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Size of the vehicle/trailer is a strange factor. Bigger vehicle = bigger roof = more solar. But bigger vehicle = more space = more heating/cooling. I'm not really sure what the best balance is. But yea I love experimental rigs. You just don't find anything "interesting" in manufactured RVs...

I haven't done a thorough analysis, and I've primarily used them in sub-optimal conditions. All I can provide is the anecdote: they're advertised to be better than monocrystalline panels, but I haven't really observed much difference. They're also advertised to perform better in shaded areas...

Well now I really wish I gave it a fair before-and-after comparison on my truck. Before the panels, I would average ~13MPG highway (not towing). After the panels, I average ~11MPG highway (not towing). Hence my estimation of a 5-10% decrease in mileage. I talk about the truck like it's in...

Air resistance is quadratic while rolling friction (from mass/gravity) is linear. In other words, the faster you go, the more air resistance becomes a factor. It's certainly measurable, otherwise they wouldn't be moving to digital mirrors on vehicles. Semi tractors often have wind deflectors...

I'm curious if folks with elevated panels on brackets have noticed a decline in fuel economy while driving? In my previous setup, the solar panels were installed on a roof rack on my pickup truck (tow vehicle), so the panels were directly overhead. The wind resistance was quite loud and...

My vehicle is height-constrained already. It's at 12'6" which is why I went with the CIGS panels since they only had a few millimeters. Conventional framed panels would add to my clearance height which I don't want to do. That said, my previous RV had 600W of conventional solar panels and I...

I made the mistake of assuming solar would be adequate for my needs. Trying to live through freezing temperatures with constant cloud coverage for a week straight really woke me up from the solar dream. My solar yield for that entire week was <2kWh, despite having 960W of solar panels on top...

2/0 would be better, but that still only gets me 60A (which still under-utilizes the alternator). A voltage drop calculator suggests 4/0 for the ~100A I'd ideally like to pull. 4/0 is a monstrous nightmare; I have a few short runs of it for my inverter and DC distribution panels. This is all...

Cool so it seems you like the approach using a truck-mounted inverter as shore-power for the RV (which may have its own inverter). I'm leaning this way as well, especially since it gives me an additional 3000W of power should I ever need it. It's probably a ~10% efficiency loss over using...

Sorry to revive an old thread, but since y'all are talking big amp numbers, I'm curious what everyone's strategy is for actually consuming all of that output? I'll be putting a bigger alternator in my truck soon (300A max) to replace my current (160A max) (12v). My Sterling DC-DC 60A charger...

I have a 12k BTU mini split heat pump in my new DIY motorhome. My indoor unit is mounted up at the front of cabin. Without proper circulation, the back of the cabin struggles to maintain ideal temperature in extreme temperatures. Most RVs use ducts for both the heating and cooling. Moving...

Hey y'all! This is my first post here on the forum. This isn't technically related to solar power necessarily, but I figure the folks in this community are creative enough to help me out with an idea. I've been a full-time RV'er for about 5 years now. As any RV'er knows, emptying the waste...