Hi all,
I have been really interested in getting solar for my camper, but have not been able to justify the cost quite yet. Talking with a buddy about this and he gave me 4 old Solarex (BP) SX-20 panels that he came by. I guess they were used to power road signs a bunch of years ago. They are pretty small, 20Ws apiece, but I thought that I could hook them up and learn a bunch. Hopefully, I am not wasting my time.
He has more panels so I could probably grab 4 more if these work well.
I wasn't 100% sure, but I think that I found the specs online, so I will attach them here.
The wires going out of the box are cut, but looking inside it looks like only the red and black wires connect to the panels. The white and green wires are capped together. I don't think I need to touch the grey and red wires coming out of the panels. I am not sure, but I think that how they are connected to that bus dictates the output voltage maybe?
I am a bit ignorant on the best way to wire the panels together, but I figured that I could pull out the old wire and rewire new wire with just two wires inside. Not sure if I should seek out solar-specific wire or if any would do or which gauge? Also not sure if I need to use solar panel connectors or just wire cap them together.
After a little research, I was planning on wiring these together in series and use an MTTP controller as a portable setup to charge my RV batteries. I wasn't sure but was figuring on around 30'-50' of line if that would work. Upping the voltage seemed to allow me to use smaller gauge wire without losing a big percentage of the wattage. Am I on the right track?
Any and all info and advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks!
Chris
I have been really interested in getting solar for my camper, but have not been able to justify the cost quite yet. Talking with a buddy about this and he gave me 4 old Solarex (BP) SX-20 panels that he came by. I guess they were used to power road signs a bunch of years ago. They are pretty small, 20Ws apiece, but I thought that I could hook them up and learn a bunch. Hopefully, I am not wasting my time.
He has more panels so I could probably grab 4 more if these work well. I wasn't 100% sure, but I think that I found the specs online, so I will attach them here.
The wires going out of the box are cut, but looking inside it looks like only the red and black wires connect to the panels. The white and green wires are capped together. I don't think I need to touch the grey and red wires coming out of the panels. I am not sure, but I think that how they are connected to that bus dictates the output voltage maybe?
I am a bit ignorant on the best way to wire the panels together, but I figured that I could pull out the old wire and rewire new wire with just two wires inside. Not sure if I should seek out solar-specific wire or if any would do or which gauge? Also not sure if I need to use solar panel connectors or just wire cap them together.
After a little research, I was planning on wiring these together in series and use an MTTP controller as a portable setup to charge my RV batteries. I wasn't sure but was figuring on around 30'-50' of line if that would work. Upping the voltage seemed to allow me to use smaller gauge wire without losing a big percentage of the wattage. Am I on the right track?
Any and all info and advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks!
Chris
