Thoughts on 400w Renogy Solar kit

[JLUSoCal]

Here's an excellent voltage drop calculator I used to determine wire size -

https://www.calculator.net/voltage-d...s=10&x=51&y=19

[Elkman]

The Victron solar charge controllers like most such devices are made for residential and farm use and not for an RV. I used a Blue Sky controller with my previous RV installation as they sell a remote controller display unit so the charge controller can be in a more remote compartment and reduce the power leads length from the controller to the house batteries.

The Zamp ZS-30 that Winnebago puts in their RVs is a cheap PWM controller that is at best only 75% as effective as a MPPT controller. Unfortunate that Winnebago chose to be cheap and greedy with their solar setup.

[AJMike]

Originally Posted by Elkman

The Zamp ZS-30 that Winnebago puts in their RVs is a cheap PWM controller that is at best only 75% as effective as a MPPT controller. Unfortunate that Winnebago chose to be cheap and greedy with their solar setup.

I think the terms "cheap" and "greedy" are way too harsh.

Winnebago sells to a low to medium price range in their Class C RVs and they buy equipment aimed and priced for that price range. People don't want to spend more than they have to and are always looking for the lowest price, so Winnebago dresses their RVs at a price their customers are willing to pay and can afford. That does not make them greedy, it makes them business wise.

When I compare my Winnie Fuse with its main Thor competitor, the Compass, what I see is that Winnebago adds better and more expensive equipment and has a better build for about the same price. My Fuse has a compressor refrigerator and a 1000 watt inverter, neither of which comes with the equivalent Thor Compass. It has a large front TV which is not part of the Compass equipment. It includes 2 1000 watt solar panels which are not included with the Compass. And the build is better than that or the Thor, at least based on the relative number of build complaints that I see on the Winnebago and Thor user forums.

The point is that they are not being greedy, they are buying and selling based on who their market is, and I think they did well with what they included. Would I like to have seen more expensive hardware and electronics? Sure. Would I have wanted to pay more? Not so much.

[AJMike]

Originally Posted by DavidM

I had always thought that solar controllers were rated at maximum amps that they can handle. 400 watts of solar panels could produce 400/12=33 amps DC when charging a fully discharged battery, maybe a little less due to efficiency losses.

So I went to Victron's site which gives a nice calculator that selects the appropriate controller and gives expected output at a selected geographical location. It recommends the Smart or Blue Solar MPPT 100/30. So it looks like you made the right choice as I would otherwise would have said 100/50.

Here is a link to the site: https://www.victronenergy.com/mppt-calculator

BTW it shows beween 13 and 19+ kWhr each day depending on the time of year for your Oceanside, Ca location presumably for fixed, horizontally mounted panels.

Interesting that they don't let you choose 100 watt mono panels. The only 100 watt choice is poly.

[YGoHom]

I wondered about that too. I decided to go series/parallel with my 4 panels, so I’ll have enough volts to get charging, yet not be pushing the limits of the controller on volts or amps. And still have a better shot at charging with a shaded panel.

[DavidM]

Originally Posted by AJMike

Interesting that they don't let you choose 100 watt mono panels. The only 100 watt choice is poly.

Probably just a programming error. Wonder why it would matter.

David