Solar system install

wopachop said:
If socal sees this or if anyone knows, i would be curious as to why choose parallel? 
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If you go series and you get any shading your power drops like crazy.  Always better to do parallel setup in an RV setting where you might get shading from trees or roof top items.

 
SuperHunky said:
Steve and I put a setup on my new to me Warrior. Two big panels and two big lithium batteries that he had. Had to devise a heater system since the batteries will die if the temp drops too low and the system tries to charge them. Satisfied with the install. Doesn't have the juice that my old setup with 6-6v Costco batteries had but it's a smaller footprint and don't  have to water the batteries all the time.
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6-6v is a 300AH equivalent.  It wont have the lasting power, but you can easily recharge from dead to full in under 2 hours with the right charger.  Try doing that with Costco Bats.

 
I've been doing a lot of research (talked to Steve as well) since I'll be moving from my 4 worn out Trojan T105's to a LifePo4 setup this summer.  I won't be doing solar right away.  Regarding the low temp, many of the newer batteries have a low temp cutoff built into the battery management system.  

 
I need to do this on my motorhome - LiPo and solar.  Can someone please provide contact information for Steve?  I am new to the forum but would prefer to use someone that supports our hobby.  Thank you in advance.

 
dtchild1 said:
I need to do this on my motorhome - LiPo and solar.  Can someone please provide contact information for Steve?  I am new to the forum but would prefer to use someone that supports our hobby.  Thank you in advance.
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I'll Private Message you is contact. 

 
wopachop said:
If socal sees this or if anyone knows, i would be curious as to why choose parallel? 
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In residential/commercial, we wire series up to 480VDC so we can get away with #10 THWN-2, parallel would work fine but would need much bigger wire.  On an RV with optimizers and 2 modules, I dont see why one would be better than the other.  

 
wopachop said:
If socal sees this or if anyone knows, i would be curious as to why choose parallel? 
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I don't have the time to explain Ohms Law so I will just leave this

One you keep the voltage the same one you keep the amperage the same.

Now go use google and come back and explain to the rest of us.

 
It's simple. Trailers are much more prone to shading, either from trees or A/Cs and vents on the roof. If you're in parallel and 1 solar panel gets partially shaded, you only lose power from the one panel. If they're connected in series, you'll lose power from the whole string. It's better to get 2/3 or 1/2 power than none at all.

 
Little bit of info i learned recently was that a PWM controller matched with 12v batteries requires 12v panels in parallel. That would be an example where the series configuration would not work. (from a video i watched, please correct if thats wrong) 

 
wopachop said:
If socal sees this or if anyone knows, i would be curious as to why choose parallel? 
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You would double your voltage to panels. I bet the controller won't handle the higher voltage. Big home panels are 36 or 48 volts.  Btw those panels are 60 bucks all over facebook. Also I would use the best mppt controller you can get.  Mine was about 650. 

 
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Im sure LRS got great advice. I was just surprised the 2 panels were in parallel. I have been wanting to add a 2nd panel for years, and was convinced they would be configured in series. Did a little reading/watching and think these 2 statements are true? 

1. MPPT controllers can benefit from 2 panels configured in series. (to keep it simple just using 2 panels)

2. PWM controllers feeding a 12v battery bank require all 12v panels to be in parallel even if the controller says it can handle 24v. 

I dont fully understand what r3meyer was saying about shading. It must have to do with efficiency but i wonder if the type and quality of solar controller also comes into play. Take 2 equal setups with 2 panels each. One setup in parallel and the other in series. You are parked near a tree and 1 of the panels goes into shade. Apparently the 12v parallel setup can produce more amps under that condition? 

I feel like thats a rare condition for us boon dockers. Youre out camping and a cloud comes over. All the panels are equally shaded. If youre parked near a tree, at a local campground, good chance youre on full hookups. 

 
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