Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 01-31-2011, 08:28 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Advanturetrek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 233
Solar Setups Different than SMB Solar?

Who has a solar setup other than the standard setup from SMB? What choices did you make and why?

I'm working on the design for my soon-to-be SMB. Solar power is pretty important -- I intend to camp and run a computer for extended periods of time. I estimate needing about 1.1 kW*hr per day to keep up with standard components, such as the refrigerator, fan, water pump, etc. And, I estimate needing as much as another 1.6 kW*hr per day to power a computer and satellite Internet dish. The standard SMB solar setup is underpowered for these requirements, so I'm looking for ideas and alternatives.

Thanks,
-Peter

__________________
The Yeti: SMB 4x4 Ford EB, super camper top, RVI interior build
https://www.advanturetrek.com
https://www.facebook.com/AdvantureTrek
Advanturetrek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2011, 01:13 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
charlie56's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: santa rosa ca
Posts: 994
Re: Solar Setups Different than SMB Solar?

Just curious, are you sure you are doing your demand calcs correctly? If you really do have that much demand I would seriously look at your loads and see how to reduce them rather than trying to generate that much power. For instance, are you going with the standard Norcold refrigerator rather than a more efficient Isotherm? The water pump is only running when you have the valve is open so the demand usually isn't very large unless you have a an unlimited source of water. Look at LED lighting instead of incandescent and fluorescent. Also, where do you plan on camping? Forested area vs the desert will make a huge difference in what the PV panel will generate. Aside from filling the roof with crystalline panels mounted on a tracking type device, you are going to need portable ones as well and a controller large enough to handle them. I am a big proponent of PV, but there comes a time where it may make more sense to get a (I hate to say it) generator, or run the engine. How big a battery bank are you looking to install?
__________________
... Charlie
EV-2 build is now complete, (yeah right).
KZ6T
charlie56 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2011, 12:07 PM   #3
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Stuart, FL
Posts: 16
Re: Solar Setups Different than SMB Solar?

agree

at 2700W you'd be needing 225A at 12V

that would be a lot of panels at 10A each. need a big trailer

i think the numbers might be off. You shouldnt need that much to run a computer

there really isnt much more you can do with solar. A good size panel will produce about 10A give or take and you could put 2-4 on the van

but again i would double check the numbers a microwave oven doesnt need 2700W
__________________
Michael Salzlechner
https://www.salzlechner.com
mikes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2011, 03:19 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
dhally's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: SE Washington
Posts: 1,023
Garage
Fuel Cells

That sounds like a lot of useage for a solar system. How about a fuel cell? 8.4 kg of fuel provides 11.1 kW-hr output. Not sure how that compares to a generator.



http://www.efoy.com/en/mobile-homes-...and-solar.html
__________________
---------------------
2009 E250 RB 5.4L "SilVan"
dhally is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2011, 03:32 PM   #5
Site Team
 
BroncoHauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,177
Re: Solar Setups Different than SMB Solar?

I believe the original poster is saying they'll use up to 2.7kW-hours (Watts x hours) in a day. Divide that by 8 hours (notionally), and they'll need 337W at any given time on average. Still a lot of juice, but shouldn't need a flux capacitor to power the rig.


Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
BroncoHauler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2011, 05:26 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Advanturetrek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 233
Re: Solar Setups Different than SMB Solar?

Thanks for the ideas. I hadn't considered a fuel cell. Also, I appreciate the ideas for reducing demand.

Yes, BroncoHauler is correct about my estimates.

Going back to the estimates, a 1.1 kW-hours per day estimate (for standard SMB equipment) divided by 8 hours of sun per day translates to 138 Watts. That's consistent with the one or two solar panels that the SMB website recommends and that many folks have. With additional computer equipment, I conservatively estimate meeting my total 2.7 kW-hour per day requirement with about 3-5 panels (depending on the panel's power output).

Returning to my original question, I would appreciate advice from people who have created custom solar setups. What have you built?

Thanks!
-Peter

===

For those interested:

I intentionally chose units of kilowatt-hours per day (kW*hr/day). For comparison, the electric bill for your house measures energy consumption in kilowatt-hours per billing period.

Battery capacity is often measured in Amp*hours (Ah or A*h), but this unit of measurement assumes constant voltage. Many solar systems run at a higher voltage (often 24 volts or more) than many batteries (12 volts in an SMB), so constant voltage is not a good assumption for systems with both solar and batteries.

Many people discuss solar systems in terms of Amps (or A), but this unit of measurement both assumes constant voltage and ignores the number of hours of sun per day.

Lastly, solar panels and generators usually get specified in Watts (or W), but this unit of measurement ignores hours per day of operation.
__________________
The Yeti: SMB 4x4 Ford EB, super camper top, RVI interior build
https://www.advanturetrek.com
https://www.facebook.com/AdvantureTrek
Advanturetrek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2011, 07:04 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
charlie56's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: santa rosa ca
Posts: 994
Re: Solar Setups Different than SMB Solar?

Thanks for the clarification. I should not read these things so late at night because I had read it as you needed 1.1 + 1.6 kilowatt every hour per day as in a continuous 2.7kw system. My mistake.
__________________
... Charlie
EV-2 build is now complete, (yeah right).
KZ6T
charlie56 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2011, 07:27 PM   #8
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Re: Solar Setups Different than SMB Solar?

This can be a really good post. Several members have used equipment other than what SMB uses. A few of the upgrades SMB employed were from what others have used in the field to improve what they found to be a better product such as SMB switching to the Blue Sky solar boost 2000 controller. Several folks have used different makes of panels as well, even if SMB did the install. Some of the issues I see is if those panels are covered in a warrantee situation while being mounted on an RV. Many companies will not honor a damaged panel on a RV. Another issue is space. I prefered to leave some room for equipment on my roof and had SMB add a remote plug so I can use a portable panel...I stow it under my bed and only really need it if I'm in tree cover or if the overcast is bad enough to get it out. Sometimes it's so bad nothing works. I'm waiting for that super panel that produces beaucoup watts per Sq inch. (provided it's covered under warrantee)
Dave
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2011, 09:53 PM   #9
Member
 
Kzinti2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 53
Re: Solar Setups Different than SMB Solar?

Badgertrek has some good info on their solar system mods: http://www.badgertrek.com/sportsmobile/electrical.shtml
__________________
2004 SMB w/Penthouse - Ford 2wd RB 6.0 - new to us in 2011
Kzinti2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2011, 10:10 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
coyotearms's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 188
Re: Fuel Cells

Quote:
Originally Posted by dhally
That sounds like a lot of useage for a solar system. How about a fuel cell? 8.4 kg of fuel provides 11.1 kW-hr output. Not sure how that compares to a generator.
Not sure how that compares to anything---are we talking 8.4 kg of hydrogen? Or maybe methanol? Where is this going? Do you own these? How much are they?
__________________
2008 E-350 6.0L diesel: Bought new in 2010, 4x2, 4.10 LSD, HD spring-lift all 'round,
Cruiser II Top, 6'7" inside, full-time upper bed w/ kind'a EB50 layout, cozy 4-season rig
Solar: 540 W of Kyrocera w/ Blue Sky 3024iL, 3x100 AmpHr AGM's
Electrical: 4 cf fridge, nuker, water heater, compressor
Propane: stove top, furnace Travel: https://www.lugnutlife.wordpress.com
coyotearms is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:53 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.