THINKING OF INSTALING A SOLAR SYSTEM, ANY ADVICE

February 22, 2011, 05:17:51 am

I am thinking about putting a solar system on my Allure. Jusst enought to be able to dry camp and use the small stuff, tv, micro wave, boil some water without running the genset.

Thinking about flat roof mount.

How big does it need to be, wattage output?

Are they easy to install?

Live in SW FL, not crazy about camping world, any suggestions on a shop that really knows what they are doing.

Thanks for any information.

Frank 06 allure 31425 wet

Re: THINKING OF INSTALING A SOLAR SYSTEM, ANY ADVICE

Reply #1 – February 22, 2011, 07:39:40 am

Yahoo Message Number: 68679

Frank

I have three 120 watt panels mounted flat and 4 8d AGM batteries with a good quality multi-stage controller and it works good. You get a lot more juice if you raise the panels but then you have to get up on the roof. If you have enough extra money laying around you can get power units that raise the panels. No idea on who to use in Florida. It really saves on running the genset.

Good Luck

Dan 2006 Allure 31348

Re: THINKING OF INSTALING A SOLAR SYSTEM, ANY ADVICE

Reply #2 – February 22, 2011, 08:22:47 am

Yahoo Message Number: 68681

Frank,

I have used Dave Seng at RV Parts Mall in Sarasota for a number of projects on my Allure and they have built a base of CC customers in the area. He and son Phil are very thoughtful, fair and creative and have been in business for years.
http://www.rvpartsmall.com/index.html
Nate Richards
04 Allure 31043

Re: THINKING OF INSTALING A SOLAR SYSTEM, ANY ADVICE

Reply #3 – February 22, 2011, 10:44:17 am

Yahoo Message Number: 68684

Here is a really good website for information and a good company to work with.

http://amsolar.com/
Leonard 97' Magna 5418

Re: THINKING OF INSTALING A SOLAR SYSTEM, ANY ADVICE

Reply #4 – February 23, 2011, 01:34:44 am

Yahoo Message Number: 68704

I have installed 2, 205w polycrystalline panels and a Rogue MPPT charge controller on my Allure. The panels are flat mounted on the roof of my coach. The panels came in an aluminum frame with a 2 inch flat angle that I used to silicon to my fiberglass roof. I used this installation technique on my previous Foretravel grand Villa and drove it for 10 years without any problems. This coach has been driven from Wasilla Alaska to San Antonio Texas last year without problem. The coach is kept indoors when not in use. I know that the output of the cells drop when the ambient temperature is high but the install requires no holes to be drilled in the roof or additional hardware elevating the panels and making them more susceptible to wind damage. Installation is easy only requiring a good cleaning of the roof and the rim of the cells before a good grade of silicon sealant is applied. ( I use clear ge silicon #1) My cells provide an open circuit voltage of 21vdc and wiring them in series provides appx 42vdc to my MPPT controller. This allows a charge to the battery with partial shading on the panels. I normally see 10-25 amps charge rate on a clear day when my batteries are low enough to accept a charge. (the Rogue provides 3 stage charging , bulk, absorption, and float). I am charging 6 agm 12v batteries wired in parallel with appx 600 amp hour capacity. During the summer months in Alaska, we have around 20 hours of sunlight a day and I can dry camp for as long as I want without using the generator. No A/C necessary, vey little lighting and TV use about 2-3 hr a day (led tv) I use my rig for snow-machine base in winter and during April when we see 10-11 hours of daylight I can go 5 days before I start running generator a few hours a day. This time of year I am usually camped in 5-25 degree f weather and furnace blower is running. Nominal tv use together with coffee pot and led lighting. I did not notice and degradation to solar performance that I could attribute to heat when in San Antonio last June and it was 90 to 105 while I was there. I highly recommend the Rogue controller you can find it on EBAY an the manual is available there as a pdf, a lot of good info is contained in the manual as well as a good look at a US built high quality controller. Consider LED lighting it will reduce your load considerably. I have found my system to be a lifesaver here in Alaska where dry camping is the norm.

David White 1999 Allure 30349

Re: THINKING OF INSTALING A SOLAR SYSTEM, ANY ADVICE

Reply #5 – February 23, 2011, 03:38:45 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 68718

Thanks, some good information.

Frank Allure 31425

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