Made the 19 foot Escape plunge! Need Solar suggestions/reports

[algonquin50]

I agree with all of you, It depends on how much boondocking you do and what you expect out of your system. I dry camp 90% of the time and it is no problem for me to put out a panel. I do know that when one of my panels is flat it loses about 40% of output. Again, the critical item to look at is the charge controller. MPPT controllers allow 30% more power to get through as the PWM controllers only allow 70% of panel power to reach the battery. I also trave long distances and may stay at one site for three weeks. Like I said.........if it works for you....... great!

[sclifrickson]

If you can only choose roof OR portable, then what will work best for you depends entirely on you and your camping style. (If I could only choose one I’d choose rood, for all the reasons others have listed).

But this need not be an either/or false dichotomy. The best solution, my friends, of course, is to have *both* roof and portable, and then enjoy the varied benefits of both!

[Brian B-P]

The only relevant point that I can think of that has not already been posted is that only a fixed installation will give you solar charging while towing. Although towing is not a large fraction of trip time for most people, if you are moving daily (during daylight) it would be significant; also, if you are operating any significant electrical load (such as a refrigerator) while moving a rooftop solar panel can be helpful.

Personally, I can't see wanting to set up a large portable panel array every time I stop while moving every day, but I understand the benefits of a portable panel for longer stops, so the combination of fixed and portable makes the most sense to me, too.

[Berndad]

Originally Posted by algonquin50

Again, the critical item to look at is the charge controller. MPPT controllers allow 30% more power to get through as the PWM controllers only allow 70% of panel power to reach the battery. I also trave long distances and may stay at one site for three weeks. Like I said.........if it works for you....... great!

So where and how do you mount the replacement MPPT controller and shunt? I saw one response that sounded like you could get the system set up temp. with the PWM zip tied in rather than put through cabinet base?

[Upfisk]

We had 2 semi fixed solar panels on our sailboat in the Caribbean for 14 years. Simple, wind is always out of the east so the bow points east. Sun comes up at the bow sets at the stern. Ours were adjustable up and down, so in the morning we'd raise one side, at noon flatten them, evening, raise the other side. Never quite worked out, we would have to micro adjust them every 30 minutes. We finally just set them flat, and we still caught enough amps to power a 12V fridge, the LED lights, the SSB radio, and occasionally watch a DVD. Don't be a slave to your solar panels, just roof mount and forget it.

[sclifrickson]

Originally Posted by Berndad

So where and how do you mount the replacement MPPT controller and shunt? I saw one response that sounded like you could get the system set up temp. with the PWM zip tied in rather than put through cabinet base?

Replacement MPPT controller just goes wherever your PWM controller that it replaces was. Neither system uses a shunt though. That’s for a battery monitor, which is a different ball of wax.

[Berndad]

Sorry, of course, the battery monitor should be somewhere you can see and the shunt down with the rest of the wiring.