[RE-wrenches] Component Choices for MY RV - Apollo Solar?

[Jeff Clearwater]

HI Ray,

Yes I meant to say Yellow Tops.  They are 
overpriced - indeed!  We've also had limited 
success in EV projects.

Do you have a supplier for B&B?

Thanks for the tip!

Best,

Jeff C.



>See below:
>
>R. Walters
>ray at solarray.com
>Solar Engineer
>
>On Jul 1, 2010, at 7:09 AM, Jeff Clearwater wrote:
>
>>  Dear Colleagues,
>>
>>  Well this one's for me!  Nice to do solar for 
>>oneself after installing for others my whole 
>>life!
>>
>>  I'm putting together an small RV system in my 
>>Sprinter Van that will also act as a small 
>>mobile power platform.  SUGGESTIONS?
>>
>>  I'm considering the following:   What would be better???
>>
>>  Batteries:  6 or 8 Optima Blue Tops (12 Volt 
>>System - possibly 24V) (space is limited - it's 
>>a 144" Sprinter Van)  - Other sealed 
>>alternatives you think are better?
>
>Blue tops are a Marine type battery, not their 
>best deep cycle battery, which is the yellow 
>top. Personally I think the Optimas are  way 
>over priced, and they just don't last that long. 
>I've used them in some electric vehicle 
>projects. I like B&B for sealed batteries.
>Their spec sheet info is the best I've seen, and 
>prices direct from the factory are excellent.
>
>>
>>  Modules:  2 Sanyo HIP-195BA19s (have already) 
>>& 1 undetermined 90-120 watt module (all that 
>>will fit!)  (Anyone have an extra BP 790 or an 
>>AE-90HE, AE-120HE??? or other 24" x 48" ish 
>>module?)
>>
>>  Charge Control:  OB FlexMax 60  or should I 
>>wait for the Midnight Classic?  (A Sunsaver 
>>MPPT will be used for the 100 watt module). 
>>(I'll also be dumping extra power to hot 
>>water).  Or Apollo if I use the Apollo inverter 
>>below.
>>
>>  Inverter:  I'd like to eventually have 120/240 
>>so I could build from the RV.  So question is:
>>
>>  A) One Outback 2012 now and then add another for 240 VAC later OR
>>  B) Apollo TSE2212  OR
>>  C) Magnum MS 4024 (in which case I'd have to 
>>go with a 24V pack and a 24>12 DC>DC for 12V 
>>loads)
>>
>>  Monitoring:  OB Mate (Flexnet?) or (Apollo ASNET if I go Apollo).
>>
>>  QUESTIONS?
>>
>>  1)   Opinions of the Blue Top vs ???
>>
>>  2)  Best RV inverter - Outback?  Apollo? 
>>Magnum? Experience?  Vibration?  Only the 
>>Outback offers neutral switching in the 
>>transfer switch. (Does the Magnum?).  Weight is 
>>an issue as well as space.
>>
>>  3)  Charge Control - Is the Classic Shipping?
>>
>>  Thanks for your time!
>>
>>  Best,
>>
>>  Jeff C.
>>
>>  --
>>  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>  Jeff Clearwater
>>  Village Power Design
>>
>>  Solar Design Consultation for the Commercial Sector
>>  http://www.villagepower.com
>>  gosolar at villagepower.com
>>
>>  NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer 
>>  http://www.nabcep.org/
>>
>>  Voice: 831-427-2799
>>  Fax: 413-825-0703
>>  245 Dufour St
>>  Santa Cruz, CA 95060
>>  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jeff Clearwater Lernould
Village Power Design

Solar Design Consultation for the Commercial Sector
http://www.villagepower.com
gosolar at villagepower.com

NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer 
http://www.nabcep.org/

Voice: 831-427-2799
Fax: 413-825-0703
245 Dufour St
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~