Setting up solar

If I buy the Renogy 200 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Starter 20A Rover MPPT Charge Controller/Mounting Z Brackets/Tray Cable/Adaptor Kit, 200W Panel kit from Amazon - how easy is it to set up, using the rooftop solar ready input, and the place inside, where the monitor would go? 

Has anyone done this before?

I have a 2021 196

Thank you!

Tracey

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2015 4Runner

2021 Rpod 196

The most challenging part is going to be getting those zbrakets attached and sealed to the rpod roof. Download the manual and read that section carefully before you buy. There are parts you will need that are not included in the kit.

You will also probably want dual batteries if you don't have them already to have enough capacity available to accept the charge from 200 watts of solar and for boondocking over a few cloudy days.

And yes of course you will need to park where the roof mount solar is getting at least a few hours of sun daily. 

You can Dooo EEEtt!!!  It will be fun. If you're a geek. 

I decided to do the same thing at home.  I had a work bench with no work light, no plug within 12 feet and an old motorcycle battery.  Easy, eh?  Well, that corner of the garage doesn't get much sun.  Gotta put the panels on the roof in back.    Ran wires through attic, .............  It worked, great.  Wasn't big enough, kept finding more stuff to power, added panel, swapped in bigger panels, more batteries, ........... 

But it's been a fun project and might lead me to go off-grid with a future cabin.  I would do this again, no question. 

I had a good coach.  Look at the panel specs closely.  They have a peak voltage that occurs at first light on a COOOLD morning.  Your charge controller must be rated higher than that.  All the panels must match voltage, if parallel and current if in series.  Best to buy a whole set that are all identical.  Go big.  You will always find more to plug in and you'll save money by buying the right stuff first/once (unless you really are wanting a learning experience).  Size your batteries for 3 days without sun.  You'll have more without useful generation, but not often.  Size your batteries for 2X your max 10 hour power draw and add a large factor of safety for the uncertainty in the loads and battery ageing.  Size you panels to return at least 125% of the power you withdraw in 5 hours (you can't depend on more than 5 hours of full power in a day, average).  Round up to the next largest rating (if you calculate 100 watts, buy 125); the controller will protect the battery. 

i recommend an MPPT controller and running the panels at a higher voltage than the batteries.  That will give you a few more minutes of useful generation at the beginning and end of the day.  It will reduce the size of the conductors you need, too.  MPPTs are more efficient, get the most power from the panels to the batteries.

This site will help with angles.

http://solarpaneltilt.com/

Batteries are rated at 20 hours, C20.  I like to use C10 because it is more demanding and is the available rating closer to actual night time use (4 - 5 hours at night, 2-ish hours in the morning).  I am willing to draw deep-discharge batteries down to 50% and will accept the life reduction in trade for less battery cost and in an RV, weight, thus, 2x+ typical demand.