Home vs. RV solar panels

[Davidsofia]

Is there much of a difference other than physical size? I’m seeing residential panels of 325w at 37 volts, and $180-$190 dollars each. New owner and reading through the solar threads.

[dah605]

I would recommend using some cardboard that is the same size as the panels you are looking at and mapping out how they will fit on the roof. You might find those panels to be too big to get positioned properly on the roof.

Based on the research I did, the panels are the same as long as they are quality panels. They are almost all designed to handle high winds, hail and snow loads.

-David

[J&G garage]

^^^This. My research also indicated that the difference between home and RV panels is primarily size. It's important to position the panels so they are not shaded by vent covers or A/C units on the roof. Smaller panels are easier to properly place on the roof to avoid shadows. I just finished installing three 100 watt panels and the smallish size made it easy to find a position on the roof. You can see how much real estate 300 watts takes up.

[TucsonJim]

^^^This. My research also indicated that the difference between home and RV panels is primarily size. It's important to position the panels so they are not shaded by vent covers or A/C units on the roof. Smaller panels are easier to properly place on the roof to avoid shadows. I just finished installing three 100 watt panels and the smallish size made it easy to find a position on the roof. You can see how much real estate 300 watts takes up.

Jim brings up an important point about "shadows" and shading. No matter what size panels you purchase, make sure that they have bypass diodes. This is especially true if you run strings of panels in series. On older panels without the diodes, you'd lose the entire string if there was any shade. With bypass diodes, the shaded area is "bypassed" and the string will continue to allow current flow from the sections in the sunlight. I demonstrated this at the 2018 Quartzsite rally to several owners who didn't understand. I had three panels hooked up in series. In older panels, if one of those panels was shaded, the current flow would go to zero. But I used a piece of cardboard to obscure one of the panels with the diodes, and there was simply a reduction of current equal to the shaded area.

One other item to note. For a permanent mount, I strongly recommend going with hard panels and not flexible or soft panels. I have yet to see a flexible panel that can withstand more than a year or two of UV exposure without breaking apart.

Jim

[SolarPoweredRV]

^^^This. My research also indicated that the difference between home and RV panels is primarily size. It's important to position the panels so they are not shaded by vent covers or A/C units on the roof. Smaller panels are easier to properly place on the roof to avoid shadows. I just finished installing three 100 watt panels and the smallish size made it easy to find a position on the roof. You can see how much real estate 300 watts takes up.

Unfortunately, you installed all those panels in the shade !!!

[SolarPoweredRV]

I chose to go with full size residential panels. I purchased the panels from Northern Arizona Wind and Solar. The 305 watt Canadian Solar Panels I purchased were $0.69 per watt and shipping to Florida added $0.20 per watt. Quite a reasonable price for high quality Solar Panels.
I chose the Canadian Solar Panels because they performed well in low light and produced 11% more energy per day due to their low light performance. I did not want to mess around with tilting the panels so these should compensate for not tilting the panels.

Originally I planned to install the panels on my previous coach, however, we purchased a new Solitude and installed them on the new coach, fortunately, without any shading issues. One nice thing about our Solitude is there are fewer roof penetrations so there was a lot of real estate up there to fit the panels.

Note: The panels are wired as 2 panels in series with the two pairs wired in parallel.

Here is how we laid out the panels:

Note: One of the 4 panels is laid out across the front.

[J&G garage]

Unfortunately, you installed all those panels in the shade !!!

Great minds think alike,eh?

[Davidsofia]

I chose to go with full size residential panels. I purchased the panels from Northern Arizona Wind and Solar. The 305 watt Canadian Solar Panels I purchased were $0.69 per watt and shipping to Florida added $0.20 per watt. Quite a reasonable price for high quality Solar Panels.
I chose the Canadian Solar Panels because they performed well in low light and produced 11% more energy per day due to their low light performance. I did not want to mess around with tilting the panels so these should compensate for not tilting the panels.

Originally I planned to install the panels on my previous coach, however, we purchased a new Solitude and installed them on the new coach, fortunately, without any shading issues. One nice thing about our Solitude is there are fewer roof penetrations so there was a lot of real estate up there to fit the panels.

Note: The panels are wired as 2 panels in series with the two pairs wired in parallel.

Here is how we laid out the panels:

Note: One of the 4 panels is laid out across the front.

Thank you! It is the Canadian Solar panels I was looking at! 65” x39” is quite a bit of real estate, bitI too am attracted to the efficiency over 18%.

Great suggestion on the cardboard cut outs above as well. I think my first investment is going to be upgrading my batteries to Lifepo4’s. However, with the trade situation heating up maybe it’s a good idea to get the panels now?

[G3502800]

I'm in the process of installing the renogy 160w flexible panels this week, they're worth checking out IMO as they're a lot lighter than regular panels.

Pardon my mess;

[Aridon]

Those flexible panels look so cool!