This panel can put out close to 100 watts ruclips.net/user/postUgkxOqI2yqX0XVrhR2BMJciTWrHJpG8FhJyg when positioned in the appropriate southernly direction, tilted to the optimal angle for your latitude/date, and connected to a higher capacity device than a 500. The built in kickstand angle is a fixed at 50 degrees. Up to 20% more power can be output by selecting the actual date and latitude optimal angle.The 500 will only input 3.5A maximum at 18 volts for 63 watts. Some of the excess power from the panel can be fed into a USB battery bank, charged directly from the panel while also charging a 500. This will allow you to harvest as much as 63 + 15 = 78 watts.If this panel is used to charge a larger device, such as the power station, then its full output potential can be realized.
I really appreciate that you called this a "what we did," so many people act as if they are "experts" on videos and clearly are not. That said I think you did a good job. We don't full time (yet) but I will be very interested to see what your cost vs benefit works out to be.
Thanks Kent. We are not professional installers by any stretch. I trusted Chris and did my research on components before hand. We will update throughout the year our results from the solar for sure.
There are many levels of EXPERTISE. Many who sell their services "professionlly" are sure as hell not Experts. On the other hand if you have a reasonable understanding of electricity and some mechanical sense and skill darn near anyone can install a decent RV solar system. My friend that my wife and I RV with a bunch and I have installed at least two systems on each of our own rigs and have installed systems on at least seven RVs in our club. We are pretty much EXPERTS at it on top of my lifetime of DYI and his 45 years in the RV service industry. We may even be EXPERTS but I know for sure I would not have jumped in on the system as hefty as those guys installed so MAYBE IT IS JUST WHAT THEY DID, but they prepared themselves and did an EXPERT JOB.
Hey guys...Stacy answered this without knowing that we did use split loom tubing on ALL wiring that went through any hole. We didn't show that on video, but we actually used 20 + feet of it throughout the install. Great advice as usual!
Congratulations guys!!! Chris & Scott are what RVers are all about! Helping one another. We all should help one another when we can, at some point it will be us needing help. Paying it forward.
Really impressed with the install y'all did and more impressed with the overall component/material cost! Keep us posted on how the unit is preforming in real-world conditions.
I resently installed 10 / 190 watt panels by Rich solar Last Summer. We also use the PT 100, BMK and the Magnum Arc monitor. We Boondock a lot. In fact we are boondocking right now in the town of Tombstone Arizona. A great place to check out if you get out this way. We are very pleased with our Solar. We added a soft start to the front air conditioner which is lousy us to run the air up to 7 hours a day. You're going to find that you really like what you did!
Thanks Steve. Sounds like you have a great set up!!! We do have the soft start in front AC as well, but haven't tried to run it on the batteries just yet.
OMG, if you cut a piece of 1/2" or 3/4" plywood the size to fit the compartment then you can work outside on a flat surface standing up for over 90% of the work.
Great video ! We’re so grateful for all the help and always love collaborating with you guys and Chris and Donna at Runaway with the Clarks. Can’t wait to see how we all do in the coming year enhancing our boondocking experiences with solar !!
Goes without saying! Having friends that are willing to jump in and help with everything and anything is priceless! This is gonna be a great year of boondocking and (fingers crossed) savings!!!
Congrats, that's a good price for a system that size! That's good work too. I've seen pro installs that weren't that clean. Last year I installed phase 1 of my planned 2 part solar system on my MH. The first small phase was 12v, and the next big phase in a couple years will be 48v (to run a 48v DC heat pump and inverter). In phase one I installed 620 watts of solar on the side of my RV for about $1,600 for every component, doing all the labor by myself. This included 2 - GC-2 batteries, 2 - 320w panels, a 600w PSW inverter, 50A MPPT controller, wiring and all hardware, including 2 gas struts to lift the array to the desired angle. This leaves the roof open to rack 9 - 320+ watt panels above the AC units to charge 3 - 48v SimpliPhi batteries (11.4kw total) which will power the heat pump and 3,000w inverter. This system should cost in the $13-14k range including a $2k heatpump and $8k in batteries. It's expensive, but it will allow complete off grid freedom with temperature control both winter and summer. I'm projecting a 4-5 year payback on the second phase. The small one has already paid for itself in the CG fees saved in just 5 months of boondocking last year.
WOW Chip, sounds like a nice system!! Doing it yourself if you can saves a ton of money and you know exactly how it was done and what is where! We had planned, like you, each phase of our install so we didn't break the bank in one swoop!
Congratulations on going solar! As you said this opens up a limitless list of possibilities to expand your RV adventures. Of course I will be looking forward to the videos of those adventures. Thanks for the information. The video shows that RV'rs are a special breed of folks!
I know those wires are mounted down onto the roof but some people like to cover them with eternabond tape so that the air doesn't get up under them while travelling and applying upward pressure on the mounts. (Depending on your roof I don't know if this would even be possible. It's just a thought.) Safe travels, y'all! You will love having the solar on board.
Great video. We have had our 1260 watt system for about three months and although it is hard to pencil out with the four Battle Borns and everything else needed but we are very happy. I agree it only makes sense if you are planning on boondocking which we mainly do. We haven’t turned the generator on yet! With everything we charge and power we use it rarely get below 75% of capacity until the next sun filled day.
Wow!!! That's great I've been looking around when I get my RV I want it All solar as well. Considering this is going to be my livelihood. Need to make sure it has the best and runs for long period of time. Thank you for sharing that. Puts my heart at ease.
you NO longer pay electrical bills. PRICELESS! i'm almost there, been making videos & will start posting soon. 1200 watts solar, 8 trojan t-105's, water maker, roof deck, elevator bed, rope ladder to roof, AC run off solar, DJ/design studio, Japanese theme, & more! once i finish, that will be the last day i EVER pay electrical bills. after this i find 2 acres of land & make a homestead.
Did you consider first mounting the charge controller, switches, breakers, fuses and some of the wiring on a piece of plywood then mounting the plywood in the bay for a lost less struggle in a small bay space?
Great video guys, you all did a really good job. My question is though you indicated that the materials cost you 3K+ yet you have 6 Battle Born batteries. If I'm nor mistaken each battery cost over 900 dollars. That alone would run you 6K. How did you manage that?
Thank you. We had installed the batteries earlier in the year, so they weren't part of the solar install. We didn't mention them with solar because you don't need lithium batteries to have solar. You just need a good deep cycle battery for your set up.
Great video. I really don't feel to sorry for you guys all hot and sweaty doing the install. After all you could be up here in Montana enjoying one of the warmest winters I remember. We still have no snow. Well if you go out of town and up just a little we do, but still amazing. Enjoy your new freedom:-)
Nicely done I'm running 920 watts, 2 midnite solar charge controllers and we added a DC bus along with 2 60 amp breakers. All that being said utilizing the BMK, the generator, 600 ah of lithium we brought down our generator usage to about 2.5 hours a day. That was to keep us cool in the summer. We boondocked right at 60ty days. The next project is a magnum 3000 watt hybrid inverter. They are coming out with a new system this spring. Looking forward to that technology. Once again you guys did an awesome job unplug for awhile and try it out. Think easy start! M
Thanks Michael. We plan to unplug a lot!!! We have the easy starts in......we got them back with the batteries, just didn't install them until much later. We did upgrade to the 3000w hybrid. Whats the new system??
I had a conversation with one of tiffins electrical guys he was in engineering. He has his own business now. He has a business relationship with magnum. He was telling me they are coming out with a new line of hybrid inverter designed to work with lithium, solar and wind. This new system also has a new remote instead of the RC 50 SERIES. I'm sure it will be available in 12V, 24V and 48V. You know one of the things that's cool about hybrid inverters is running off of 30 amps and being able to run everything in your 50amp coach. M
Hey guys, so how is the solor working out? Are you going to do a video how the system is working? Will the solar run the AC ? During the day? How big your battery bank? Love to watch your videos, Thank you, Hope to meet you guys soon. Happy trails
Sounds about right. Spent $4k myself on the solar system I built for my 44ft fifth wheel. 14kwh system, panel production of 2.5kw. I saved much building my own battery bank instead of purchasing one that’s manufactured.
I enjoyed your video. I installed my first solar system on my previous camper and it worked very well for 2 years and more than 200 days off grid. Now I am designing for my new 5th wheel. I would send a video of my install crew but it would be a selfie. When it goes well I get credit if not I take blame. LOL.
Thank you for letting us watch. Helps out tremendously... For those of us who wish to do it ourselves. Probably going to rely on Battleborn for the details from Solar to the batteries, and everything in between.
First of all..... well-done guys, It is certainly daunting to even think about drilling that hole :) I did a similar install with 8 of those Hightec panels at the end of the summer utilizing a similar Victron Controller, simply because I was looking for a way to monitor the system on my phone (they use BT). You're gonna love it for sure.......we're heading to Quartzsite in a week and well be doing a SOlar overview with our group (Alpine Coach) the week after and we are lucky enough to have the President of Continuous Resources join us to help with our Solar overview. Cheers, and keep up the great videos!!
Thank you Paul65k. We went through CR for our panels and brackets. They were great in helping us get our lost brackets reshipped! Tell them we said thanks once again. So far we love the install and equipment.
I like you had a solar system installed but paid professional service to do it and it was expensive, but I do a lot of boon docking with friends when we go riding our rzr's. Keep the rubber on the road. Safe travels and God bless.
@@todayissomeday I didn't have the confidence nor know people that did so going to a professional was the plan. I did help them and took down lots of notes. They did give me all the information I needed to do it myself if I purchase a new rig.
Look at that...you have your panels covered to avoid an arc fault. I finally bought a Magnum Energy system and am slowly installing it. It seems to be among the very best equipment. Thanks for the video.
Well done folks! Nice to see a what we did video actually labelled as such. Recouping that relatively small cost will be easy, and not just because of the reduced generator usage. Unless you die of old age in the rig, you will sell it some day, and an installed solar system that works properly and has the possibility of expansion has a substantial value in the market. Be well!
Great job guys, I have the same controller. On cloudy days you will still need to run the generator for 1-2 hours. I usually do it at dinner time, and the wife can cook with the Instant Pot or microwave, while I have generator running. Sunny days we don't need to run the generator. I think you will enjoy the solar. Thanks for another great video.
I know this is a little late. I did have a few questions that I did not understand The charge controller was a PT-100 Magnum what has a Max PV of 187 VDC while stating that it was a 100 amp charge controller . The solar panels you got was 200 watt that said 24VDC and you had 6 panels that you did install. I have seem the panels output voltage per panel be up to 36VDC and 32 Vdc is something it can climb to easy . Ok your panel has a Max PV = 187Vdc ( 32 X 6 = 192Vdc ) also ( 36Vdc X 6 = 216Vdc ) either way it would be over the Max PV of 187 Vdc . What size wire did you use from the solar panels to the Charge controller ? If you used the wire size that the Solar panels were using this would leave you 0 chance of upgrading your systems because you have some of the best batteries that you could find anywhere. You should of use something like welding cables. Have you ever noticed how flexible the welding cables are. That is because the cable is made up of hundreds of small stranded wire. This is the best for DC voltage. So your wire is to small and you can not rise you PV voltage because the PT-100 can't handle it. Even though it says 6600 watts max. From what I can see you paid like $890.00 for your PT-100 or more. I could have suggested a MPPT controller that would have costed a few hundred dollars less. If you like to look at the Midnight line of products. If you increase the wire size from your Solar panels to your charge controller you can add to your system just fine or up to almost 100 amps anyway. If you can not find a good price on the wire . I might be able to help you places were I have worked in the past are always changing their welder cables. Your upper voltage is maxed with the controller you are using so larger wire will get you around this problem. I thinking you could of even used the midnight kidd and its cost is like $320.00. RECAP just use larger wire and you will be alright for another 35 to 40 amps. Using larger wire you should be able to put almost the same panels you already have up their. I can get you 220 watt solar panels also delivered to your location for 89.00 each is you ever need them . Just do not tell anyone else.
So are you going to be doing more off grid camping now??? Sure sounds like Ruby is set to go off grid, so don't disappoint Ruby, lol. Thanks for sharing it was a great video.
It already has!! We can't thank you enough for the guidance and education during the entire process!! Hope folks are giving you some extra love as well!!!
Of course that cost didn't include the cost of the Battle Born Batteries that you already had. Most people won't have those or enough of them up front. So add around $6k for those of you that don't have lithium batteries.
Plenty of RV'ers have solar without lithium batteries. Solar will charge any battery. We chose to install lithium first and then see how much it would help us in our quest to stay unplugged and keep costs down.
@@todayissomeday was just pointing out that "Most" people will have to add batteries of some type so they need to think of that additional cost on top of the cost you stated in the video. It wold suck to have all that solar and not enough battery to take advantage of it. For example the Rig I am looking at only comes with one battery as standard. Also I would say the Lithium is really a no brainier if they can afford the upfront cost.
The solar does not run anything it only charges your batteries. Here is more info on RV electrical: todayissomeday.net/blog/rv-electrical-what-you-need-to-know
I guessed $10,000.00 for the install before you mentioned $3K. Then thinking about it, I know those batteries cost about $900.00 each and I think you mentioned that you have 6 of them. That's another roughly $5500.00 right there, plus the solar controller. So I wasn't that far off. Still, its exactly what set up I would like to use. You can charge from the solar (PV) OR from the generator. Big LiFePh battery bank can greatly extend your "quite hours" with no gen running...maybe days in some cases. I'm guessing your battery investment wasn't calculated into the cost as you had previously purchased with the thought of charging with generator only. Can you also charge from engine alternator when running down the highway?
Besides the break even thing, it's kind of like a home generator, don't use it much, but it sure is a great thing to have when you do, and y'all will get way ahead in the next two years..
Love the video's guys but I thought I would point something out in case you didn't notice. At the 12:28 mark you were showing the ventilation trunk you ran the wiring down from the roof. There's a cable there with the insulation stripped back exposing several wires. I cant tell if the insulation on those wires were damaged but thought I would point it out in case you weren't aware.
YOU COULD HAVE GOT A FIVE HP.BRIGGS.A BRACKET,AND A GM ONE WIRE ALT.ABOUT IOO AMPS.THAT PUT TOGETHER AND TO BATTERY BANK WILL POWER UP THE WHOLE BANK.WHEN LOW BATTERY POWER,START THE HOME MADE CHARGER AT IDLE,THE INVERTER WILL CONVERT THE POWER TO RUN AIR,TV.MICROWAVE,LITES.
Great video. I understand how you feel about drilling holes. I'm setting my 09 Ford Explorer up as a stealth camper and I'm planning to use a continuous solenoid system for keeping the house battery charged as well as solar. I'm very hesitant about drilling holes in the floor due to the fact that it can cause rust. I hope that Flex Seal works as well as they advertise. Also; I noticed a Lectric bike in the back ground of your video. Mine is on order. I hope that it gets here.
We absolutely love you guys! We’ve learned so much by watching you! Thank you! We have a 40 ft 5th wheel and love being on the road. We wanted to tell you about Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park on the Atlantic side in Jacksonville, Fl. It only $33/day and the spaces are surrounded with lush tropical foliage. Atlantic Beach is a short walk from the city-run Rv park. You could hop on your e-bikes and head south to Neptune Beach and cozy up at the Lemon Bar right on the beach. We are definitely going back to do an all-Florida trip when we are able. Happy trails! Bella & Brook from WA & TX
For an RV I recommend to use CIS thin film panels. They are all black no tiles visible. Often you park an RV in the shade. Poly- or mono crystaline PV panels will dramatically reduce output if even only part of the panel gets shaded. Whereas a thin film PV panel produces power even when shaded or partially covered up. Also they operate better in high temperatures as well. Hence it produces more energy throughout the day in any day lighting condition. Example www.solar-frontier.eu/en/cis-technology/what-is-cis/
Yeah, well, that's with free labor. The cost would probably be double that, or more, if he had to pay for all that labor. I'd like to know what something like this _really_ costs. That would be useful info.
@@todayissomeday please pray, good thing, trying to lose 30 lbs properly, safely so I can have bone on bone left knee replaced. Then manufactures replaced rt knee re-replaced. I WILL DO IT. I start senior sneakers on Monday with yoga and swim exercises. Portion control and what I eat most important.😊😂😁😉😐🙄😎
Nice job, thanks for the video. I would recommend having a closer look at the cable, another commenter mentioned, that's at 12:28, with the split outer sheathing. If any wires are nicked in there, it's only a matter of time before you find something not working. "A stitch in time."
Excellent video! Really love watching you guys!! Looked through comments…sorry if already asked and answered!!! Really appreciate that you are so against drilling roof. I feel the same way! How did you attach the panels to the roof without drilling? Is the method working well? Any other insights? Many thanks. Be safe out there!
The brackets I bought came with VHB (very high bondiing) tape on the end of the brackets. I also use 2 pieces of eternabond tape on the front and back of the brackets for added peace of mind. Has worked well so far....nothing has moved or flown off.
Stacy, check out The Fit RV! She is a PT who has some good rv-specific workouts! Jealous of your solar . . . We are so unhandy, we would just have to pay to have it done. Maybe the next rig. Wishing you both a happy, healthy 2020.
We put a Man on the Moon in 69' with as much technology as a toaster, you would think now in the 21st Century, solar would be an industry standard.🤔 Great video at any rate👍
Nice install. I used 3M VHB tape to install the panels on the fiberglass roof of our coach. I then covered the brackets with Dicor sealant as a second security measure. No holes needed and they are still securely attached after more than 12 months. How did you secure the panels to the roof of your coach?
We used the same VHB on all the brackets. I then put eternabond tape on all brackets (front and back) with a dab of dicor where the tape was cut around the brackets.
Answered the question I have had when considering solar. Camper came prepared for solar, a plug at the hitch? How to get the power from the roof to the storage bay. Thank you I now have a better idea . Will have to check behind all my water access panels. Thank you
Great job, I have a harbor freight solar kit, it keeps my batteries charged up when it parked at home, I wish someone would make a video on how to mount the panels on the roof, I've not found one yet. Thank's for sharing, this solar stuff is a great way to safe money by not having to hook up all the time.
Our panels are mounted with VHB tape on the bottom of the brackets. We have a fiberglass roof, so no drilling required (you could for peace of mind). I did add eternabond tape around each bracket for extra security. The mounting part, for our install, was pretty easy.
Job well done. Looking forward to updates on how well it works for you. We don't boondock enough to make it worthwhile. (YET). We'll see what the future brings. Happy New Year!
Wow, that's a good price. Like seeing you guys do your own work! Nice job. Really hope that helps you out down the road. I have 360 watts of solar and would like to expand that. Thanks for sharing your experience.
@@todayissomeday We do more dry camping than boondocking. I am currently saving for 2 BB batteries and 2 more 160 watt solar panels. It would be really nice to not have to use the generator every day. If I'd just stop going out to eat, I'd probably have the money right away!!! Keep up the good work.
At about 12:27 or 12:28 in your video, I see you have torn the outer jacket off of one of your solar cables that you ran through the pipe vent box. When pausing the video, it is clear to see, but difficult to tell if the inner jackets are damaged. You may want to pull that cable and rewire it.
Dont forget to put in for your federal tax credit now, specially if your install was in camera time prior to 12/31/2019. Also that includes your original Magnum invertor/RC, ARC-50, PT, panels, wire and fittings.
That's awesome! I wonder why RV manufacturer's aren't putting solar on the roof when you buy it. So many people are doing solar now, so it just makes sense that they should start doing that.
@@todayissomeday Or at least heavy duty cabling, properly sealed. I suspect that as more people understand the cost savings overall (eventually) more will add solar as the costs for components drop. I think right now, a lot of owners of the higher end units are emotionally attached to the grid. Not sure if they like the power and TV, or not having to deal with the discharge side of things any more than absolutely necessary.
3M techs also advises that you connect your panels together with some sort of guide wire anchored to a permanent structure like your a/c unit bracket. That way if a panel does come loose, it will prevent the panel from flying off into following traffic.
Amazing job! We had solar on our old rig and liked knowing we could always charge up the rig. Not on this one and not sure we boon dock enough to make it worth while. If we do we will contact your for install :D
How much solar do you recommend for a 35 foot trailer? We have one panel that comes with it for our 12v fridge but that’s just for the fridge. We want to have the dealer beef it up before we buy it so we t put it into our loan.
The solar only charges the batteries. It does not run anything, the batteries do all the work running everything, except the AC's. Good solar days, means full batteries.
Wow, very cool. Congrats Phil, well done. 100 days boon docking, your're not in Kansas any more :-) I've been meaning to ask when you were going back to bricks and sticks, I guess I got my answer, not this year.
Nice job, hope to have something similar on our rig, make sure you program your Magnum for the Battleborne batteries, they have recommended settings, but I am sure you already knew that.......
Costs depends on your lifestyle and you run everything off your batteries, through the inverter. It is all about how much solar is coming in to the battery and then how much energy are you using.
Happy New Year! All the best in 2020...You would think that RV companies would have the vision to have raceways pre installed so future installs could be done without drilling thru the roof! Dah
I notice a lot of youTubers choose Victron controllers. Haven't seen anyone use the Magnum PT100. What made you decide on that solar controller vs Victron? Are the panels wired on the roof so some are grouped in parallel so the voltage is kept in range for the controller? Have you set the ME ARC50 to match the Magnum inverter charger settings? Did you ever install the Lithium battery isolation manager to manage the coach and chassis battery charging? Thanks.
We do not have anything Victron (removed the Victron BMV-712). All of our components are Magnum. We do have them grouped in parallel (2 sets of 3). Have not installed the BIM as of yet. Not sure that I need it and can't get a solid answer on that or where it goes.
Awesome. I am surprised of the cost being low. awesome job you all did. I am not a certified electrician but I know what I can do. Thanks for ya video. Someday I will have a rig, thinking of Grand Design Momentum 397th. Be safe out there and enjoy life.
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This panel can put out close to 100 watts ruclips.net/user/postUgkxOqI2yqX0XVrhR2BMJciTWrHJpG8FhJyg when positioned in the appropriate southernly direction, tilted to the optimal angle for your latitude/date, and connected to a higher capacity device than a 500. The built in kickstand angle is a fixed at 50 degrees. Up to 20% more power can be output by selecting the actual date and latitude optimal angle.The 500 will only input 3.5A maximum at 18 volts for 63 watts. Some of the excess power from the panel can be fed into a USB battery bank, charged directly from the panel while also charging a 500. This will allow you to harvest as much as 63 + 15 = 78 watts.If this panel is used to charge a larger device, such as the power station, then its full output potential can be realized.
I really appreciate that you called this a "what we did," so many people act as if they are "experts" on videos and clearly are not. That said I think you did a good job. We don't full time (yet) but I will be very interested to see what your cost vs benefit works out to be.
Thanks Kent. We are not professional installers by any stretch. I trusted Chris and did my research on components before hand. We will update throughout the year our results from the solar for sure.
There are many levels of EXPERTISE. Many who sell their services "professionlly" are sure as hell not Experts. On the other hand if you have a reasonable understanding of electricity and some mechanical sense and skill darn near anyone can install a decent RV solar system. My friend that my wife and I RV with a bunch and I have installed at least two systems on each of our own rigs and have installed systems on at least seven RVs in our club. We are pretty much EXPERTS at it on top of my lifetime of DYI and his 45 years in the RV service industry. We may even be EXPERTS but I know for sure I would not have jumped in on the system as hefty as those guys installed so MAYBE IT IS JUST WHAT THEY DID, but they prepared themselves and did an EXPERT JOB.
As an electrician, I cringe when cables go through holes in steel without bushings. Bushings prevent cable damage. Sorry to nit pick.
Thanks for the tip! It is important to share this with everyone!
Fire Hazzard from shorting would be my fear🔥
Exactly was my point. Breaks, shorts, fire. Perfect recipe.
Hey guys...Stacy answered this without knowing that we did use split loom tubing on ALL wiring that went through any hole. We didn't show that on video, but we actually used 20 + feet of it throughout the install. Great advice as usual!
@@ericdee6802 Wait...what other hazard would it be?
Congratulations guys!!! Chris & Scott are what RVers are all about! Helping one another. We all should help one another when we can, at some point it will be us needing help. Paying it forward.
Thank you! We love our RV community!
Really impressed with the install y'all did and more impressed with the overall component/material cost! Keep us posted on how the unit is preforming in real-world conditions.
Thanks so much! We will keep you up to date every time we unplug! We just flexed our solar for 5 days and it was awesome. More boondocking next week!
I resently installed 10 / 190 watt panels by Rich solar Last Summer. We also use the PT 100, BMK and the Magnum Arc monitor. We Boondock a lot. In fact we are boondocking right now in the town of Tombstone Arizona. A great place to check out if you get out this way. We are very pleased with our Solar. We added a soft start to the front air conditioner which is lousy us to run the air up to 7 hours a day. You're going to find that you really like what you did!
Thanks Steve. Sounds like you have a great set up!!! We do have the soft start in front AC as well, but haven't tried to run it on the batteries just yet.
If you choose the Morning Star Duo Controller you can also send 10% of the charge to the engine battery. It can monitor two battery banks JFYI
Having some experience and some training with solar, I like what I saw. What I most appreciated was your calculation of "break even" time.
It’s nice that the Air Force was there to teach. It’s good smart folks are willing to help. Go Air Force.
I’m so happy that you guys got solar panels. That should majorly improve your boondocking experience
We really hope so!
It can do, though the reverse is true when there are cloudy days and rain for 2 or more days in a row. Then it's back to the generator, LOL.
OMG, if you cut a piece of 1/2" or 3/4" plywood the size to fit the compartment then you can work outside on a flat surface standing up for over 90% of the work.
That is a great suggestion! Thank You!
You guys are my kinda people. One day soon I hope to seeing you when we hit the road.
Great video ! We’re so grateful for all the help and always love collaborating with you guys and Chris and Donna at Runaway with the Clarks. Can’t wait to see how we all do in the coming year enhancing our boondocking experiences with solar !!
Goes without saying! Having friends that are willing to jump in and help with everything and anything is priceless! This is gonna be a great year of boondocking and (fingers crossed) savings!!!
Congrats, that's a good price for a system that size! That's good work too. I've seen pro installs that weren't that clean. Last year I installed phase 1 of my planned 2 part solar system on my MH. The first small phase was 12v, and the next big phase in a couple years will be 48v (to run a 48v DC heat pump and inverter). In phase one I installed 620 watts of solar on the side of my RV for about $1,600 for every component, doing all the labor by myself. This included 2 - GC-2 batteries, 2 - 320w panels, a 600w PSW inverter, 50A MPPT controller, wiring and all hardware, including 2 gas struts to lift the array to the desired angle. This leaves the roof open to rack 9 - 320+ watt panels above the AC units to charge 3 - 48v SimpliPhi batteries (11.4kw total) which will power the heat pump and 3,000w inverter. This system should cost in the $13-14k range including a $2k heatpump and $8k in batteries. It's expensive, but it will allow complete off grid freedom with temperature control both winter and summer. I'm projecting a 4-5 year payback on the second phase. The small one has already paid for itself in the CG fees saved in just 5 months of boondocking last year.
WOW Chip, sounds like a nice system!! Doing it yourself if you can saves a ton of money and you know exactly how it was done and what is where! We had planned, like you, each phase of our install so we didn't break the bank in one swoop!
Congratulations on going solar! As you said this opens up a limitless list of possibilities to expand your RV adventures. Of course I will be looking forward to the videos of those adventures. Thanks for the information. The video shows that RV'rs are a special breed of folks!
Thanks David. RV'ers are a special breed indeed!!
Great that you got friends to trade labor. That realy helps and works out good
Thanks for this video and spreadsheet. You have no idea how helpful this will be when we move to full time RVing!
Glad to help Steve. It gives a general idea of what one could use.
I know those wires are mounted down onto the roof but some people like to cover them with eternabond tape so that the air doesn't get up under them while travelling and applying upward pressure on the mounts. (Depending on your roof I don't know if this would even be possible. It's just a thought.) Safe travels, y'all! You will love having the solar on board.
Thanks Michael. I will keep an eye on them so make sure I don't notice any movement with them.
You will find you’ll want as many panels as you have room for.
To compensate for cloudy days.
Congratulations.
Wish you success
Agreed. We have room for at least 4 more.
Thanks for the video. I must say I'd have to get it professionally installed.
Great video. We have had our 1260 watt system for about three months and although it is hard to pencil out with the four Battle Borns and everything else needed but we are very happy. I agree it only makes sense if you are planning on boondocking which we mainly do. We haven’t turned the generator on yet! With everything we charge and power we use it rarely get below 75% of capacity until the next sun filled day.
Sounds like a great set up! We can't wait to get out in some good sun and see how well it performs.
Wow!!! That's great I've been looking around when I get my RV I want it All solar as well. Considering this is going to be my livelihood. Need to make sure it has the best and runs for long period of time. Thank you for sharing that. Puts my heart at ease.
Best of luck!
Congrats on your solar. Everyone I've ever heard that has installed it has been very happy.
Thank you!!!
you NO longer pay electrical bills. PRICELESS! i'm almost there, been making videos & will start posting soon. 1200 watts solar, 8 trojan t-105's, water maker, roof deck, elevator bed, rope ladder to roof, AC run off solar, DJ/design studio, Japanese theme, & more! once i finish, that will be the last day i EVER pay electrical bills. after this i find 2 acres of land & make a homestead.
Sounds like a great set up! We are loving ours so far!
Did you consider first mounting the charge controller, switches, breakers, fuses and some of the wiring on a piece of plywood then mounting the plywood in the bay for a lost less struggle in a small bay space?
Oddly enough we did after the fact! Live and learn! LOL
No worries, you’ll use that tidbit next time you help another friend out.
Great video guys, you all did a really good job. My question is though you indicated that the materials cost you 3K+ yet you have 6 Battle Born batteries. If I'm nor mistaken each battery cost over 900 dollars. That alone would run you 6K. How did you manage that?
Thank you. We had installed the batteries earlier in the year, so they weren't part of the solar install. We didn't mention them with solar because you don't need lithium batteries to have solar. You just need a good deep cycle battery for your set up.
Great video. I really don't feel to sorry for you guys all hot and sweaty doing the install. After all you could be up here in Montana enjoying one of the warmest winters I remember. We still have no snow. Well if you go out of town and up just a little we do, but still amazing. Enjoy your new freedom:-)
We will take the hot and sweaty any day.....LOL
@@todayissomeday haha I would too.
Most people would run the wiring down through the fridge vent and run the wire somewhere down below.
Nicely done I'm running 920 watts, 2 midnite solar charge controllers and we added a DC bus along with 2 60 amp breakers. All that being said utilizing the BMK, the generator, 600 ah of lithium we brought down our generator usage to about 2.5 hours a day. That was to keep us cool in the summer. We boondocked right at 60ty days. The next project is a magnum 3000 watt hybrid inverter. They are coming out with a new system this spring. Looking forward to that technology. Once again you guys did an awesome job unplug for awhile and try it out. Think easy start! M
Thanks Michael. We plan to unplug a lot!!! We have the easy starts in......we got them back with the batteries, just didn't install them until much later. We did upgrade to the 3000w hybrid. Whats the new system??
I had a conversation with one of tiffins electrical guys he was in engineering. He has his own business now. He has a business relationship with magnum. He was telling me they are coming out with a new line of hybrid inverter designed to work with lithium, solar and wind. This new system also has a new remote instead of the RC 50 SERIES. I'm sure it will be available in 12V, 24V and 48V. You know one of the things that's cool about hybrid inverters is running off of 30 amps and being able to run everything in your 50amp coach. M
@@Blues2cool We will watch out for it and see how it does.
Glad to see you added solar, you had the batteries so it made good sense. Best to both of you in 2020. Give a holler when in San Diego. Happy travels!
Thanks Tim.......will do!!!
Wow that was a great install for a wonderful price! RVer’s helping each other is what this community is all about! Great filming.
The community is the best!!
They make nice actual feed thru glands for the cable roof penetrations ..since you are already spending more than the average
Thanks. I spent less than what I've constantly read and saved even more doing it ourselves.
Very cool! Good for you guys!! - MJ and Izzy
Thanks!! Happy New Year
Hey guys, so how is the solor working out? Are you going to do a video how the system is working?
Will the solar run the AC ? During the day? How big your battery bank?
Love to watch your videos,
Thank you,
Hope to meet you guys soon.
Happy trails
Tom Umberger Check out our FAQ page for the answer to your question and more: todayissomeday.net/faqs
I would mount everything to plywood outside the rig. Then slide the plywood in the wall space, mount it to the wall, and you done that stage.
That is a great tip!!
Sounds about right. Spent $4k myself on the solar system I built for my 44ft fifth wheel.
14kwh system, panel production of 2.5kw.
I saved much building my own battery bank instead of purchasing one that’s manufactured.
I enjoyed your video. I installed my first solar system on my previous camper and it worked very well for 2 years and more than 200 days off grid. Now I am designing for my new 5th wheel. I would send a video of my install crew but it would be a selfie. When it goes well I get credit if not I take blame. LOL.
😂
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Thank you for letting us watch. Helps out tremendously... For those of us who wish to do it ourselves. Probably going to rely on Battleborn for the details from Solar to the batteries, and everything in between.
First of all..... well-done guys, It is certainly daunting to even think about drilling that hole :)
I did a similar install with 8 of those Hightec panels at the end of the summer utilizing a similar Victron Controller, simply because I was looking for a way to monitor the system on my phone (they use BT).
You're gonna love it for sure.......we're heading to Quartzsite in a week and well be doing a SOlar overview with our group (Alpine Coach) the week after and we are lucky enough to have the President of Continuous Resources join us to help with our Solar overview.
Cheers, and keep up the great videos!!
Thank you Paul65k. We went through CR for our panels and brackets. They were great in helping us get our lost brackets reshipped! Tell them we said thanks once again. So far we love the install and equipment.
I like you had a solar system installed but paid professional service to do it and it was expensive, but I do a lot of boon docking with friends when we go riding our rzr's.
Keep the rubber on the road.
Safe travels and God bless.
We did it ourselves, not professional installers. We love to boondock as well, that's why we saved up for it.
@@todayissomeday I didn't have the confidence nor know people that did so going to a professional was the plan. I did help them and took down lots of notes. They did give me all the information I needed to do it myself if I purchase a new rig.
Look at that...you have your panels covered to avoid an arc fault. I finally bought a Magnum Energy system and am slowly installing it. It seems to be among the very best equipment. Thanks for the video.
Well done folks! Nice to see a what we did video actually labelled as such. Recouping that relatively small cost will be easy, and not just because of the reduced generator usage. Unless you die of old age in the rig, you will sell it some day, and an installed solar system that works properly and has the possibility of expansion has a substantial value in the market. Be well!
Thanks David!
Great job guys, I have the same controller. On cloudy days you will still need to run the generator for 1-2 hours. I usually do it at dinner time, and the wife can cook with the Instant Pot or microwave, while I have generator running. Sunny days we don't need to run the generator. I think you will enjoy the solar. Thanks for another great video.
Thanks John. That's what we thought might happen.
yes you do
I know this is a little late. I did have a few questions that I did not understand
The charge controller was a PT-100 Magnum what has a Max PV of 187 VDC while stating that it was a 100 amp
charge controller . The solar panels you got was 200 watt that said 24VDC and you had 6 panels that you did install.
I have seem the panels output voltage per panel be up to 36VDC and 32 Vdc is something it can climb to easy .
Ok your panel has a Max PV = 187Vdc ( 32 X 6 = 192Vdc ) also ( 36Vdc X 6 = 216Vdc ) either way it would be over
the Max PV of 187 Vdc . What size wire did you use from the solar panels to the Charge controller ? If you used the
wire size that the Solar panels were using this would leave you 0 chance of upgrading your systems because you have
some of the best batteries that you could find anywhere. You should of use something like welding cables. Have you ever
noticed how flexible the welding cables are. That is because the cable is made up of hundreds of small stranded wire.
This is the best for DC voltage. So your wire is to small and you can not rise you PV voltage because the PT-100 can't handle
it. Even though it says 6600 watts max. From what I can see you paid like $890.00 for your PT-100 or more. I could have suggested
a MPPT controller that would have costed a few hundred dollars less. If you like to look at the Midnight line of products.
If you increase the wire size from your Solar panels to your charge controller you can add to your system just fine or
up to almost 100 amps anyway. If you can not find a good price on the wire . I might be able to help you places were
I have worked in the past are always changing their welder cables.
Your upper voltage is maxed with the controller you are using so larger wire will get you around this problem.
I thinking you could of even used the midnight kidd and its cost is like $320.00.
RECAP just use larger wire and you will be alright for another 35 to 40 amps. Using larger wire you should be able to put almost the
same panels you already have up their. I can get you 220 watt solar panels also delivered to your location for 89.00 each is
you ever need them . Just do not tell anyone else.
Thanks for sharing your system.
So are you going to be doing more off grid camping now??? Sure sounds like Ruby is set to go off grid, so don't disappoint Ruby, lol. Thanks for sharing it was a great video.
Great job.......I hope it continues to serve you well
Another awesome video ya'll. We enjoyed working with you on this project and hope it significantly improves your boondocking experience.
It already has!! We can't thank you enough for the guidance and education during the entire process!! Hope folks are giving you some extra love as well!!!
This is great you have a Experienced helper very invaluable!
Of course that cost didn't include the cost of the Battle Born Batteries that you already had. Most people won't have those or enough of them up front. So add around $6k for those of you that don't have lithium batteries.
Plenty of RV'ers have solar without lithium batteries. Solar will charge any battery. We chose to install lithium first and then see how much it would help us in our quest to stay unplugged and keep costs down.
@@todayissomeday was just pointing out that "Most" people will have to add batteries of some type so they need to think of that additional cost on top of the cost you stated in the video. It wold suck to have all that solar and not enough battery to take advantage of it. For example the Rig I am looking at only comes with one battery as standard. Also I would say the Lithium is really a no brainier if they can afford the upfront cost.
Question. What can you run and what can’t you run with your solar system? Like AC’s, Refrigerator, etc. thanks.
The solar does not run anything it only charges your batteries. Here is more info on RV electrical: todayissomeday.net/blog/rv-electrical-what-you-need-to-know
How in the world do you ever retreat your roof, even just the small areas visible? Wires, wires and more wires! Looks good. Good job, good luck!
We haven't yet....but I will update the first time I do clean it.
I guessed $10,000.00 for the install before you mentioned $3K. Then thinking about it, I know those batteries cost about $900.00 each and I think you mentioned that you have 6 of them. That's another roughly $5500.00 right there, plus the solar controller. So I wasn't that far off. Still, its exactly what set up I would like to use. You can charge from the solar (PV) OR from the generator. Big LiFePh battery bank can greatly extend your "quite hours" with no gen running...maybe days in some cases. I'm guessing your battery investment wasn't calculated into the cost as you had previously purchased with the thought of charging with generator only. Can you also charge from engine alternator when running down the highway?
Great video!! Was wondering on the cost and recoup time of the solar. Thanks so much for the valuable information. Safe travels. 🤗
Besides the break even thing, it's kind of like a home generator, don't use it much, but it sure is a great thing to have when you do, and y'all will get way ahead in the next two years..
Watched this again today. 100 day payback is really good. Congratulations.
We think it is very doable!
Love the video's guys but I thought I would point something out in case you didn't notice. At the 12:28 mark you were showing the ventilation trunk you ran the wiring down from the roof. There's a cable there with the insulation stripped back exposing several wires. I cant tell if the insulation on those wires were damaged but thought I would point it out in case you weren't aware.
They did see that. The wires were not exposed but it does look that way in the video.
YOU COULD HAVE GOT A FIVE HP.BRIGGS.A BRACKET,AND A GM ONE WIRE ALT.ABOUT IOO AMPS.THAT PUT TOGETHER AND TO BATTERY BANK WILL POWER UP THE WHOLE BANK.WHEN LOW BATTERY POWER,START THE HOME MADE CHARGER AT IDLE,THE INVERTER WILL CONVERT THE POWER TO RUN AIR,TV.MICROWAVE,LITES.
Great informative video. How many battleborn batteries do you have and what was the cost for those? Thank you.
Thanks John. Check out our blog @ todayissomeday.net for the battery install info.
Great video. I understand how you feel about drilling holes. I'm setting my 09 Ford Explorer up as a stealth camper and I'm planning to use a continuous solenoid system for keeping the house battery charged as well as solar. I'm very hesitant about drilling holes in the floor due to the fact that it can cause rust. I hope that Flex Seal works as well as they advertise. Also; I noticed a Lectric bike in the back ground of your video. Mine is on order. I hope that it gets here.
Sweet!! I hope you love the bike! Good luck with the camper build.
Hey Phil, still happy with the panels, we are looking at these, Renogy or Zamp. Thanks!
YES! Love what they do for us boondocking!!!
We absolutely love you guys! We’ve learned so much by watching you! Thank you! We have a 40 ft 5th wheel and love being on the road. We wanted to tell you about Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park on the Atlantic side in Jacksonville, Fl.
It only $33/day and the spaces are surrounded with lush tropical foliage. Atlantic Beach is a short walk from the city-run Rv park.
You could hop on your e-bikes and head south to Neptune Beach and cozy up at the Lemon Bar right on the beach.
We are definitely going back to do an all-Florida trip when we are able. Happy trails! Bella & Brook from WA & TX
Thanks for the info Bella....we have added it to our list of places to visit!
For an RV I recommend to use CIS thin film panels. They are all black no tiles visible. Often you park an RV in the shade. Poly- or mono crystaline PV panels will dramatically reduce output if even only part of the panel gets shaded. Whereas a thin film PV panel produces power even when shaded or partially covered up. Also they operate better in high temperatures as well. Hence it produces more energy throughout the day in any day lighting condition. Example www.solar-frontier.eu/en/cis-technology/what-is-cis/
Perfect for RV roofs ... comes with adhesive on back, just stick it on www.flisom.com/products/
Amazing! 3K, that is really something!
Yeah, well, that's with free labor. The cost would probably be double that, or more, if he had to pay for all that labor.
I'd like to know what something like this _really_ costs. That would be useful info.
remember too that does not include batteries or an inverter.
100 days will be easy for you guys...harvest Hosts, boondocker welcome, texas and kansas rest stops, rvillage and rallys. you guys got this.
You do know us Sylvia!! LOL
@@todayissomeday please pray, good thing, trying to lose 30 lbs properly, safely so I can have bone on bone left knee replaced. Then manufactures replaced rt knee re-replaced. I WILL DO IT. I start senior sneakers on Monday with yoga and swim exercises. Portion control and what I eat most important.😊😂😁😉😐🙄😎
@@sylviadarbe3389 I hope you are doing well!! Just keep moving and it will happen!
Nice job, thanks for the video. I would recommend having a closer look at the cable, another commenter mentioned, that's at 12:28, with the split outer sheathing. If any wires are nicked in there, it's only a matter of time before you find something not working. "A stitch in time."
Thanks Warren. We have applied electrical tape to it. Nothing was cut on the inside.
Great Video, I did subscribed to Chris and Scott channel. Happy New Year to all
Thanks for showing them some love as well.
Excellent video! Really love watching you guys!! Looked through comments…sorry if already asked and answered!!! Really appreciate that you are so against drilling roof. I feel the same way! How did you attach the panels to the roof without drilling? Is the method working well? Any other insights? Many thanks. Be safe out there!
The brackets I bought came with VHB (very high bondiing) tape on the end of the brackets. I also use 2 pieces of eternabond tape on the front and back of the brackets for added peace of mind. Has worked well so far....nothing has moved or flown off.
Stacy, check out The Fit RV! She is a PT who has some good rv-specific workouts! Jealous of your solar . . . We are so unhandy, we would just have to pay to have it done. Maybe the next rig. Wishing you both a happy, healthy 2020.
Thanks so much for the tip. I will look her up. Safe Travels.
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We put a Man on the Moon in 69' with as much technology as a toaster, you would think now in the 21st Century, solar would be an industry standard.🤔
Great video at any rate👍
We agree!! Or at the very least they all should be pre-wired!!!
yeah they faked that but the good news is that solar power IS real.
It is Not for a reason. cost prohibitive for most people.
@@djdarrenrvMy Father was apart of the launch control, puff another one ..pppfffttt🤣
@@ericdee6802 fake as fuk.
Nice install. I used 3M VHB tape to install the panels on the fiberglass roof of our coach. I then covered the brackets with Dicor sealant as a second security measure. No holes needed and they are still securely attached after more than 12 months. How did you secure the panels to the roof of your coach?
We used the same VHB on all the brackets. I then put eternabond tape on all brackets (front and back) with a dab of dicor where the tape was cut around the brackets.
@@todayissomeday Any video of the panels being installed in your archives?
@@redroofretriever No just what you see.
*Solar.................a "bright" idea...........................love the insight*
lol ❤😂
Nice job on the install and video. Thanks we really appreciate the additional information on your decision to go solar.
Thanks Thomas.
Answered the question I have had when considering solar. Camper came prepared for solar, a plug at the hitch? How to get the power from the roof to the storage bay. Thank you I now have a better idea . Will have to check behind all my water access panels. Thank you
Glad to help!
Hello from Cabot Arkansas Hope the solar improves your lifestyle this New Year Always love watching you guys video's
Thanks Arthur! We do too!!!
Great job, I have a harbor freight solar kit, it keeps my batteries charged up when it parked at home, I wish someone would make a video on how to mount the panels on the roof, I've not found one yet. Thank's for sharing, this solar stuff is a great way to safe money by not having to hook up all the time.
Our panels are mounted with VHB tape on the bottom of the brackets. We have a fiberglass roof, so no drilling required (you could for peace of mind). I did add eternabond tape around each bracket for extra security. The mounting part, for our install, was pretty easy.
Thank's, I'll see if I can find some.
Their's alot to pick from, can you suggest any or the one you used?
Job well done. Looking forward to updates on how well it works for you. We don't
boondock enough to make it worthwhile. (YET). We'll see what the future brings.
Happy New Year!
Thanks. We wanted to ensure we liked boondocking first. It is going to be another game changer (lithium was our first game changer).
Awesome helpful video. We are trying to decide whether to put solar in our coach.
I am glad it was helpful. Stay tuned we will be flexing the solar and talking about how often we have to run the generator in upcoming videos.
DO you have a portable unit you would recommend?
Sorry, we do not.
What would the additional cost be if you used lithium batteries and would any additional parts be needed?
It is on our website @ todayissomeday.net
I so understand hot and sweaty plus bending, squatting and crawling. I was hurting just watching the install.
LOL.....with my knee and back issues it was tolerable.
@@todayissomeday Better living through chemistry, eh? :D
Do you have a residential fridge (only runs on electricity) or an RV fridge? Will your solar setup run the fridge while you're boondocking?
We do have a residential fridge. Solar doesn't run anything in in our RV......the batteries do from the energy harvested from the sun.
Wow, that's a good price. Like seeing you guys do your own work! Nice job. Really hope that helps you out down the road. I have 360 watts of solar and would like to expand that. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thanks James. We had to save money somehow. It is going to really help keep costs down for sure. We love to boondock!!!
@@todayissomeday
We do more dry camping than boondocking. I am currently saving for 2 BB batteries and 2 more 160 watt solar panels. It would be really nice to not have to use the generator every day. If I'd just stop going out to eat, I'd probably have the money right away!!! Keep up the good work.
At about 12:27 or 12:28 in your video, I see you have torn the outer jacket off of one of your solar cables that you ran through the pipe vent box. When pausing the video, it is clear to see, but difficult to tell if the inner jackets are damaged. You may want to pull that cable and rewire it.
Thanks Tim. That is actually a different wire, not for solar. We have checked and only the outer sheath is cut. We did cover it with electrical tape.
Dont forget to put in for your federal tax credit now, specially if your install was in camera time prior to 12/31/2019. Also that includes your original Magnum invertor/RC, ARC-50, PT, panels, wire and fittings.
Oh you know it! Timing is everything! Thanks!
That's awesome! I wonder why RV manufacturer's aren't putting solar on the roof when you buy it. So many people are doing solar now, so it just makes sense that they should start doing that.
I wish they would at least offer it as an option!
@@todayissomeday Or at least heavy duty cabling, properly sealed. I suspect that as more people understand the cost savings overall (eventually) more will add solar as the costs for components drop. I think right now, a lot of owners of the higher end units are emotionally attached to the grid. Not sure if they like the power and TV, or not having to deal with the discharge side of things any more than absolutely necessary.
@@n6nvr We were attached at first just because we didnt know how easy it is to be unplugged! So glad we figured it out. We love it.
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How did you fasten the panels to the roof without drilling?? Just curious. Thanks. Great video.
Hey Clark....we used VHB tape that came with the brackets. I then used eternabond tape to cover the brackets as extra peace of mind.
@@todayissomeday Thanks, I had the same question. How many Battle Borns do you now have?
@@MountainBeaches We have 6 100 amp hour batteries.
3M techs also advises that you connect your panels together with some sort of guide wire anchored to a permanent structure like your a/c unit bracket. That way if a panel does come loose, it will prevent the panel from flying off into following traffic.
@@boblewis2382 Yikes, if a panel or two came loose I could see that pulling the AC unit off too!
Amazing job! We had solar on our old rig and liked knowing we could always charge up the rig. Not on this one and not sure we boon dock enough to make it worth while. If we do we will contact your for install :D
Hahaha! We will be sure to give Chris a call!!
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Thanks for this video! I am now considering a solar system for my 5th wheel.
How much solar do you recommend for a 35 foot trailer? We have one panel that comes with it for our 12v fridge but that’s just for the fridge. We want to have the dealer beef it up before we buy it so we t put it into our loan.
Excellent video...........i too have been trying to figure out solar? Thank you!
Hi there! Would you mind sharing what your system will run and for how long? Thanks!!
The solar only charges the batteries. It does not run anything, the batteries do all the work running everything, except the AC's. Good solar days, means full batteries.
Wow, very cool. Congrats Phil, well done. 100 days boon docking, your're not in Kansas any more :-) I've been meaning to ask when
you were going back to bricks and sticks, I guess I got my answer, not this year.
We have no idea when we will purchase our next sticks and bricks!
I want to do solar on my trailer in the worst way. It would come in handy at the Tampa RV show in a couple weeks.
Research, research! We hope it does well while we are at the Tampa show.
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Nice job, hope to have something similar on our rig, make sure you program your Magnum for the Battleborne batteries, they have recommended settings, but I am sure you already knew that.......
Thanks Ed, already dialed them in!!!
The main question I have regarding solar for any RV set up is: A.) is it worth the cost and B.) what can you run on it?
Costs depends on your lifestyle and you run everything off your batteries, through the inverter. It is all about how much solar is coming in to the battery and then how much energy are you using.
Like for instants can you still power in AC off of solar panels? Because that’s pretty much the only thing that draws most consumption on power.
Happy New Year! All the best in 2020...You would think that RV companies would have the vision to have raceways pre installed so future installs could be done without drilling thru the roof! Dah
We agree 100% . Would have made this install much easier and faster.
I notice a lot of youTubers choose Victron controllers. Haven't seen anyone use the Magnum PT100. What made you decide on that solar controller vs Victron? Are the panels wired on the roof so some are grouped in parallel so the voltage is kept in range for the controller? Have you set the ME ARC50 to match the Magnum inverter charger settings? Did you ever install the Lithium battery isolation manager to manage the coach and chassis battery charging? Thanks.
We do not have anything Victron (removed the Victron BMV-712). All of our components are Magnum. We do have them grouped in parallel (2 sets of 3). Have not installed the BIM as of yet. Not sure that I need it and can't get a solid answer on that or where it goes.
How has the the tape you used on attaching the sokar panels holding up
Awesome. I am surprised of the cost being low. awesome job you all did. I am not a certified electrician but I know what I can do. Thanks for ya video. Someday I will have a rig, thinking of Grand Design Momentum 397th. Be safe out there and enjoy life.
Thanks MIke! Grand Design is a great Manufacturer!!
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