Most solar?

[DonTom]

What is the very most solar (in watts) anybody here has heard of on a drivable vehicle of any type?

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Define "drivable".

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[Sunnyfalls]

I would suggest the better question is how little solar panel and battery AHs are needed to accomplish unlimited dry camping in very remote locations...

 

[Ernie n Tara]

Haven't looked, but:
Maximum insolation is about one kilowatt per sq. yard.
Max theoretical efficiency around 90%
So max is about 110 Watts per sq. Foot of area times 0.9.

Ernie

 

[Isaac-1]

I know a guy that put 1,500 watts worth of panels on a 28 ft Safari Trek, though to do so he stripped everything off the roof to get it to fit.

 

[DonTom]

Define "drivable".

Wheels between road and rig.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[rvlifer]

5kw. Cant remember which rv but it just came out and is a towable iirc.

 

[DonTom]

I would suggest the better question is how little solar panel and battery AHs are needed to accomplish unlimited dry camping in very remote locations...

More is always better. Such as for when there isn't much sunlight, and one has a large compressor refrigerator and other large current demands and no genny.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[rvlifer]

Found it

https://www.livingvehicle.com/cybertrailer

 

[DonTom]

5kw. Cant remember which rv but it just came out and is a towable iirc.

That's a KW more than my solar at my Auburn home.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Primerump]

best I've done is eight 325W panels on a 24 foot trailer using stacker slides that I designed. 2600W
I have seen 4000W on a motorhome bus, anything higher and it's custom or bragging rights.

 

[DonTom]

best I've done is eight 325W panels on a 24 foot trailer using stacker slides that I designed. 2600W

Is that on your own rig?

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Primerump]

Is that on your own rig?

-Don- Reno, NV

No, Don. It was a customer ( friend referral ) .. guy wanted as much as possible to power a/c as well as boondock forever LOL..

I fitted 8 panels in two banks of 1S4P with two victron 100/50 mppt, 19200W/hr of battery ( 24V@400Ah ) and a victron multiplus 3000.

my own setup has "only" 1800W lol

 

[Laura & Charles]

See Bill Waugh’s ( @HueyPilotVN )well documented “Bubba Edison Electric Company”. Don’t recall his overall charging and battery capacities, but I know it would run his A/Cs.

 

[PancakeBill]

Friend has 1600 watts on his truck camer roof. actuator tilting. Plus 400 watts grund deployable.

 

[DonTom]

I find some advantages of not bothering with solar on the roof. My Y2K RV has four large panels, a whole 80 watts at best (a lot less these days because they are cheap 20-year-old HFT panels).

On the ground is better, IMO. Easily aim them at the sun as needed, easy to replace with new better ones as the technology changes. Easier to work on, etc.

But a couple of disadvantages as well. Must have the room for carrying them and strong winds knock them over.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

See Bill Waugh’s ( @HueyPilotVN )well documented “Bubba Edison Electric Company”. Don’t recall his overall charging and battery capacities, but I know it would run his A/Cs.

For that, see here.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[rvlifer]

I find some advantages of not bothering with solar on the roof. My Y2K RV has four large panels, a whole 80 watts at best (a lot less these days because they are cheap 20-year-old HFT panels).

On the ground is better, IMO. Easily aim them at the sun as needed, easy to replace with new better ones as the technology changes. Easier to work on, etc.

But a couple of disadvantages as well. Must have the room for carrying them and strong winds knock them over.

-Don- Reno, NV

And you have to set tgem up and pack them away somewhere

 

[DonTom]

And you have to set tgem up and pack them away somewhere

Not a big deal, IMO. They take up little room. They fit behind an RV couch or whatever. And setting them-- up--when boondocked often nothing else better to do.

I just think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of just having them on the ground. YMMV.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[rvlifer]

Not a big deal, IMO. They take up little room. They fit behind an RV couch or whatever. And setting them-- up--when boondocked often nothing else better to do.

I just think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of just having them on the ground. YMMV.

-Don- Reno, NV

Agree. Not usually a big deal. I have both and the older i get the more i like that i dont have to do anything for the roof mounted.

every time i set up the portable panels i do worry a bit about someone walking off with them.