Solar Generators

dtcerrato · January 03, 2021, 04:25:27 PM

We're solar supplemented for the first time in our 40 year same bus. We still have the genny when needed. Solar on both battery banks so no need to run the genny at days end to bring the batteries up - solar will do that & very efficiently when out during the day jeeping or day hiking.

lostagain · January 03, 2021, 04:56:30 PM

700 watts of solar on the 5C. Works great on a nice sunny day. Doesn't do $#!% when it is cloudy, or raining or snowing. You still need a serious generator.

chessie4905 · January 03, 2021, 06:56:01 PM

Diesel generator Humm is nice. Just like sitting a cat while purring.

freds · January 03, 2021, 08:06:33 PM

Quote from: Jim Blackwood on January 03, 2021, 10:30:46 AM
I figure I'll wait until my build is complete before adding solar. Maybe by then they will have the efficiencies up on the flexible panels and I'll be able to just glue 'em down to the roof. ;-)

Jim

Battle Born, has some flexible panels which I have seen installed on the YouTube channel "Morton's on the Move". However prior to this flexible panels have been basically POS... Jury is still out as the failure point tends to be a year or two down the road...

richard5933 · January 04, 2021, 04:59:51 AM

I've also seen flexible solar panels on videos which are being used on narrow boats in the UK. They look to be a step above what we can get in the US - I researched them but didn't see any distribution on this side of the pond.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N8MDSI1R5Y

freds · January 04, 2021, 08:21:49 AM

Here's the link to the specific video I mentioned for installing the solar panels:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDRDWryBP1A

chessie4905 · January 05, 2021, 05:07:31 AM

They'll get them as reliable as flat ones. May take another year or two. Solar is ready to really take off as consumers are starting to see the benefits. Just like computers, they'll get more efficient and cheaper.

richard5933 · January 05, 2021, 07:54:16 AM

Aside from the issues with lower efficiency and shorter life span, the issue with the heat dissipation is a concern. Both for the life of the panel and for the heat transfer into the bus.

I'm waiting to see one of the self-adhesive panels address this with built in cooling channels between the working side and the adhesive backing.

chessie4905 · January 05, 2021, 05:06:52 PM

Excess heat with them in the NE isn't a problem.😄

richard5933 · January 05, 2021, 06:21:59 PM

Quote from: chessie4905 on January 05, 2021, 05:06:52 PM
Excess heat with them in the NE isn't a problem.😄

You'd think, but not really. My portable panels can get really hot on the surface sitting in the sun in northern Wisconsin during the summer. If they were flexible panels glued to the bus roof I'm sure they'd be even hotter.

Of course, it's nothing like in the south. I bought my first car while going to high school in Dallas, and that large black hard plastic steering wheel just about burned my hands some days.