Solar Ready

150v


150 V seems like a lot. After all it’s only a 12 volt system.

Solar-ready they said.

Not knowing anything about solar power other than what I saw on YouTube. I decided that I’d learned enough. So I ordered 12 flexible, 100 WATT solar panels to mount to the roof. I also ordered a EPEVER Tracer 100 MPPT solar charge controller. How hard could it be? The sun powers the solar panels, and they power the charger controller to charge the batteries. What can go wrong?

As it turns out a lot can go wrong!! Fuses blowing, Overcharging, Under charging, Dead batteries,

and basically No Power!!!!

pulling out my hair

Solar Panels

Solar power is energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy. Solar energy is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source available, and the U.S. has some of the richest solar resources in the world. Solar technologies can harness this energy for a variety of uses, including generating electricity, providing light or a comfortable interior environment, and heating water for domestic, commercial, or industrial use.

CHARGE CONTROLLER

A solar charge controller manages the power going into the battery bank from the solar array.  It ensures that the deep cycle batteries are not overcharged during the day, and that the power doesn’t run backwards to the solar panels overnight and drain the batteries. Some charge controllers are available with additional capabilities, like lighting and load control, but managing the power is its primary job.

The Batteries

Batteries are a collection of one or more cells whose chemical reactions create a flow of electrons in a circuit. All batteries are made up of three basic components: an anode (the ‘-‘ side), a cathode (the ‘+’ side), and some kind of electrolyte (a substance that chemically reacts with the anode and cathode). So basically the battery is a storage box for the electricity that you generate during the day to run your RV at night.

Check list

Solar panels, charge controller, and batteries, yep all in check !!!