Truck mounted solar panel array

[AKCamper]

I finally finished my truck mounted solar panel array. Two Renogy 100 watt panels bolted together with heavy duty SS piano hinges on all four sides. Panel can tilt in any of four directions. Main frame is 3/4 inch welded aluminum square tubing. Struts are adjustable and can tilt at almost any angle. Hinges are attached with SS rivet nuts. Anderson power pole connector is at rear where I can hook up either my forty foot 6 gauge extension or my fifteen foot extension cable. This way I have a 200 watt portable solar panel that is theft proof and easy to tilt and clean.

[Jim Bennett]

Looks like a great job with the setup, and will have plenty of portable power.

I have considered truck mounted solar too, but my concern is that we are mostly away from the trailer during the day. Are you able to easily dismount if required.

[frank_a]

Nice job!

[AKCamper]

The array is not easily removable and a bit heavy for one person to handle, but I do have a 100 watt suitcase panel that can be used with the array or in place of it.

[HABBERDABBER]

Well done installation. Sounds like you have all your bases covered. Any photos of images of the hardware used? I'd appreciate some.

[AKCamper]

Originally Posted by HABBERDABBER

Well done installation. Sounds like you have all your bases covered. Any photos of images of the hardware used? I'd appreciate some.

Wish I could, but our trailer is in Bellingham and we are still in Alaska. I think Myron has a similar setup. I have a 20 watt EPSolar PWM Viewstar controller mounted on a small board inside my storage box. I have the dual six volt batteries as well. All my wires are the six gauge duplex silicone wires as in the pictures. The controller was relatively inexpensive and works well enough. I plan on installing a remote display in the trailer as well as a battery monitor. Here is the controller I’m using.

Or were you talking about the array hardware?

[Kyther]

I also like the concept of truck mounted panels. Easy to service, no tape or holes in roof of trailer, and huge advantage when trailer is nestled into the perfect shady spot. The lead to MPPT comes out the bottom of our E21, near the divider that's next to oven. From here it is fish taped through the frame tube up to the hitch area where it connects to solar panel harness. This way, we can simply pull the lead out of the frame tube, move the TV up to 20 feet into a sunny spot and plug it back together. I also have a 25 foot 10 ga. solar extension cord, and adapters to add in the detachable shore power cord for another 25 feet. Because the panel puts out 65 VDC on a moderately sunny day, line voltage drop thru 10 ga. cable is not an issue.

The panel weighs 40 pounds and uses a set of long shank stainless steel master padlocks as hinge pins. I can wrestle it on or off by myself but with help from wife it takes less than five minutes to remove or install. Don't mean to hijack this post, just adding info to a great concept by original poster.

[AKCamper]

I wonder how many others have truck solar? I like the idea of higher voltage to reduce line loss. I already had thePWM Controller and another 12 volt solar suitcase so I didn’t run my panels in series.