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Old 10-15-2015, 07:01 PM   #11
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Re: Solar Panel Round-up: what wattage do you have?

1) 180 watt panels x 2 = 360 watt. 4 x Energizer 6 Volt Premium Golf Cart Battery - Group Size GC2 (Sam's Club)
2) Plenty. During a 19 hour power outage used them to run the home fridge.

3) All the following values are in Amps.

Nothing turned on .2
radio, just display .4
radio, loud 1.1
stock vent fan, 1/2 speed 8
stock vent fan, full speed 13.7
sink LED .3
sofa LED .4
inverter turned on .9
TV plugged in but not on 1.5
TV on 4.4
microwave plugged in but not on 1.1
microwave on 57
water pump 4.4
fridge 2.2
sofa actuator not under load 1.5

Endless Breeze fan, setting 1 - 1.2
setting 2 - 1.9
setting 3 - 2.8

Webasto Heater
start up .4
glow plug 5.1
after flame establish and fan on high (runnning mode) 1.7
final purge 1.5

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Old 10-15-2015, 09:48 PM   #12
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Re: Solar Panel Round-up: what wattage do you have?

Stock vent fan pulls 13+ amps??? And I was complaining about my fridge.
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Old 10-15-2015, 10:01 PM   #13
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Re: Solar Panel Round-up: what wattage do you have?

I don't run it for too long at full speed. Usually just to air out the van after it's been sitting all day.
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Old 10-15-2015, 11:00 PM   #14
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Re: Solar Panel Round-up: what wattage do you have?

Guess I forgot to add I carry a 65 watt portable but I've never had to use it. Between my high output alternator and roof panels I have, things seem to be in the sweet spot. Alternator does the bulk charging and the solar finishes it. Being I do a lot of off road travel and not much sitting in the shade for most of the day, the batteries normally float out by the time I return to camp. I also try to set up camp where I'm in morning sun and afternoon shade when I get back to camp. Even in cloudy weather it seems like between driving and the solar I have, my house batteries reach the float stage. But heavy dark overcast can be an issue. With enough of it over a series of similar days, it can keep the solar controller from reaching float level trying to keep up with some of my loads. That's not often in CA.
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Old 10-17-2015, 06:52 PM   #15
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Re: Solar Panel Round-up: what wattage do you have?

2 100 wt renogy panels.
PWM 30 amp charge controller.
2 155 ah batteries.
Soon to install blueseas ACR.
In Florida plenty of charging. NYC not enough.
Light load: fridge, led lights, fantastic fan, 26inch led tv, phone and gadget charging, soon to power the Espar D4.
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Old 10-18-2015, 11:58 AM   #16
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Re: Solar Panel Round-up: what wattage do you have?

240 watt panel connected to an ecoworthy 20 amp mppt (max power i see is 12 amps of charge power).
102 amp khc2000 kinitek agm battery.

240 watt panel is definitely the minimum i would get to run my 7 amp swamp cooler and gives me spare capacity to run other things.

The kinitek is mostly a battery used by car audio enthusiast but works very well for solar, had it almost 2 years and still holding a good charge. After charging all day still reads 12.9 volts when the sun goes down.
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Old 10-20-2015, 11:58 PM   #17
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Re: Solar Panel Round-up: what wattage do you have?

Quote:
Originally Posted by daveb
Guess I forgot to add I carry a 65 watt portable but I've never had to use it. Between my high output alternator and roof panels I have, things seem to be in the sweet spot. Alternator does the bulk charging and the solar finishes it. Being I do a lot of off road travel and not much sitting in the shade for most of the day, the batteries normally float out by the time I return to camp. I also try to set up camp where I'm in morning sun and afternoon shade when I get back to camp. Even in cloudy weather it seems like between driving and the solar I have, my house batteries reach the float stage. But heavy dark overcast can be an issue. With enough of it over a series of similar days, it can keep the solar controller from reaching float level trying to keep up with some of my loads. That's not often in CA.
What output is your alternator?
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Old 10-21-2015, 11:51 AM   #18
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Re: Solar Panel Round-up: what wattage do you have?

http://www.nationsstarteralternator.com ... -s/518.htm

I typically see about +/-15A heading into my house batteries depending on their state of charge and/or load.
I asked for the lower voltage model after seeing voltages on the high side hitting my house batteries using the standard unit. Currently looking for a more middle of the road regulation as mentioned in a different thread.

To compare that to the stock high output ford alternator, I usually saw 5-7A and when I turned on the Starcool (provided the panels were in the shade), I was actually going into the negative zone depleting my house battery level. Not good on a long night run in hot weather.
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Old 10-21-2015, 01:58 PM   #19
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Re: Solar Panel Round-up: what wattage do you have?

Thanks for the info.
Subscribing to this thread thanks to everyone who provided information solar is somthing I don't understand completely yet.
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Old 10-21-2015, 10:42 PM   #20
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Re: Solar Panel Round-up: what wattage do you have?

Quote:
Originally Posted by seanahrens
I'm hoping we can get a bunch of people to post a short summary of their solar set up and whether they've found it produces enough power.

Just quickly post answers to these questions:

1. How many total watts of solar panel(s) you have? And how many amp-hours is your house battery?
2. For your power usage, have you found it: insufficient, sufficient, or more-than-sufficient?
3. Describe your power usage and give the model of your vehicle (mostly so we know what size space we are talking about lighting up, heating (if electrical), etc)

Thanks!
1. I had two 100w Renogy flexible panels. Had two group 37's so around 200 ah.
2. Just about right, but I'll go bigger on my new van.
3. Biggest draw was the 2.4 amp Norcold. All LED lights. 1997 E250 extended. No furnace.
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