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02-22-2018, 01:05 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas 25.2
State: Missouri
Posts: 1,038
THOR #4687
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Has anyone put solar panels on their AXIS/VEGAS
We are planning on doing heavy boondocking (not really into the RV PARK idea) so are looking at solar to extend our batteries without running the generator...
Has anyone added solar panels to their VEGAS/AXIS? Looking at maybe four 100-150 watt flexible panels for the roof, but not sure if that would be worth it or just a waste of money..
__________________
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02-22-2018, 01:10 AM
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#2
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 25.2
State: Indiana
Posts: 51
THOR #5936
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mo_Mike
We are planning on doing heavy boondocking (not really into the RV PARK idea) so are looking at solar to extend our batteries without running the generator...
Has anyone added solar panels to their VEGAS/AXIS? Looking at maybe four 100-150 watt flexible panels for the roof, but not sure if that would be worth it or just a waste of money..
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Talk to Brian Boone , Got Solar. Lots of great information and will give you great advice. Look for him on Facebook.
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02-22-2018, 01:31 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Georgia
Posts: 2,585
THOR #4735
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I think solar is great as a secondary power for charging our batteries... but, living off-grid and expecting solar to ‘really’ be beneficial and financially frugal, you will need:
- enough batteries to sustain your electrical usage during much of the day, and much of the night
- enough solar panels/output to ‘fill’ your batteries within a set time
- enough ‘hours of sunshine’ each and every day for any of this to matter
- enough days without clouds and weather that inhibit the solar input
- enough consistent tilting of the panels in order to maximize solar input
- enough money to invest in such a system
- enough ‘room’ to store, carry and/or deploy the panels
- enough time ‘off-grid’ to warrant the investment
- enough time ‘off-generator’ to warrant the additional expense
I have 200w of solar and view the $300 investment as a way to offset generator usage and create more quiet time, but without a substantial output for 6 to 8 times more battery storage, 10 times more panel amperage, and 365 days off direct sun for 8 or more hours each of those days, I will always view it as a quiet ‘trickle charge’ for the battery bank - at least when there’s sunshine.
enjoy!
__________________
the Turners...
two Campers, two Electric cars
former diesel pusher traveler
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02-22-2018, 01:37 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 35C
State: South Dakota
Posts: 1,132
THOR #3761
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Some good reading on the subject - search Google for "The 12V side of life" and read all of the comprehensive info there. Basically, he talks about a "power budget" (your daily usage of electricity) and how many batteries and what type you will need, plus then he gets into the solar discussion. With solar, you will want to overengineer to take into account rainy days and angles, permanent mount vs. portable, plus look at the types of controllers and the max input/output and how they manage the charge cycle. Much factors into the discussion.
If you just add solar to your roof with 2 original sealed lead acid batteries (maybe 100 Ah total) it is probably a waste of money.
__________________
John
2016 Thor Hurricane 35C with pups Piper and Annabelle
2013 Ford Fiesta toad
FMCA - F457085
Blog - https://traversity.us
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02-22-2018, 02:44 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1
State: Florida
Posts: 613
THOR #4366
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Click here for our solar install. http://www.thorforums.com/forums/f27...olar-5678.html
Click here for good info on dry camping with solar. RV Electrical
We added 2 100 watt panels to the roof. I can tilt them in 4 directions. Haven't up dated the link with pics yet.
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2016 Axis 24.1 E-450 6 spd tranny
300 watts portable solar.
200 watts solar on the roof.
Wrangler JK dinghy
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02-22-2018, 03:35 PM
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#6
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TurnerFam
I think solar is great as a secondary power for charging our batteries... but, living off-grid and expecting solar to ‘really’ be beneficial and financially frugal, you will need:
- enough batteries to sustain your electrical usage during much of the day, and much of the night
- enough solar panels/output to ‘fill’ your batteries within a set time
- enough ‘hours of sunshine’ each and every day for any of this to matter
- enough days without clouds and weather that inhibit the solar input
- enough consistent tilting of the panels in order to maximize solar input
- enough money to invest in such a system
- enough ‘room’ to store, carry and/or deploy the panels
- enough time ‘off-grid’ to warrant the investment
- enough time ‘off-generator’ to warrant the additional expense
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That's a whole of of "enoughs"...
But you sure gave us a lot of good things to consider!
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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02-23-2018, 04:05 PM
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#7
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2017 Vegas 24.1
State: Wisconsin
Posts: 57
THOR #3973
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mo_Mike
We are planning on doing heavy boondocking (not really into the RV PARK idea) so are looking at solar to extend our batteries without running the generator...
Has anyone added solar panels to their VEGAS/AXIS? Looking at maybe four 100-150 watt flexible panels for the roof, but not sure if that would be worth it or just a waste of money..
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We installed 400 watts with an MPPT controller ourselves. Upgraded the batteries and added a 2500 watt inverter and a battery monitor display. We boondock a majority of the time and this system has cut our generator time to nearly zero. We only run it for the convention oven or when we need air conditioning.
__________________
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02-23-2018, 04:53 PM
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#8
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bolandd
We installed 400 watts with an MPPT controller ourselves. Upgraded the batteries and added a 2500 watt inverter and a battery monitor display. We boondock a majority of the time and this system has cut our generator time to nearly zero. We only run it for the convention oven or when we need air conditioning.
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Did you buy the panels and controller as a kit, or did you track them down separately?
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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