Guys with solar

I searched the forum and couldnt find anything specific. Wish we had a Electrical thread like with have audio/video and lighting.

I am just wondering. Do you keep your solar panel on permanently or remove it when not in use. Trying to decide my set up and definitely want a panel for the aux battery but would suck if it I had to take it on and off all the time.

 

The solar is connected to a 31M battery. I have a Snomaster fridge & freezer in my back seat so the solar keeps the battery constantly charged

 

I run a Renogy 100watt panel on my Prinsu rack full time. I am running the Renogy Wanderer charge controller connected to a 34m AGM deep cycle battery. Between the chassis battery and the auxiliary battery I run a Blue Sea ML-ACR 7622. With it I can run the batteries together or separate at my discretion. As well as have the assurance that it drops the connection between the two batteries when I shut down the engine. I am planning on replacing the ACR and the Wanderer with a RedArc DC to DC charger to keep the batteries balanced a little better.

 

That’s the sort of set up I am planning. So I’m glad to hear having it connected all the time isn’t an issue

 

This guy has it permanently mounted as well. Doesn't seem to be much of an issue:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/solar-panel-install.472522/

 

I was looking at that but I was more curious about how the panels were holding up and if they affected anything on the roof racks ( Mounted the way the 2 guys above me have ) seems that they all hold up really well either way though.

 

That is my plan. I want to have the solar panel hinged so I can lock it up as a wind deflector when the RTT is mounted and lay flat when not.

 

Another renogy 100w permanently mounted here. Nothing wrong going that route. I like the idea of using it as a wind deflector as well

 

What are the dimensions of the panel? I need to fab up a wind deflector for my RTT and this is a great way to do that.

 

This is how I have mine. You can see the hinges across the front. The rear struts have 1/4-20 carriage bolts with plastic palm nuts on them so I can with have it up or down.

47.5” wide. The Renogy panel sits right on top of the side rails of my Prinsu. The hindges are bolted to a cross bar and riveted to the panel. The rear is mounted with the brackets supplied with the panel. You just line them up with a hole on the rack and drill and pop rivet it to the panel so that when it is flat the bolt lines up. Then make some struts that it angles it to suit your needs.

Thanks it gets me there and keeps the wife happy.



Edit: My panel has survived many limb and rock strikes in the last 15k miles. Even took a buzzard out with it coming across New Mexico on my way home from Colorado. No damage to date.

 

Did this make any discernible mpg improvement?

 

1.5-2.5 mpg better with it up vs down. Biggest difference is when you have a head wind.

 

That’s a respectable improvement.

 

Is the panel you have?
https://www.renogy.com/renogy-100-watt-12-volt-monocrystalline-solar-panel/

 

Yes that is the one. They are much cheaper on Amazon btw.

 

Nice. I just ordered this:

$130 Renogy 100 Watt 12 Volt Solar Panel Starter Kit with 100W Monocrystalline Solar Panel + 30A PWM Charge Controller + Adaptor Kit + Tray Cables + Mounting Z Brackets for RV Boats Trailer Off-Grid System

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BFCNFRM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_JmNOBbEXBN32C

Got one with damaged packaging for $161.

Does this kit look decent overall? Is this controller any good? I saw some that displayed an actual voltage.

 

just looked at this, controller is good for 6v golf cart battery, probably will need upgrade the controller at minimum

 

Why is that? It's for a 12v system...

edit:

@RedBeard1 have you had any problems with your controller?

 

This set working great so far. Tested one week never turned on truck kept battery charged and ARB fridge running at 31 ....cold brew after hiking ...yeah

 

Awesome!

Do you have dual batteries? I haven't set that up yet.