KarenInTheWoods
Wisconsin
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Joined: 03/08/2008
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Here is our solar panel installation:
Solar panel installation Part One
Solar panel installation Part Two
Karen and Steveio
Safari Serengeti 38 ft DP
Tracker 4x4 Toad
(My RV Blog RVing: Small House - BIG Backyard
(Camping/Family Photos) http://picasaweb.google.com/pfundt/
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Bigdog
silverdale wa.
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Joined: 06/28/2002
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When I got my Winegard Traveler installed the RV tech that installed it was showing me what they had done on the roof and the sealing they had done,I got the MH used and it's from the south,and told me that I should do a full reseal this summer.He also showed me where the original panels on top of the A/C shrouds had water in them and were probably no good and that I should replace them also. Can I test them somehow and where can I get just those panels and for how much.I have found the replacement shrouds for around $100+,but I think that my old shrouds are pretty good and don't really want to replace them. I
GO COUGARS
2001 Tradewinds 7390 LTC
330 Cat Turbo Freightliner Chassis
2004 Chevy Trailblazer LS (toad)
'88 Mustang 5 Spd 5.0L GT convertible (not Toad)
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bullydogs1
OBX, NC
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Joined: 06/26/2006
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Bruce never ceases to amaze me with his talent...Take a ride over to Jersey and I'll go solar too, the wiring is already there. And its run right into the battery compartment. I know that every inch of that roof now, because the factory tape came up and I took off old tape, cleaned it and put on Eternabond. I just don't have the garage Bruce has.
Stuart and Stella Denning
2009 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 41SKQ
The 3 Bulldogs (Summer, Sully, and Sierra)
2007 Saturn Vue (TOAD)
I tawt I taw a puddy tat
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AZPops
Wherever the Job takes us...
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Joined: 07/13/2006
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Nice install and I love the garage…
Pops
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Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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I like the garage too!
So how do you plan on doing the maintenance charge while in the nice garage? If only you could ship that garage down here, and then your motorhome will be out in the sunlight, where the solar panel will work . .
Nice installation. I have something similar, except a pair of 120 watt panels, with 4 brackets per panel, and I have some tilt arms that I can raise the front or rear with 24" long 3/4" angle aluminum. You could use the same tilt arms, but I guess you don't want to bother with them when only camped for a few days at a time.
Yes this system will reduce the number of generator run hours, but not eleminate the generator use. I hated listening to my generator, so I bought more panels. Now I can use 120 amp hours per day, and recharge the next day.
I have a total of 415 rated watts, so that is why I can use so much power daily.
Fred.
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riggarob
Farmington, NH
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Joined: 09/30/2005
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"I found where the roof rafters are and used 12 x 3/4" metal screws to screw into them".
Bruce, how did you go about finding the roof rafters? I assume they are aluminum. Robbie
'08 Fleetwood Providence 40X
FL-XCS chassis
46"LED/LCD TV
Ready Brute tow bar/braking/break away system & wireless solar toad light bar
'11 Ford Edge Limited AWD toad
2 Honda 2000s for 30 amp dry camp
Beware of those who point their finger the LOUDEST !
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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Hi Bruce,
Was there a reason to install so close to the air conditioner? It look great other than that--and the price was right too!
Regards, Don
Kustom Koach Class C 28'5" 256 watts solar, 875 amp hours in two battery banks 12 volt batteries 2500 watt inverter.
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Bruce Brown
Northern NY
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Joined: 06/01/2001
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Stewart,
Come on over, we'll put one up there!
Fred,
It's plugged in when it's home. All we were looking to do is help out a little and cut down on a little generator usage. Much of the time when we're dry camping nothing is on but the invertor (we could shut it off but never remember to), and when we do turn something on it's not for long. The static load on the inverter is 2 amps, with the outside TV on it's 9 amps. If we can add 5-7 amps while the sun is shining it has to help. We're headed out on a 6 day dry camp next week, lets see how it goes!
Robbie,
I did it twice, using a stud finder, a tape measure, and my head. I can feel one seam in the sheeting on my roof. Assuming that was on a rafter, I marked it. Next I used a stud finder and marked where it was saying the rafters were. I was wondering on the aluminum part but was thinking it might pick up the fasteners. It seemed to, so I marked 4 spots there. After I had run all the wiring I did the whole routine again, on the other side of the roof. I came to the same spots. Measuring from what I think is a seam to the marked spots they landed on 16" centers. The last thing I did was measure from the ladder connection, thinking the factory would probably attach that to a rafter point. Every thing lined up so I figured I was there. The way the screws bit I'm 99% sure I hit the rafters.
Don,
That spot was picked for ease of installation. Maybe I should have off-set it a little so the AC shroud wouldn't block any late day sun, but again, we're not looking to power the coach, just help out a little.
There are 24 hours in every day - it all depends on how you choose to use them.
Bruce & Jill Brown
2008 Kountry Star Pusher 3910
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Bruce Brown
Northern NY
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Joined: 06/01/2001
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We just returned from 5 days of dry camping and I'd say so far it's a success. I was very pleased on the output of the panel. It's tough to say how long we could go but it does help. We had 2 couples and were in no way trying to conserve; coffee maker, hair dryers, microwave, toasters, etc all in use. I did notice after one morning of our normal useage the volts climbed from 11.7 to 12.3, all done by the panel. Next weekend were headed out for 4 days of dry camping with limited generator usage allowed, so that will be a better test.
The amp meter did come in before we headed out and was installed;
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Sully2
Cincinnati
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Joined: 01/20/2003
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Bruce Brown wrote:We just returned from 5 days of dry camping and I'd say so far it's a success. I was very pleased on the output of the panel. It's tough to say how long we could go but it does help. We had 2 couples and were in no way trying to conserve; coffee maker, hair dryers, microwave, toasters, etc all in use. I did notice after one morning of our normal useage the volts climbed from 11.7 to 12.3, all done by the panel. Next weekend were headed out for 4 days of dry camping with limited generator usage allowed, so that will be a better test.
The amp meter did come in before we headed out and was installed;
Bruce: Since your up to snuff on this stuff.....how many of what size panels would it take to keep 4-T105's charged up??
2000 Country Coach Allure; Cummins ISC 330 HP; 71/2 - 8 MPG regardless
2002 Jeep Liberty
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