Portable solar panels - Page 4 - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Me | General Topics > General Escape
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 08-13-2019, 11:13 AM   #61
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: ventura, California
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21
Posts: 36
Thanks guys, I'm going to get 2 panels on the roof. I think that should cover my usage boon docking even in less than ideal conditions.
Kodakajika is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2019, 11:18 AM   #62
Senior Member
 
Vermilye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,363
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kodakajika View Post
Thanks guys, I'm going to get 2 panels on the roof. I think that should cover my usage boon docking even in less than ideal conditions.
It is still handy to carry a portable. I have 2 160 watt panels on the roof, made them tiltable, but sometimes in the dead of winter, I'll add a 160 watt portable panel. Also useful if parked in the shade.

When wired in parallel, I have not had a problem producing the full output from the portable with the roof top panels in the shade. While there may be very little current from the rooftop panels, they still produce enough voltage that they do not pull down the portable. I do have bypass diodes on the GoPower rooftop panels.
__________________
Jon Vermilye My Travel Blog
Travel and Photo Web Page ... My Collection of RV Blogs 2018 F150 3.5EB, 2017 21
Vermilye is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2019, 12:37 PM   #63
Senior Member
 
thoer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,232
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rossue View Post
Hmmm- this might be true. When buying a solar system for the house a Tigo optimiser was part of the system. It was explained that a primary benefit was to isolate a shaded panel(s) as to not drag down the performance of the others.
We too have a home 11.3 kW system. When looking over the proposals, both companies used "micro inverters" mounted under each panel that converted the DC from the panels into AC and isolated each panel. When I asked why they didn't just use one large inverter they both gave that same explanation about shading, or if one panel experiences problems. Also with the DC converted into 240v AC there is much less loss on the wire running from the panel groups to the utiltilty connections.
__________________
Eric (and Mary who is in no way responsible for anything stupid I post)

"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." George Bernard Shaw
thoer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2019, 02:07 PM   #64
Site Team
 
John in Santa Cruz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,122
Quote:
Originally Posted by thoer View Post
After talking with a solar installer, I apparently need to go a different direction. He said if the roof panels and portable are wired together at the GoPower controller, that they effectively become one panel electrically. So even if the portable is in full sun, but the roof panels in mostly shade, that the portable output will be severely limited. So I may buy a relatively inexpensive controller and mount it next to the GoPower, connected to a port for the portable and to the batteries.
home systems are often wired in series, but RV systems are generally wired in parallel. in series, what he said is true, in parallel its not.
John in Santa Cruz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2019, 03:09 PM   #65
Senior Member
 
fudge_brownie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Janesville, WI, Wisconsin
Trailer: Escape 19 (sold) Escape 21 2014
Posts: 1,879
I believe Jon has a good point. He points out winter usage issues with tilting panels as a time when portable maybe needed. I am frequently in heavy forested areas and a rooftop panel may not get any sun during the day due to trees. I also am a heavy user of battery, with my son on a CPAP, it is not uncommon to have 25% of the battery gone in the AM.

Portable is critical.
__________________
Paul and Janet Braun
2003 Toyota 4Runner V8 now 2012 Toyota Sequoia V8
Escape 19' 2010 now 2014 Escape 21'
fudge_brownie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2019, 04:52 PM   #66
Senior Member
 
7th Heaven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: palo alto, California
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic #7
Posts: 314
Quote:
Originally Posted by thoer View Post
After talking with a solar installer, I apparently need to go a different direction. He said if the roof panels and portable are wired together at the GoPower controller, that they effectively become one panel electrically. So even if the portable is in full sun, but the roof panels in mostly shade, that the portable output will be severely limited. So I may buy a relatively inexpensive controller and mount it next to the GoPower, connected to a port for the portable and to the batteries.
Hummm ... While I would never argue with the 'experts' my real world experience does not support this theory. We have 2x100W on the roof and a Portable

If you only had Roof panels the same should be true .. if one panel is in shade then the power output of the others would be 'severely limited'. Taking this to the extreme you would then need to have a controller per panel!!!

Before I would install ,a second controller I would install a inline 3-way switch to resolve this issue... A=Roof, B= Portable, C=Roof+Portable. this way I could select the bank of solar panels to charge the battery.
__________________
7-7-7 Our Marriage
2013 Escape 21 Classic
2014 Sequoia
7th Heaven is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2019, 08:48 PM   #67
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
Quote:
Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
home systems are often wired in series, but RV systems are generally wired in parallel. in series, what he said is true, in parallel its not.
Pairs of my system panels are in series, as is my portable. I have never had trouble with getting a good charge amperage from my portable when the trailer panels are shaded. Two permanent sets are in parallel, as is the dual portable panels. The only difference to using series in my setup is that the input to the MPPT controller is at 36V. I had a local solar company review my plans and approve. The only difference they made was adding two breakers on either side of the controller for isolating things if I need, as well as current protection in the case of a fault somewhere.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2019, 09:43 PM   #68
Site Team
 
John in Santa Cruz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,122
so your portable panel is also 36 volts ?
John in Santa Cruz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-13-2019, 10:34 PM   #69
Senior Member
 
alanmalk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Arvada, Colorado
Trailer: 2015 E'21 - 'Velocity'. Tow: Toyota Tacoma V6, 4X4, manual.
Posts: 1,684
Quote:
Originally Posted by 7th Heaven View Post
...
Before I would install ,a second controller I would install a inline 3-way switch to resolve this issue... A=Roof, B= Portable, C=Roof+Portable. this way I could select the bank of solar panels to charge the battery.
With our ordinary fixed and portable panels that most of us use in our Escapes, there is no need to "resolve" anything. The built-in blocking diode in each panel effectively isolates a shaded panel and allows all sunlit panels to contribute - automatically, with out user intervention. In Boolean logic, diodes form an "OR" circuit - A or B or Both.

As others have pointed out - a higher voltage system that uses series panels has shading issues. But the vast majority of us use parallel panels by default.

And like many others above, I plug my portable directly into the Escape provided Go-Pro regulator - when the factory panel is under trees. Works like a charm.
--
Alan
alanmalk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 06:38 AM   #70
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
Quote:
Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
so your portable panel is also 36 volts ?
Yes it is (was, but was stolen). Being two panels with a cheaper controller, I just wired it up with MP4 connectors so I could either hook it in series at 36V to tie directly into the trailer, or connect it at 18V and run it through the controller to charge any 12V system independently.

I am likely replacing it with a Lensun two panel portable and will do the same, wiring in series, though this time will just use a separate controller I have if connecting in parallel.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 08:00 AM   #71
Senior Member
 
thoer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,232
Quote:
Originally Posted by alanmalk View Post
With our ordinary fixed and portable panels that most of us use in our Escapes, there is no need to "resolve" anything. The built-in blocking diode in each panel effectively isolates a shaded panel and allows all sunlit panels to contribute - automatically, with out user intervention. In Boolean logic, diodes form an "OR" circuit - A or B or Both.

As others have pointed out - a higher voltage system that uses series panels has shading issues. But the vast majority of us use parallel panels by default.

And like many others above, I plug my portable directly into the Escape provided Go-Pro regulator - when the factory panel is under trees. Works like a charm.
--
Alan
Alan - good to hear, I'm going to go back to my original plan and use that same method. Did you have any trouble getting two large gauge wires to fit into the GoPro's inputs?
__________________
Eric (and Mary who is in no way responsible for anything stupid I post)

"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." George Bernard Shaw
thoer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 10:39 AM   #72
Senior Member
 
alanmalk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Arvada, Colorado
Trailer: 2015 E'21 - 'Velocity'. Tow: Toyota Tacoma V6, 4X4, manual.
Posts: 1,684
Quote:
Originally Posted by thoer View Post
...
Did you have any trouble getting two large gauge wires to fit into the GoPro's inputs?
Yes, I did have a problem with two large gauge wires fitting into the GoPro's input connectors. My solution was to use smaller gauge wires from the panel connector at the trailer to the GoPro - a total of about 3 feet one way (or 6 feet total).

Yes, there is an increase in voltage loss for smaller gauge, but the total extra loss for those 6 feet is tiny. As long as the majority of panel wire is heavy gauge your loss is acceptable. That's because most "12" volt panels actually produce around 17 to 18 volts - so there is some buffer.

--
Alan
alanmalk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 10:47 AM   #73
Senior Member
 
thoer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,232
Quote:
Originally Posted by alanmalk View Post
Yes, I did have a problem with two large gauge wires fitting into the GoPro's input connectors. My solution was to use smaller gauge wires from the panel connector at the trailer to the GoPro - a total of about 3 feet one way (or 6 feet total).

Yes, there is an increase in voltage loss for smaller gauge, but the total extra loss for those 6 feet is tiny. As long as the majority of panel wire is heavy gauge your loss is acceptable. That's because most "12" volt panels actually produce around 17 to 18 volts - so there is some buffer.

--
Alan
Thanks again Alan - I had the same thought. I've got 10 gauge to run from the panel to the SAE connector I'm going to mount on the trailer and figured if I did need thinner wire for the short run it was not going to be any huge loss.
__________________
Eric (and Mary who is in no way responsible for anything stupid I post)

"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." George Bernard Shaw
thoer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 10:58 AM   #74
Senior Member
 
Tam2004's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Bend, Oregon
Trailer: 2018 ESCAPE19
Posts: 198
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ahern2 View Post
We decided to pull the trigger and bought a Highlander. We will give you an update on how it tows after we pick up our trailer in Oct. All of your feedback has been so helpful. Thanks!
We ordered the option to have a portable solar panel in addition to the fixed, and would like to know what is a good brand and where to purchase ?
I am too lazy to read all of the postings - so forgive me if someone already warned you about the towing package and brake setup? If they didn't, we LOVE our 2018 Highlander - get excellent mileage on long trips (close to or at 15 mpg on long trips for the 19 foot Escape). BUT we were surprised to learn that even with the tow package we had to take it to a trailer shop to get it wired for the electronic brake (the dealership would have charged twice as much to send it over to the shop). That would vary by City - but be warned.
Tam2004 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 01:17 PM   #75
Senior Member
 
Vermilye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,363
Quote:
Originally Posted by alanmalk View Post
Yes, I did have a problem with two large gauge wires fitting into the GoPro's input connectors. My solution was to use smaller gauge wires from the panel connector at the trailer to the GoPro - a total of about 3 feet one way (or 6 feet total).

Yes, there is an increase in voltage loss for smaller gauge, but the total extra loss for those 6 feet is tiny. As long as the majority of panel wire is heavy gauge your loss is acceptable. That's because most "12" volt panels actually produce around 17 to 18 volts - so there is some buffer.

--
Alan
I did the same, however I made the combination within 6" of the controller. The loss with 6" of #6 (the SAE connector was #10 wire) wire is insignificant.
__________________
Jon Vermilye My Travel Blog
Travel and Photo Web Page ... My Collection of RV Blogs 2018 F150 3.5EB, 2017 21
Vermilye is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 04:25 PM   #76
Senior Member
 
Mike Lewis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,097
At the Niagara rally last year I met a man who uses fifty feet of #10 silicone jacket speaker wire to connect his portable panel to his trailer. He was happy with his setup.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
Mike Lewis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 04:56 PM   #77
Site Team
 
John in Santa Cruz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,122
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis View Post
At the Niagara rally last year I met a man who uses fifty feet of #10 silicone jacket speaker wire to connect his portable panel to his trailer. He was happy with his setup.
i dunno if it was this thread, but I found some #10 'speaker wire' that the fine print said "not AWG 10", which means its Chinese gauge, which is probably closer to AWG12 but not standardized, and also was copper plated aluminum wire, which is junk. real copper AWG 10 is $$$/foot because its a lot of copper.

so, caveat emptor.
John in Santa Cruz is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:03 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.