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

R Ray Walters ray at solarray.com
Thu Jul 1 11:29:53 PDT 2010


http://www.bb-battery.com/  

they should sell direct. I'd look at the MPL-90 battery, its a sealed deep cycle battery 12 v 90 aH. Make sure and ask for the flag terminal, the post terminals are too small for 2/0  cable.
We've used them on grid tie w/ battery backup, and off grid stuff that needed sealed batteries.
They have cycle life charts, so you can compare them to other batteries. I recall them having 350 to 400 cycles at 80% DOD, not up with a golf cart battery or L16, but really good for the small sealed battery realm. Definitely will outlast the Optima in deep cycling.

R. Walters
ray at solarray.com
Solar Engineer




On Jul 1, 2010, at 12:07 PM, Jeff Clearwater wrote:

> 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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>> 
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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
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Home Power magazine
> 
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
> 
> Options & settings:
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