Solar Questions

[ljheptig]

Needing help with Solar questions.
1) My camper came with a ZAMP-30 Solar Controller and a 160-watt Solar Panel.
I am installing three 100-AH Battle Born Batteries, with a Victron 100/50 Solar Controller with four 200-watt Solar Panels.
Can I leave the original ZAMP system hooked-up and also hook-up the new Victron system at the same time?

2) Also with the four new Solar Panels, should I have them all in series, or all in parallel, or a combination of 2 in series paralled to another set of 2 in series?

 

[Jon R]

1) There should not be any problem having both hooked up from a safety standpoint, but the presence of the other system interferes with each system sensing the battery voltage, and likely will cause the chargers to transition out of bulk mode earlier than you might want. I have that issue if I try to use my shore power charger when my solar system has output.

2) All in parallel is the most forgiving in terms of retaining maximum charging output if a panel is shaded or fails. Series/parallel has the advantage of higher voltage and lower current output, allowing smaller wires and less voltage loss from the panels to the controller. All in series is least tolerant of partial shade and, depending on the panel specs, may exceed the 100 volt input limit of your controller.

 

[Vic Harder]

Agreed. I'd go with the one controller, and all panels in parallel. You are already wired for solar from the rooftop to the controller, likely using 12g wire. You will have a LOT of solar PV on the roof, like 800W worth. I'd consider both all parallel or some combo of series and parallel. You could be seeing upwards of 40A charging current. That's a nice amount! The Bluesea circuit calculator suggests a much thicker wire, which could be awkward when raising/lowering the top.
Circuit Wizard - Blue Sea Systems

What else will you have on the roof? Where to you typically park? Full sun or in the shade? Is the solar mostly there for charging while on the road? Then objects on the roof matter too for shade.

 

[pvstoy]

Needing help with Solar questions.
1) My camper came with a ZAMP-30 Solar Controller and a 160-watt Solar Panel.
I am installing three 100-AH Battle Born Batteries, with a Victron 100/50 Solar Controller with four 200-watt Solar Panels.
Can I leave the original ZAMP system hooked-up and also hook-up the new Victron system at the same time?

2) Also with the four new Solar Panels, should I have them all in series, or all in parallel, or a combination of 2 in series paralled to another set of 2 in series?

That is a lot of solar! I would just go with the new set up and one system. Remove the Zamp system.

The problem you are going to have with the Victron 100/50 is it limits you to 700w solar. So your extra 100w is wasted and not used. Consider dropping one panel in system to be at 600w?

What do the panels show for working voltage and Amps? If they are rated at around 18 to 20 volts I would be in Series. Anything higher be in Parallel to maximize the Amps.

All those panels on the roof adds weight,. Have you a plan on raising and lowering the roof safely?

Attached is the specs for the Victron 100/50 controller.
.

 

[nikonron]

Needing help with Solar questions.
1) My camper came with a ZAMP-30 Solar Controller and a 160-watt Solar Panel.
I am installing three 100-AH Battle Born Batteries, with a Victron 100/50 Solar Controller with four 200-watt Solar Panels.
Can I leave the original ZAMP system hooked-up and also hook-up the new Victron system at the same time?

2) Also with the four new Solar Panels, should I have them all in series, or all in parallel, or a combination of 2 in series paralled to another set of 2 in series?

Wow, that's a lot of solar and battery storage if this is in a FWC. That roof will be difficult to raise up. Can't imagine needing almost 300 useable amp hours in the camper either. Ron

 

[pvstoy]

Wow, that's a lot of solar and battery storage if this is in a FWC. That roof will be difficult to raise up. Can't imagine needing almost 300 useable amp hours in the camper either. Ron

Yea thinking 400w solar and 2 100A BB battery's should do it. But we don't know the users needs and power demands.

 

[nikonron]

Yea thinking 400w solar and 2 100A BB battery's should do it. But we don't know the users needs and power demands.

I'd say 200 watt of solar would be plenty. On a good day you'll be charged back up in no time at all.

 

[ckent323]

If you are using rigid panels I suspect that four 200 Watt panels will weigh around 80 pounds not counting the mounting and the extra cabling to connect them.

If you have not already purchased the panels I recommend looking at residential panels in the 360 - 410 Watt range to see if you can fit one on your roof. You will save a bunch of money and weight if you use a single large panel. You can buy residential panels from a solar panel distributor. The selection will vary so best to call and see what they have available.

I went with an LG 360 watt panel. Panel weight is 40 pounds. It replaced two 100 Watt panels a Y cable to connect them, one set of panel mounts and saved a few pounds but added 160 additional watts.

 

[pvstoy]

Guys unless I'm wrong this person may not be for real with the first posting. The naming is just gibberish random on the keyboard. Not sure to keep going with this unless the person chimes in and makes post number 2 and sets us straight. Person was online at 9:26 am and off at 9:58am.

Person may not even have a popup camper version where roof weight would not matter.