? on Solar Panels

[AKaye]

I am interested in getting solar panels for my 5th wheel. I don't know much about them and want to know best place to get them / learn about what I need and best $$$.

 

[bill threlkel]

do a google on rv solar lots of reading there is on place i remember that i started learing 4 years ago. I have 250 watts with a solar boost regulator that put out 20 amps to my 4 deep cell batterys.

Bill

 

[cyborg]

I use a small one to keep the batteries charged on my jeep.
I will use one for the boat soon also.
cool tech!!

 

[klenger]

My Ultimate RV Electrical System

 

[RAlberg]

I am interested in getting solar panels for my 5th wheel. I don't know much about them and want to know best place to get them / learn about what I need .

I purchase from AM Solar. They have a web sight. They were very helpful through emails and on the phone. I was with how the panel, controller etc all worked.

 

[surfbeetle]

I got mine from Discover Power I have two six volt batteries wired up for 12 volts with a charge controller and a panel on the roof. If cost is an issue, you can start with a basic setup and then add more panels to your set up to increase your charging ability and then eventually add an inverter for your house power needs. They told me that with the proper solar system, I could run everything in my fifth wheel except the A/C. The other thing to look at is a wind generator to charge your batteries on those windy but cloudy days.

 

[JMLambert]

I have 2, 120 watt panels and 4 big Trojan 6 volt golf cart batteries in my 5th wheel. With that set up I can run most of the year, (winter in Yuma AZ and summer in Oregon and Washington) without needing any electrical hook ups. I purchased mine from this individual and highly recommend him to others. Ken Sackrider 1-602-421-8667 A friend and I installed the panels, voltage regulator and wiring in a day with no problems.

 

[CDonaldson]

I got mine from http://www.affordable-solar.com/ They have ALL kinds of solar power stuff from you car to your home, also wind generation stuff.



I live off-grid with both solar power and wind power. I have a small system on each of my trailers - GN horse trailer, bumper pull 4-horse, and bumper pull travel trailer - great way to have all the power you need without umbilicus to the grid, never had a problem with a low battery when camping for days and weeks at a time. All are set up with good quality, matt-technology, acid-free batteries - life can't get any better when there is NO electric bill.



CD

 

[GLuttmer]

Solar Thoughts

Not knowing where you are makes it difficult to make a recommendation. But from our excperience (we've been dragging our RV around the country for 8 years and live full-time on solar), the best price and most knowledgeable people are generally down in the southwest ... Quartzsite (AZ) probably being one of the better ones at this time. There are several distributors and installers there ... Discount Solar and Solar Bill being just two of them. I don't know whether they are open year-round as they get most of their business from snowbird traffic.



To my best knowledge, a 75W panel (either Shell or Kyocera) can still be had for $350. Some negotiation may be required.



As for general information regarding solar panels, there's a well of it to be had on the internet ... the only advice I could give, before you purchase, is to become thoroughly knowledgeable about the subject, including your own personal expected usage (eg. are you going to be using them part-time? full-time?)



One of the things I did wrong when we first decided to go solar was I didn't get a large enough regulator and thus had to upgrade at a later date when I found I needed more panels than I had anticipated. A lot of people find generators more to their liking (perhaps because of capital cost) but there's a lot of downside to them. Again, the only thing I can say ... the more info you get, the better decisions you'll be able to make.



We live in a 5th wheel 6 months of the year down here in the southwest. We have 5 panels - 4 75W and 1 120W. This provides us with all the power we need ... though we do carry a small i1000W Honda for emergency use (eg. getting stuck in a snowstorm in our travels back and forth to Canada).



Hope this helps.

Gerry