Tour of Mello Mike's 340 Watt Solar Power System
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- A detailed tour of Mello Mike's 340 watt solar power system as found in his 2016 Northstar Laredo truck camper. Mello Mike's system consists of two 120 watt polycrystalline roof-top solar panels, a Renogy portable 100 watt monocrystalline solar panel, a Zamp 30 amp PWM charge controller, and two Lifeline 6v AGM batteries. Check us out at truckcamperadventure.com
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that was actually the best side by side test for fixed vs movable solar panels. your portable 100 watt was putting out 5 amps and the 2 120 Watters were only putting out 6 amps combined. thanks for the enjoyable videos and be safe
Thanks. Yes, I agree that was a good test. Shows you how well a tilted panel aimed at the sun can do.
Truck Camper Adventure Yes, but if you were to switch to a MPPT controller you would get far more out of your panels. If you have a 200 watt panel giving you 6A at 12V that is just 72W of the 200 that are being used.
@@henrivanbemmel I am looking for a package deal on a solar setup. Where do you advise me to start looking? I want the controller, wiring, panels etc. what brand is best?
@@billwilliams9897 I'm in Canada, so I worked with Renogy and there stuff has been fine. No tax and no shipping charges which is nice.
An MPPT controller is essential and are now reasonably priced. You will have to take a decent inventory of your electricity use. You will need a decent battery monitor. I've bought mine in the past from Victron and they work well. Renogy now has heated LFP batteries which gets you past the problems of cold weather. However, that will depend on your location. I've got 400Ah of LFP batteries and 800W on the roof and it just works if I'm careful. Even with the fridge on LPG the base electrical load and the fridge can cost you 50 Ah a day. Add in some toaster time (using an inverter) and TV and computer and you can blow through 100 Ah in a day very easily. You might get 250 Ah back in full sun in June, any shadows or clouds etc and it'll be half that. So, it's easy to get into a discharge hole. Having as much battery as you afford is always good. Renogy does not advise placing more than 4 of their batteries in parallel. However, if your engine charges the house batteries, check your slternator rating as LFP batteries can charge at high currents and damage your vehicle's alternator. You can get current limiters for this or install a solenoid so you can control it. Your battery monitor system can tell you how high the charge current is and then you can decide to disconnect the engine from the house if warranted.
Lots of folks have done this and have posted their stuff on YT. These can be very helpful. Then you can source these products and find out prices. I would buy it all new. If you are running multiple batteries you should consider using bus bars otherwise you'll end up with too many connections to a single battery terminal. You will also have to cut and crimp lugs on perhaps 2/0 battery cable. There are ratchet crimper and impact (hammer) type. I use the hammer, it was cheaper and has worked well. Dunno what else to say, but I'm always willing to answer questions. All the best. Henri (RVing with Henri)
@@henrivanbemmel 🙏 Thank you very much Sir for the well thought out response. I could not have asked a better person that question.
Just subscribed to your online news letter. I loved the article on increasing your payload.
I love the line that “Most Truck Camper Owners are Over Weight” LOL 😂
Great video. Thanks for the info.
Mike;
Another great video there. Very informative.
Nice work! Mono Panels suffer greatly under high temps, I have them all different types Polys work best in high temps. If I may suggest something upgrade to a Epsolar 4215 mppt charge controller U will love it. I have a video about it on my channel under solar camper play list.
Please point me to a source of information about mono panels suffering greatly under high temperatures. I googled this and can't find anything to back up your statement.
Hi John , My only source is my own day to day experience running my home for the last 5+ years with solar panels of 3 different types,Mono, Poly , Muticrystalline basically the same as poly from 6 different manufactures back when solar was still $2 a watt. when solar cells reach 130F+ range most every day here they fall off a lot. My 6 mono panels fell off far more than the poly type & then when cooling them down with water the mono regain more power than poly panels cooled with water, then fell off again when the water cooling stopped. Mono panels do work a bit better on a cloudy cool day, I dont get many of those . I was just sharing my experience as regular guy, not a scientist or expert, but as a person who lives on solar power every day with both grid tie & off grid systems .
Your experience is appreciated. Field reports are every bit as helpful as lab numbers.
Great solar setup, interesting to have both roof mounted and portable panels. Seems like a lot of solar power for a truck camper, do you spend a lot of days camping off grid? Really like the system you have, thank you for sharing all the details. 👍
Yes, we do lots of boondocking. The DC compressor refrigerator requires a lot of power, about 60 amp hours per day.
Is it possible to have 50 amp service in a truck camper? 50 amp service if you're staying in a RV park would make life easier.
The truck camper has 30 amp service. Using it would be easier, but where we like to camp and explore there's no such service.
You mentioned care of the batteries and "equalizing" them. What does that mean? How do you do that?
Thank you for the video.
I have a question about an article that I saw on your truck camper website....you had been up to Mt Graham AZ and spoke of Treasure cove primitive camping area....what is the elevation there and is it before or after the Shannon campgrounds?? I was told that there was only water at "Columbine Horse Corrals" which is by the visitors center....and Riggs Lake, so if I can get by without hauling water up there would be great!. I am looking for the best place to camp that is heavily forested and the less people, the better! Since I have a 22' bumper pull travel trailer I feel more comfortable in places that I can get into and out of without sweating too much!! LOL....I am pulling my TT(5000 lbs loaded) with a 2008 one ton Ford van(so I can take my 3 Great Danes) with a 5.4 engine- do you think I will have a tough time getting up there due to the incline? I was thinking of installing a K&N cold air intake kit to give me a little more horsepower....do you think that would be worth the investment? Thanks for your great videos! Would love to know what you think!
Thanks for your interesting video! Is it better to have the inverter wired directly and within about 4 feet of the batteries, then somehow run a regular 12-16 guage extension cord into my 23 foot travel trailer for the 31 watt LED AC television and perhaps other small AC items? I have 2 six volt Trojan T145 flooded in series, outside in the typical trailer tongue location. Right now I have my inverter inside, getting power from my 15 amp fused radio with a standard flat 2 pin SAE wire I added which plugs to a 6 foot female cigarette recepticle. Then I plug a Eugizmo cigarette lighter adapter splitter which has a battery volt readout on it. I plug the removable male cigar plug from my 300 watt Samlex inverter into that. Funny thing is when I turn the television on the volt readout flashes at 11.5 volts. My batteries are in excellent condition and fully charged, television works fine. Any ideas?
Also, I'm shopping for solar equipment. Don't want anything on the roof. I see you have both Renogy and Zamp. I want more than just the bare minimum of power. Would two 100 watt panels and a controller be adequate? And Renogy seems like very good stuff for alot less than Zamp?? What do you think?
barely hear u..do it right or don't do it
I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING. MUMBLING. PLEASE REDO SOUND.
Can NOT hear a thing you are saying. FIX IT next time make a vid.
ALL you people forget to have a microphone,,get your head out of the tin can ,,I CAN NOT HEAR YOU,,,