R-pod Owners Forum Homepage

This site is free to use.
Donations benefit a non-profit Girls Softball organization

Forum Home Forum Home > R-pod Discussion Forums > Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: 200 W solar mod
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Topic Closed200 W solar mod
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <12
Author
Message Reverse Sort Order
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
JandL View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 29 Mar 2014
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 364 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: 200 W solar mod
    Posted: 29 May 2016 at 3:54pm
When the picture was taken, with the shade on the panels, I was getting no output. The next day when it would stop raining and the cloud cover was not as thick, enough light was getting thru the clouds to charge the battery's at around 13.6-13.8 volts and when I checked with my amp meter I got between .5 to 1 amp. The voltage from the panel has to be high enough to force current back into the battery so voltage has to be taken into account.
JandL
2013 Honda Ridgeline
2012 177
2 Paynes in a Pod
Back to Top
sailor323 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 11 Jun 2015
Location: S Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 281 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 May 2016 at 3:31pm
Check this out for the effect of shade on solar panel output.  Remember, that voltage is not the consideration when charging the batteries, amperage is determining factor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzzB1i1w_kM
http://www.solarchoice.net.au/blog/partial-shading-is-bad-for-solar-panels-power-systems/
While shade can drastically reduce a panel's output, some panels work better in shade than others.  Better (more expensive) panels are wired with bypass diodes so when part of the panel is not producing power, the power produced by the rest of the panel is delivered to the controller.  When this is the case, the panel's production is greatly reduced, but not completely lost.  Panels equipped with bypass diodes can work in partially shady conditions but we are talking about shade that covers a very small part of the panel and even then, it depends on which part of the panel is shaded.  If only a tiny portion of each string of cells is covered, the bypass diodes are of no use.
By the way, the folks at altE are very helpful and their prices are very good
Back to Top
JandL View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 29 Mar 2014
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 364 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 May 2016 at 9:15am
Will the panels still work in dappled shade like that?

They do not do very well in the shade. I set the panels up late in the afternoon after arriving. If I had left them on the ground I could have moved them into to sun. I wanted to get pictures to post of them mounted on the trailer. Later that night it rained and was overcast the whole weekend, I was surprised the panel put 1/2 - 1 amp with the cloud cover. If they were in full sun it would be more like 8 -9 amps
JandL
2013 Honda Ridgeline
2012 177
2 Paynes in a Pod
Back to Top
sailor323 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 11 Jun 2015
Location: S Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 281 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 May 2016 at 9:09am
Originally posted by john in idaho

Just thinking about solar panels.  From the photos, it looks like you are in some shade.  Will the panels still work in dappled shade like that?


Even a small amount of shade, dirt and debris on the panels, will have a significant negative effect on the amperage.  The panels might produce enough power to keep fully charged batteries topped up but they won't produce enough to recharge batteries.
Back to Top
sailor323 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 11 Jun 2015
Location: S Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 281 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 May 2016 at 9:07am
Very nice installation.
Back to Top
john in idaho View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 04 Nov 2014
Location: Eagle Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 613 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 May 2016 at 9:03am
Just thinking about solar panels.  From the photos, it looks like you are in some shade.  Will the panels still work in dappled shade like that?
Back to Top
JandL View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 29 Mar 2014
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 364 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 May 2016 at 10:13pm
I posted pictures on my original removable single100 watt roof mounted solar panel, at “Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks - List Your Mods - Posted: 02 Aug 2015 (Page 39)”. But on 8 Apr 2016 johnmaci posted “Topic: Home depot Sale: 100-Watt Solar Panel $100”. I had been thinking about a second panel and this motivated me to get one. I checked at Amazon because a lot times they have the same item at the same price. I ordered another a Grape Solar “GS-Star-100W”, 100 watt panel for $100. I had to also order a 15 amp Bussmann panel mount circuit breaker, my original one was 10 amps, 2 Branch Connectors Solar MC4 Y Connectors and 2 more IRWIN Tools QUICK-GRIP Handi-Clamp, 2-Inch. I added an aluminum angle to attach the vertical C channels because I had to rotate the panels 90 from how I mounted the single panel. When I travel I carry one in the bathroom and the other one goes into a neoprene bag on the bed. I have installed foam strips to the frame of the panel so it won’t damage the roof or edge molding.





2 Camco Party Light Holders super glued together to so I could attach the cam from a “Parent Units 2 Pack Topple Stop Furniture Strap"




Branch Connectors Solar MC4 Y Connectors








JandL
2013 Honda Ridgeline
2012 177
2 Paynes in a Pod
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <12

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.64
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz