Adding Solar to Sprinter RV

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hookem asked May 7, '21

Adding Solar to Sprinter RV

The coach (WB Navion) is equipped with: (2 * 100) Zamp panels on a 30A PWM Controller, (2 * 125 Ah,) Lithium Batteries. and a Zantrex 2KW Inverter/Charger.

So here's my plan:

1) Connect the (2 *100) Zamp panels in Series and feed them to a Victron MPPT 100/20 Controller.

2) Add (2 * 210) Newpowa panels (Voc=39.6V, Imp=6.24A) and feed them to a Victron MPPT 100/50 Controller.

Did not want to mix panels, so opted for separate Controllers... Please ignore the "extra" stuff: Lynx Distributor, Smart-Shunt, Cerbo GX, and GX Display/Touch.

Question: Is 620W of Solar overkill for this system?

solar sizing

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Modifications Space

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Answer 1 · 2021-05-07T21:55:43Z

seb71 answered · May 07, 2021 at 09:55 PM

Is 620W of Solar overkill for this system?

No. Far from it. If you have room to install them, you could get 3 of those 210W panels (or two larger ones).

You could also consider removing the 100W panels and installing 3x210W (with a single charger), if you can fit them. Or two larger panels (~300W each).

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hookem commented · May 08, 2021 at 12:09 AM

The caveat is that factory-installed panels are quite expensive ($400+ a pop), so I'd prefer not to trash them. At least they're lightweight, but to your point, they consume precious roof-top space... But if I can find a buyer for the 100W panels, I may do just as you're suggesting!

Thanks!

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seb71 hookem commented · May 08, 2021 at 06:48 AM

That price must include the labor to install them (and a hefty profit). Don't expect to sell them with such price.

The batteries are already wired?

With batteries in parallel, best would be to use a pair of wires for each (with a fuse on each positive wire and with positive wires of equal length and negative wires of equal length).

Or at least connect the negative wire (or the positive wire - whichever is easier) to the other battery. So that the "main" positive and the "main" negative of your battery bank are not on the same battery.

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