OutTheDoor
USA
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Joined: 08/07/2008
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Fezziwig's post in Full Timers got me thinking. How would someone install solar panals on your TT without voiding the warranty? Is there someway you could have movable panels to be able to follow the sun. Do you have to attach them to the roof or can you just set them outside when you camp. Many questions. Does anyone have any ideas?
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popscolly
North Carolina
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Joined: 08/06/2007
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Sunsie makes a solar panel that is a battery trickle charger. This panel only needs daylight to work, thus following the sun is not necessary. I found mine at West Marine and place it on the stone shield over the forward window. It is held in place by a couple of wood clamps. They offer a stand that could be rigged to attach to the tongue some way. This might not be what you had in mind. When we were sailing, I used one to keep the house battery charged. It did a good job and wasn't expensive.
The Colliers, Michael and Linda
2000 Gulfstream Innsbruck 30 FKD
2003 Ford F150 Supercrew Heavy towing
Chase, Swayze (Tibetian Terriers)
and Byshe (Papillion)
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sbingham
Payson, AZ
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Joined: 10/01/2004
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Why would it invalidate the warranty if done correctly! I have two 7 amp panels on my Nash 25S and 4 batteries. I NEVER lack for power, even in prolonged cloudy weather! ONLY way to fly. So easy to install and so worth it.
Steve and Bobbie (and Shotgun - my 115 lb dog)
Down sized to a Nash 25S 
My web page is www.dustylens.com
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tom_kat
way upstate new york/lake george area
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Joined: 02/28/2005
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you can use them as portable with a long line and take apart frame work to hold them but there better mounted to the roof they dont run away that way.
1985 Class A Holiday Rambler Imperial 33 +1979 Class C Holiday Rambler Statesman 1000 = 24 ft
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nny12972
NY
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Joined: 10/25/2006
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When my TH is in the shade, the panels are in the sun!
I piano-hinged the two 75W panels, mounted them to a bass-boat seat pedestal which is adjustable for sun-angle, and used the pedestal tube in a flush-mount floor receiver, on an overturned 2' X 2', 3/4" ply box......the panels fold face-to-face for traveling. A 50' #10 cable plugs into the outlet in the AC cord hatch. I can easily save somewhere around 75%-80% of available sun without much adjusting for sun angle/azimuth.
When the rig's in the sun, the pedestal tube sits in a flush base mounted on the TH roof----I manually turn the panels with my awning rod. My TH isn't very tall--I can set up the panels on the roof from the tongue.
J
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OutTheDoor
USA
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Sounds good to me. We like to hit the boonies a lot of the time so that would help! Thanks fellas!
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SteveRankin
Sequim, WA
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Joined: 05/05/2005
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I too have to ask the question "Why would installing solar panels void your warranty?"
We've had solar on the last two coaches and wouldn't have another one without it. We have 100W panel permanently mounted on the roof, and connected to an upgraded controller. IMO, the convenience of having it working all the time & not having to set it up outweighs the inefficiencies of being permanently installed. If we need more power out of the panel, we'll add a panel.
Steve & C. J.
"Gracie" the Rough Collie & "Bo'sun" the Bichon Frise
2009 Arctic Fox 29V
2005 Chevy 2500HD Duramax 4X4 Crewcab
PullRite 20K# hitch
TruControl Brake Controller
Our Beaver Technical page
Wildlife rescue at the Northwest Raptor Center
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nny12972
NY
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Joined: 10/25/2006
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FACT: A flat-roof-mounted, stationary panel cannot provide even 1/2 of it's capability....even when exposed to 100% of possible sunshine.....the only exception would be during the summer months south 20 degrees latitude!
For many of us that simply does not compute! And, wide-open, treeless sites aren't always available OR the choice of everyone either. Add in a 50% cloudy day, and you're lucky to get 1/8 to 1/4 of the panel's capability.
Less than 5 minutes set-up time is a small price to pay for virtually endless DC operation for me.....not to mention adding to battery life---the less you routinely discharge, the less charge is necessary=longer battery life.
Different strokes for different folks, but flat mounting just isn't a reasonable return on my investment! Nor is losing the freedom to run lights and furnace pretty much all I want or need---11 years on my L-16 batteries, and 6 years on T-105s so far, is all the proof I need!
J
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sbingham
Payson, AZ
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nny12972
Here in the western states my two 7 amp panels have never let me down. 3rd trailer with the same set-up. The wife runs the 21" TV all night while I work on the computer. Never even came close to running out of juice. Ever. 4 batteries and 2 panels pretty much does it for weeks at a time. Is rotation better? Sure! Necessary? Depends! I really don't think so - but it really depends on what you use.
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