Results for "solar-power"

Installed 400 watts of solar panels on the roof last month but my battery monitor barely shows 2 amps coming in even at peak sun. Wiring looks solid, connections are tight, and the panels tested fine individually. Something between the panels and the battery bank is killing my charge rate. …more

Planning my next boondocking trip when this faint electrical burning smell started coming from my battery compartment, and my 950W flat mounted plus 1200W ground solar setup isn't charging my LiFePO4 batteries at all. My LiFePO4 batteries used to charge up beautifully, hitting 100% by late afternoon like clockwork.

Now? Total drama queens. This morning we woke up at 18% charge, and after a full day of glorious sunshine, we're sitting pretty at a whopping 63%. With 2150W of solar, I should be swimming in electrons! But instead my batteries are acting like teenagers - moody and refusing to cooperate.

I'm starting to suspect something's gone wrong, but honestly, I have no clue how to properly check LiFePO4 batteries. Are they actually broken, or am I just doing something monumentally stupid? What voltage readings should I be looking for, and what else should I check before I start panic-buying new batteries? …more

Leaving the RV in storage for five months over winter and worried about the chassis battery dying again. Last year I came back to a completely dead battery and had to get a jump. Looking into DC/DC chargers connected to a trickle charger setup but not sure about the wiring. …more

Between upgrading from two 400W Renogy panels to three, my RV dealership insists I need a massive 100A solar controller, but that seems like total overkill. Currently running separate controllers but need to consolidate to a single MPPT unit due to space constraints in my electrical compartment.

Need to determine the proper amperage rating for an MPPT controller to handle three 400W panels efficiently. What calculation method should I use to size this correctly, and what safety margins are recommended for solar controller sizing to ensure reliable operation? …more

Three months into owning my first RV and I'm completely lost on why these black aluminum window frames are hitting 129°F in just 90° weather. I'm pretty sure I could get a nice sear on a steak if I tried.

I'm looking for the most effective ways to tame these heat magnets before they turn my RV into a mobile sauna. I've heard about exterior reflective covers, interior solutions with Reflectix, and I'm wondering what actually works best. Should I be blocking the sun before it hits the frames, or can interior covers do the trick? And how the heck do you attach exterior covers without them flying off down the highway like aluminum kites?

Any battle-tested solutions from fellow victims of the great window frame heat conspiracy would be much appreciated! …more

Around noon yesterday I rigged up a car umbrella canopy over my motorhome roof for desert shade, but something still doesn't seem right about this setup. Permanent solutions like Reflectix installation or commercial RV shade systems like those from Shade RV are either too permanent or cost-prohibitive for my usage pattern.

I've identified automotive umbrella canopies from the link I previously shared as a potential alternative - specifically units that could provide approximately 50% roof coverage per unit, with the option to deploy two units for near-complete coverage. These systems feature automated deployment via rechargeable battery packs and appear structurally similar to established RV shading products at a fraction of the cost.

Before proceeding with this approach, I need to understand the technical limitations and implementation challenges. What are the primary concerns with using car umbrella canopies for RV roof shading, and how do they compare to purpose-built RV shade systems in terms of effectiveness and reliability? …more