Share |
I want a solar panel on the trailer. A built panel of 50-60 watts will cost me about $250, plus a voltage regulator (so I don't fry battery while charging) for between $23 - 44. That size panel should just about power everything in the trailer, except air conditioning or furnace.
The following is the BEST do it yourself diy video on solar installation for an Rv. i don't want mine mounted on the roof. I want to stow it inside the trailer when not in use, then set it outside, angled for maximum sun exposure. i can even wire it so it plugs in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEWHkn5ZjSI&p=D62FCEFFC7F1702A
Now, I can build my own solar panel. Manufacturers sell damaged chips. They are functional, but have blemishes or breaks that, of course, reduce the electrical output of each. But the relative cost difference is less than half what I'd pay for a prebuilt panel. They're easy to assemble, with some thought and patience. The ones I'm looking at are pre-tabbed. This is to say they are already individually wired; they just need assembly. i could buy cells without tabbing, but that's a long process with delicate chips. I don't want to solder tabbing wire to individual chips: too much chance of damage.
Here's a video of a solar panel, assembled from broken chips, apx. 1/2 the size/wattage as what I'm considering. He's using untabbed, but the assembly (front to back in a line) is the same. He has a 10v panel, made with 33 chips. So, had he used large chips, he might have 20-30v: half my total need.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z3P-Vv6BAI
I have a soldering iron and will need solder & a flux pen, which will cost under twenty bucks.
I can buy this kit of 36 NEW cells, plus wire, with an output of 64.8 watts, enough to power the camper
http://cgi.ebay.com/36-3x6-Solar-Panel-Cells-FACTORY-Tab-BOTH-SIDES-tab-/220595249783?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item335c806277
I can buy 75 (he also has bundles of fewer) broken, large cells for $60, but that doesn't include wire. These are pre-tabbed. I'm guessing the maximum output would be around 75 watts: enough to power air & furnace, with caution.
http://cgi.ebay.com/75-Solar-Cells-3-x-6-up-1-7W-ea-LARGE-broken-pcs-/320491081501?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4a9ec1cf1d
I can buy a kit, with wire & flux pen, of 72 fully functional cells for $120. That is 80 watts: powers everything in trailer.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Kit-72-3-x6-1-8W-5V-3-6A-split-solar-cells-wire-pen-/320488064954?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4a9e93c7ba
Finally, I can buy 72 brand new cells, with diodes & wire, for $124. It's also 80 watts, enough to power everything, if I'm very careful with furnace & air conditioning.
http://cgi.ebay.com/72-NEW-WHOLE-Solar-Cells-3x6-75-Tab-Wire-2-Diodes-/220594792545?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item335c796861
Since the panel can be protected from storms, as it would be movable, I can be less cautious about the window treatment. I have storm door glass and plexiglass large enough. I have plywood, etc., to build the box. I even have silicone sealant. Basically, I have everything I need, EXCEPT DIODES, which cost very little.
What should I do?
I want a solar panel on the trailer. A built panel of 50-60 watts will cost me about $250, plus a voltage regulator (so I don't fry battery while charging) for between $23 - 44. That size panel should just about power everything in the trailer, except air conditioning or furnace.
The following is the BEST do it yourself diy video on solar installation for an Rv. i don't want mine mounted on the roof. I want to stow it inside the trailer when not in use, then set it outside, angled for maximum sun exposure. i can even wire it so it plugs in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEWHkn5ZjSI&p=D62FCEFFC7F1702A
Now, I can build my own solar panel. Manufacturers sell damaged chips. They are functional, but have blemishes or breaks that, of course, reduce the electrical output of each. But the relative cost difference is less than half what I'd pay for a prebuilt panel. They're easy to assemble, with some thought and patience. The ones I'm looking at are pre-tabbed. This is to say they are already individually wired; they just need assembly. i could buy cells without tabbing, but that's a long process with delicate chips. I don't want to solder tabbing wire to individual chips: too much chance of damage.
Here's a video of a solar panel, assembled from broken chips, apx. 1/2 the size/wattage as what I'm considering. He's using untabbed, but the assembly (front to back in a line) is the same. He has a 10v panel, made with 33 chips. So, had he used large chips, he might have 20-30v: half my total need.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z3P-Vv6BAI
I have a soldering iron and will need solder & a flux pen, which will cost under twenty bucks.
I can buy this kit of 36 NEW cells, plus wire, with an output of 64.8 watts, enough to power the camper
http://cgi.ebay.com/36-3x6-Solar-Panel-Cells-FACTORY-Tab-BOTH-SIDES-tab-/220595249783?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item335c806277
I can buy 75 (he also has bundles of fewer) broken, large cells for $60, but that doesn't include wire. These are pre-tabbed. I'm guessing the maximum output would be around 75 watts: enough to power air & furnace, with caution.
http://cgi.ebay.com/75-Solar-Cells-3-x-6-up-1-7W-ea-LARGE-broken-pcs-/320491081501?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4a9ec1cf1d
I can buy a kit, with wire & flux pen, of 72 fully functional cells for $120. That is 80 watts: powers everything in trailer.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Kit-72-3-x6-1-8W-5V-3-6A-split-solar-cells-wire-pen-/320488064954?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4a9e93c7ba
Finally, I can buy 72 brand new cells, with diodes & wire, for $124. It's also 80 watts, enough to power everything, if I'm very careful with furnace & air conditioning.
http://cgi.ebay.com/72-NEW-WHOLE-Solar-Cells-3x6-75-Tab-Wire-2-Diodes-/220594792545?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item335c796861
Since the panel can be protected from storms, as it would be movable, I can be less cautious about the window treatment. I have storm door glass and plexiglass large enough. I have plywood, etc., to build the box. I even have silicone sealant. Basically, I have everything I need, EXCEPT DIODES, which cost very little.
What should I do?
No comments:
Post a Comment