![]() |
|
Post Reply ![]() |
Page 12> |
Author | |
PeterK2003 ![]() Newbie ![]() ![]() Joined: 26 Feb 2019 Location: Pennsylvania Online Status: Offline Posts: 15 |
![]() Posted: 27 Feb 2019 at 8:35am |
I was wondering if anyone upgraded the solar on a 190?
I think it would be great if I could get 300W or more worth of panels up there.
|
|
![]() |
|
Awchief ![]() Groupie ![]() ![]() Joined: 04 May 2018 Location: Biloxi, MS Online Status: Offline Posts: 83 |
![]() |
There is a fellow on the Facebook page put 3 Renogy 160 watt foldable panels on his pod.
|
|
Michael
|
|
![]() |
|
PeterK2003 ![]() Newbie ![]() ![]() Joined: 26 Feb 2019 Location: Pennsylvania Online Status: Offline Posts: 15 |
![]() |
Cool!
I guess I put his in the wrong sub forum...opps.
|
|
![]() |
|
offgrid ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
![]() |
You should be able to mount a standard 72 cell utility solar module side to side across the top of an rPod. The length of the module and the width of the pod are almost identical. The width of the module is about 39-40 inches so see if you have a space that wide behind or in front of the a/c. I do in my 179.
The standard utlitiy solar modules are around 300-350 watts and can be bought for about 50 cents per watt now, so they are very cost effective. The other benefit is that there are no holes in the roof, you can mount the module from the side to a vertical plate which is in turn mounted to the side of the top edge of the trailer. This also allows the module to be stood off the roof a couple of inches for better cooling of both the module and the trailer. I haven't done this yet but my plan is to remove the a/c and TV antenna and mount 3 modules up there for about 1 kW of solar.
|
|
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
|
![]() |
|
furpod ![]() Moderator Group - pHp ![]() ![]() Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
![]() |
as a side note.. OG, have you looked at these: https://climateright.com/climateright-5000-btu-a-c-heater-2.html I think with the right batteries.. a solution for a/c offgrid...
|
|
![]() |
|
offgrid ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
![]() |
I handn't seen that one yet furpod but it could work. It has an EER rating (BTU/watts) of 5000/700 or about 7. It would be more efficient than the indoor portable a/c's but about the same as the RV roof a/cs. I've been thinking about a 9000 BTU minisplit like this: These have an EER of about 15, so use half the energy. Plenty spendy though. The evaporator unit on some of them is small enough to fit above the drivers side front window above the bed in the 179 and the condenser would go on the tongue where the batteries are now. I don't think there's any practical way to carry enough battery capacity to last overnight using lead acid batteries so I'd need to go with lithium ion. About 4-5 kWh worth. More $$$. And then I need an inverter, and about 1KW of solar, and a controller for the solar, etc. Using salvage Tesla batteries I think I can do the whole thing for about $3.5- $4K if I'm lucky. Here's a guy that's done everything except the a/c on his full time RV. |
|
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
|
![]() |
|
PeterK2003 ![]() Newbie ![]() ![]() Joined: 26 Feb 2019 Location: Pennsylvania Online Status: Offline Posts: 15 |
![]() |
OG do you have a link to those panels?
|
|
![]() |
|
offgrid ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
![]() |
PeterK2003, here's one example. This one is about 65 cents a watt for 325 watts. Its 1960 mm long or about 77 1/8 inches and 991 mm or 39 inches wide.
I don't recall exactly the width of my rPod but they vary slightly anyway so you should measure yours. If you want to use an rDome I'd suggest taking the keder rail (the rail that an rdome would slide into) on the passenger side of your pod loose and sliding the plate you're going to mount the solar module to behind that, so measure from that point. 0.080 inch aluminum plate should work fine, just shoot several self tapping screws into the top 1 inch of the pod wall and into the module end frames. You can cut the bottom edge of the plates to match the curve of that section of the rPod. If you want to get artistic, maybe even curve the top edges of the plates so they cover the module edges. This is the standard solar module configuration used in large solar projects so there's plenty of options. They vary slightly in dimensions so you should be able to find one that is a really good fit. I'd also suggest trying your local Craigslist, you'll often find great deals on modules for sale there that are leftover from projects where they couldn't use them. I've seen those as low as 40 cents a watt. You'll need an MPPT type battery charge controller too. There are a bunch of options on Amazon. |
|
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
|
![]() |
|
GlueGuy ![]() Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2702 |
![]() |
The best deals I've found are on ebay.
|
|
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
|
![]() |
|
offgrid ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
![]() |
Ebay for sure has great prices and lots of options. The advantage of buying local is that you can inspect the product and you save the transport costs. Solar modules are large glass objects so packing and shipping can get pretty expensive.
|
|
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
|
![]() |
Post Reply ![]() |
Page 12> |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions ![]() You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |