or something else, maybe cardboard or some blankets?) to "keep them from going hot" while you're still wiring up the system. It seems that most people would likely be installing this rooftop solar in an outdoors setting....and during the day....when sunshine would be falling on the panels, and causing the panels to make wattage/current......all while you're attempting to swing them into place, bolt them down and hook up wires......
Anyone see where I'm going with this?
Or am I overthinking this. (That's what I usually do.)
__________________
Mike T
___________________
'95 Ford E250 RB30 PH
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