Finally some progress on my RV solar.

[PNW_Steve]

I sure wish I could remember who told me that you cannot put enough solar on your RV to be worth the trouble......

I just got my panels on the roof and am getting them fastened down. I will have 4x series pairs of 300 watt panels, The four pairs will be paralleled using a Midnite Solar combiner. I am over paneling to make up for less than "solar ideal" locations. I hope to have my batteries in a week or two and I can commission my system.

[SunEagle]

Looks great. I would have to remove both of my air conditioners along with the sky lights and vent fans to do that.

[Ampster]

With all that power and shade you or the OP could probably install a more efficient split system mounted somewhere else. .

[Mike90250]

Might have been me. Most RV's don't have enough clear acreage for enough solar to make much of a dent. I read from above, you have 8, 300w panels ? 2S4P ?

[chrisski]

I like that roof.

On my 35’ RV, After putting six hundred watts panels on my roof and avoiding 2 A/C units, 2 skylights, 3 vents, 4 pipes, I may be able to put down 350 watts more, but its like a Jenga puzzle. I could give up the walkway on the North side, and I may get an additional 400 to 600 watts, but those would be shaded at least partially for most of the day from all the obstructions.

[SunEagle]

With all that power and shade you or the OP could probably install a more efficient split system mounted somewhere else. .

Or I can just sell my beast of an RV and go with something that is more solar friendly.

[PNW_Steve]

With all that power and shade you or the OP could probably install a more efficient split system mounted somewhere else. .

I am installing two of them. One 9k btu and one 12k btu.

[PNW_Steve]

Might have been me. Most RV's don't have enough clear acreage for enough solar to make much of a dent. I read from above, you have 8, 300w panels ? 2S4P ?

Yup. 8x300 watt. 2s4p.

[PNW_Steve]

We have opted not to buy a diesel generator like I had on my last one. I am considering adding an additional alternator (24v) for my house batteries but have not found a bracket yet. If anyone here knows of a source for a second alternator on an 8.3 Cummins please share it with me.

Thanks

[Mike90250]

Balmar may have a mount

https://balmar.net/balmar-technology/altmount-serpentine-conversion-technology/

[PNW_Steve]

Balmar may have a mount
https://balmar.net/balmar-technology...on-technology/

Thank you.

I have already tried Balmar. They have some awesome alternators though. They would be my go to for the 24v alternator.

[PNW_Steve]

Quite a few companies make second alternator brackets for the little 5.9 but I have yet to find one for the 8.3.

[bcroe]

Get a MIG welder. Many things suddenly become possible. Bruce Roe

[PNW_Steve]

Get a MIG welder. Many things suddenly become possible. Bruce Roe

I have a mig welder. I had to have one for the roof raise and water tank mounts. Building a properly functioning alternator bracket is beyond my skillet.

You are most welcome to come over and show/teach me.....

[J.P.M.]

I have a mig welder. I had to have one for the roof raise and water tank mounts. Building a properly functioning alternator bracket is beyond my skillet.

You are most welcome to come over and show/teach me.....

FWIW, having done a fair amount of structural design as well as more than a little experience in design of weldments, what a bracket is attached to is often at least as important as the bracket, and the weldment is often the critical part of the considerations. I once caught a neophyte designer spending a couple hrs. designing a lifting lug and weld good for >> than design called for and would be welded to a 16 ga. steel pressure vessel wall that would fail if the lug were place where the designer intended. He hadn't learned the bigger picture yet.