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Solar Panel Not Impressive

Yahoo Message Number: 26616
To the group:

We have returned from 5 1/2 months on the road and put the '06 Allure into storage. We have attached a solar panel on the ladder and the wires go into the AGM positive to positive and negative to negative.
There is direct sun on the panel for at least four hours in the morning and typical Tucson daylight for at least 12 hours each day.
After five days, the house battery reading is 68%, not much different from last year in storage without the solar panel. Should we not expect more?
sob

sobrien@... '06 Allure 470 #31290

Re: Solar Panel Not Impressive

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 26617
Hi Shirley,

Please provide some details - solar panel wattage would be helpful.
The size required is dependent on the current demand from the chassis and house bank. It would be also helpful to know if you turned off the disconnect(s). The inverter(s) would also have to be off.
Fred Kovol

Quote from: Shirley O'Brien\[br\
] >

To the group:

We have returned from 5 1/2 months on the road and put the '06

Allure

Quote
into storage. We have attached a solar panel on the ladder and the > wires go into the AGM positive to positive and negative to negative.

There is direct sun on the panel for at least four hours in the

morning

Quote
and typical Tucson daylight for at least 12 hours each day.

After five days, the house battery reading is 68%, not much

different
 

Re: Solar Panel Not Impressive

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 26623
First, I don't think I'd think I'd hook a solar panel directly; rather put a charge controller in the circuit. Assuming its not one of the 'toy' ones (a few watt 'battery maintainer'), disconnect the wires and monitor the voltage over a typical day to see if that 'daylight' is really providing a useful voltage. If so, hook it up with a current meter in series and monitor the voltage and current throughout the day. volts x amps = power in watts, so you can see if you are getting anywhere near what it is rated at. In particular, see how much power you are getting with that indirect 'daylight'.

If it is a 'battery maintainer', get a bigger panel. Those little ones are for a single battery with no load, which is not really a RV application.

John 04 Inspire 51078

Quote from: Shirley O'Brien\[br\
] >

To the group:

We have returned from 5 1/2 months on the road and put the '06

Allure

Quote
into storage. We have attached a solar panel on the ladder and the > wires go into the AGM positive to positive and negative to

negative.

Quote
There is direct sun on the panel for at least four hours in the

morning

Quote
and typical Tucson daylight for at least 12 hours each day.

After five days, the house battery reading is 68%, not much

different