Our solar panel system was not preforming very well . We struggled through the first two winters .
The short storey is - we started with four 120amp panels and kept on running out of power.
Back we went to our motorhome wiring specialist - "no worries , I have allowed wiring for two more panels just in case they were needed " he said. We reluctantly bought two more panels and paid for the installation. Guess what - not one extra amp of power was produced !!!!
Next came the B--- S---. Loads of it .
We went to the supplier of the first four panels for guidance . He talked to us for an hour and then on the phone to the wiring guy for nearly an hour. He then gave us an invoice for his two hours involvement , $100.00 !!!! just to hear him covering his back in case we tried to make a warranty claim.
During the next 14 weeks we spent many hours searching the web, talking to other live- a- boards and other solar specialists.
Finally, the very able solar guys in Henderson , West Auckland defined the problem , provided the solution and specification for remedial work.
Basically , the wires coming down from the panels were too thin - it had to be rewired.
A live-a-board friend who lived off solar power for many years had a loose panel. We experimented with tilting it towards the sun. The output doubled !!!!!
We were impressed - we would tilt three panels and leave the other three flat.
First , the panels had to come off and be rewired into two banks of 3 panels each. This provided for two supplies of 36 volts down to the solar controller which smartly converted back into 12 volts ( so I have been told ).
Glen delivered the framework and we carefully manhandled it up onto the roof.
He then puzzled over what to do next. The photo recorded him scratching his grey matter. It didn't take long and he was back into it.
He had guidance from Graham and me , of course.
The first 4 panels came from Serada and the extra 2 from A A Solar.
You can see the Specifications are very similar but the price difference was incredible.
In the two years between the purchase dates huge factories in China had been commissioned and as production increased the prices came down.
Footnote - look back at the last six issues of our clubs Motor Caravaner magazine . The prices have been reduced every issue. Also the output has increased . No need to install an 85watt panel now ,
you can get an 180watt for less dollars than the 85 used to cost.
It is easy to operate , the lift is provided by three gas struts.
Once the control arm is released a small amount of uplift from me activates the gas struts which take over the lifting until the desired angle is reached.
To lower the panels a light pull down on the control arm is all that is needed.
There was needed a few other modifications .
Like upgrade the Solar Controller to a 60amp one.
Install two circuit breakers on the roof , one for each bank of panels.
Another circuit breaker between the Solar Controller and the batteries.
Plus a major improvement to the washing machine.
Our Dometic motorhome appliance had been installed to only operate when we were plugged into mains power. We do not go to motor camps so the machine was never used. The solar guru from Henderson said it should work off our solar system and provided the info to rewire it , and work it does.
If the batteries are down , a sunny day will see 40amps of charge going in over and above what we are using at the time.
We finally have a Solar System that works. Our system provides power for an electric only frig/freezer , micro wave that we use for cooking and heating water for our cups of tea, electric blankets in the winter , washing machine , toaster , toilet , steps , Nespresso coffee machine and the odd things like fans, kitchen wiz , vacumn , TV , drill , angle grinder and lots of LED lights.
Just like home - but then it is our home . If you are tripping away for a weekend or even a week or two, you can put up with a lot of minor inconveniences , but when living aboard you want the comforts of home.
Happiness is -
