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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Boondocking, Solar Power, and Related Items -> RV Solar setup
Post Info TOPIC: RV Solar setup
Xylene


RV-Dreams Community Member

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RV Solar setup
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I currently have 4 100 Watt polycrystalline panels on the top of my RV which are hooked up to a Humless 1500 generator. I would like to now hook it up to the RV's batteries with the ability to charge the humless unit and the batteries at the same time. I would also like the option of switching the charge between the Humless unit or the batteries separately. 

 

I am looking at ether the Renogy 40 Amp Commander MPPT Solar Charge Controller or SolarEpic MPPT 40A Solar Charge Controller 150V PV input Tracer 4215BN for my charge controller.

MT-50 Remote Meter

 

What else will I need to accomplish what I want?

Which of the two charge controllers are better? They both are pretty much the same price on Amazon.

Where is the best place to connect into the RV power?

I have heard the term stint thrown around, what is it and do I need it?

 

I am sure there is a lot more to this that I am not aware of, so please help me out in that regards as well.

 



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bjoyce


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I wonder if you heard SHUNT as STINT. A shunt is needed to properly monitor your batteries. I know nothing about those controllers since I have a Victron Blue Solar that I monitor via my smartphone using Bluetooth.

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Bill Joyce,
40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com
Full-timing since July 2003
Xylene


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bjoyce wrote:

I wonder if you heard SHUNT as STINT. A shunt is needed to properly monitor your batteries. I know nothing about those controllers since I have a Victron Blue Solar that I monitor via my smartphone using Bluetooth.

 That is probably what it is that I was thinking of. Thanks.   Does the MT-50 do the same things that can be done with a shunt?



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bjoyce


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I had to look up the MT-50 to find it just tells you what the solar controller is doing, not your batteries. A shunt is needed to monitor your batteries with a battery monitor. Some solar charge controllers have battery monitoring built in or have add-ons. We have the add-on to our Magnum inverter/charger that uses a shunt. Here is what a shunt looks like, https://www.amazon.com/SHUNT-MKB-500-50-500-AMP-50/dp/B01JUD8HPM:

Shunt

 



__________________

Bill Joyce,
40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com
Full-timing since July 2003
Xylene


RV-Dreams Community Member

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Are battery monitors something that is a must? It seems like they can be setup after the fact.

Also I have read about using DC circuit breakers between the panels and the controller, is this recommended as well?  If DC breakers are used, can they be installed in the same panel box as my AC breakers, or should they be somewhere separate?

Where do most people attach all of this monitoring gear?



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bjoyce


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Here are some webpages from the main RV-Dreams website that should answer some of your questions and give you links to other sources:

http://www.rv-dreams.com/rv-electrical.html

http://www.rv-dreams.com/our-rv-electrical.html

 



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Bill Joyce,
40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com
Full-timing since July 2003
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