Solar panel install

In for more info...

 

@fatfurious2 Do you have any wind noise placing the panel in the rack like that? I have a 1x100 watt goal zero panel mounted on top of my cab rack running left to right across the vehicle, and it feels like an actual sail on my truck. On the highway a slight crosswind will actually move my vehicle. I've had to take it off because it is so bad on roadtrips. I'm curious though if you've had that issue with how you've placed yours.

 

Yea I think when there is cross wind, i can hear a howling. I didnt do anything about it though. Or maybe try to make the panel flush with the cross bars instead of on top? I don't know how id do flush though.

Ive had mine setup like this for a few years. Im getting ready to take my prinsu off to sell. I want to upgrade to a 160w or maybe higher. Im getting a go fast camper, and im going to try to mount it flush up there.

 

I have a Baja rack with my panel going the other direction as yours, and it's awful. Mine also sits on top of my rack since it's a mesh floor and I don't have other options. A previous post on this thread showed the panel placed under the prinsu rack crossbars which is cool and might make a difference. I just got a roofnest falcon and it'll overhang my cab by about the same amount as the GFC so my cab rack has to go. I'm thinking about doing these flexible panels and just going directly onto the cab roof. That noise from the cab rack drove me nuts. The idea of putting it on the tent is also one I had, but just means I need to keep the tent on full time.

 

Reviving an old thread...

I'm about to start building sleeping set up for my bed/cap for weekends in the mountains during ski season and looking for advice/recommendations for solar.

I'm leaning towards 2 100w panels & a 200ah battery. Overkill I'm sure but I'm thinking a small (~200w) space heater would be a welcome item on particularly cold nights to take the edge off before bed & in the mornings. Additionally a small boot drier/warmer and interior LEDs. I've looked at some of the math and I know 200w of panels isn't going to charge a 200ah battery from 50% in a New England winter day but if I'm only using it two consecutive nights it would at least help offset some of the loss from day/night 1. Obviously the variables of sun angle & clouds are huge factors but am I wrong on the math or assumptions?

I will have a Thule box for skis/gear on the cap and would have room between the cap & cab roof to add a third 100w panel but that seems like overkill for a weekend warrior build.

 

I think a diesel heater would serve you better for your purposes and then just run the diesel heater off your battery/solar setup. Heat will suck that 200ah battery dry in no time. Space heaters and heating blankets are not efficient for a reason but then it also depends on the insulation surrounding said equipment.

 

200watts of solar is on the lower side of sufficient for the battery bank. For snow/winter/cloudy conditions, you might want to look at a DC-DC charger as well, for primary/backup recharging source. But before you do, I would really look at sorting out the heating situation. Electric heat is not even close to adequate efficiency. A 200w heater uses about 13amps per hour and would barely budge the temp of a truck bed. BTW, that's about 680 BTUs. For comparison, a Mr Buddy heater starts at 4000 BTUs, which in electric speak is about 1200w or about 100 amps per hour.

I would definitely look at a diesel heater, like ^^^ this guy mentioned. They only use about 1-2 amps per hour, once they are warmed up, and most have a thermostat that cycles the unit, to save fuel and power. You could run the diesel heater for the entire weekend off a 200AH battery, without solar.. And you will have enough heat to not only take the edge off, but be able to sleep naked without a sleeping bag. You could even fork the outlet of the diesel heater to dry your boots.

I personally run a Propex propane heater on my new truck. Pretty damn expensive, but it only uses about 2 amps and I like not needing to carry diesel. It uses 1# of propane every 3 hours, but like the diesel heater, it has a thermostat as well. My 11# tank lasts forever, even with cooking duties. I have a single 100AH lithium, 100w solar and an 18amp DC-DC charger.

 

@zippsub9 & @5678ta I'd thought about a diesel heater but wasn't sure if I wanted to go that route because of the type of install it'd require. I also want to be able to reasonably easily remove whichever at the end of seasons. But I'll look more into diesel heaters. Thanks!

(There's a reason I studied biology & not electrical engineering!)

 

I have a diesel heater that I set up in a tool box so it’s easy to travel with.

 

@Hyland33 that's awesome! You have it ported in through a window?

 

I have an RTT and I run insulated tubing up and into one of the side windows. Keeps it nice and toasty year round

 

Guessing that's pretty quiet being in the tool box? If I go that route I'd likely sit it under the bed and drill a port through where the left cubbies used to be on earlier 3rd gens. I'm not trying be completely covert parking lot camping but also don't want to listen to a noisy engine either.

 

Yeah it’s quiet in the box. Can’t hear the fuel pump tick at all. I added a 12v outlet in one of the bed cubbies that I plug it into and I put the box under the truck at night.

 

Nice! Beat me to the next question! If I go this route (heavily leaning towards after doing some reading) I'd want it outside the bed for space & venting reasons. Think about sold on this solution.

Thanks!

 

This is sick! I was going to install my diesel heater under my bed platform but I like this idea more since it's portable. I'm going go with this box: https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-...C-_-searchViewed-_-NA-_-205440481-_-N#overlay

I'll probably send the heat into the bed via one of the cubby hole things on the side, and add a cap or something when it's disconnected.

What fuel tank did you go with? My heater came with a massive 10L

 

Mine came with the smaller 5.5L tank. I bought one of the all in ones originally and ended up moving everything into this box after a few uses. I didn’t like how tall the all in one was. Too tippy in the back of the truck on the trails.

 

Super clean, one of a kind

 

Briefly strolled through some of the original comments and wanted to say that the solar panel was still stuck to the roof when I sold the truck earlier this year. Never touched it since I installed it. The truck lived in the garage for the first two years after install, but once I got the ZR2 in April, 2019, it was outside 24/7. Zero issues with the VHB tape or wrap lifting. I did disconnect the charger though, since I didn't have a fridge in her anymore. But she was still able to charge the truck, I just didn't need it.

I now have an almost identical setup in the ZR2, that charges my 100A lithium when stationary. 100w flexible panel, Victron MPPT 75/15 charge controller with BT, and also an Orion-TR 12/12-18 DC-DC charger for when I'm on the go and the SmartShunt for monitoring. Total package works great, but during the really hot days, the DC-DC likes to shit out. The solar can supply enough charge to keep the battery topped off while the ARB Fridge keeps things at a crisp 33°. Turns out the Victron DC-DC's are only rated up to ~140°F, and I know the inside of the bed/topper goes well above that. Gonna be switching to a

$465 Redarc BCDC1225D REDARC 25A in-Vehicle DC to DC Charger with MPPT — Dual Input for Solar & Alternator Charging, Green Power Priority - 12 or 24V Battery Charger Suitable with AGM, Gel, Lithium LiFePO4 Batteries

Redarc BCDC1225D in the next few months, but keeping the Victron shunt for monitoring. They supposedly can handle ~176°F, so that should be more sufficient for my spicy needs.

 

Care to share any more angles of your setup? I’m trying to replicate yours, I love the way you laid everything out. Thanks!