SunRunner Solar System, from AM Solar
11/07
One of the features we've enjoyed most about our 2007 34' Alpine SE is the engineered solar system we acquired. We passed on the standard option from WRV, which is a 100 watt panel with a basic controller unit, and instead separately purchased a full-featured system designed by AM Solar, which for nearly 20 years has been a cutting edge provider of solar systems to the RV industry. These units have become the option of choice for other high end manufacturers, including Country Coach and Monaco. Happily we were able to persuade Western RV to install one of these system on our new Alpine.
System Features
We initially had two 100 watt panels, but during our first year decided to add a third panel. Some of the features we've enjoyed, that are simply not available with the "standard" system, are these:
- The controller unit, a Heliotrope HPV-30DR unit, provides three-stage charging (bulk, taper and float). It uses the latest "boosting" technology, which actually increased the available charging current. There's even a button on the unit that you can press to see just how much this increase from a standard controller is. It appears to be approximately 20-25%. If the unit display shows it is providing 18 amps charge to the battery bank, you can push the button and see that without this technology it would be providing only about 14 amps. Given the cost of solar panels, it's delightful to be able to squeeze that extra performance out of them.
- The unit provides temperature compensation, which prevents overcharging in warmer climates and undercharging in cooler climates.
- A charge is provided not only to the house battery bank, but will keep the chassis batteries topped off as well.
- There is an "external voltage sense", meaning that the batteries will actually reach the full charge set point before beginning to reduce the current.
- There is a voltage limit on output, ensuring the voltage will not go above 15 VDC and cause undue strain on sensitive electronic equipment.
- The monitor display shows both house and chassis battery voltage, available amperage from the solar panels, and the actual "boosted" charging amperage actually being delivered to the battery bank.
- The system has an "on/off" switch, permitting the system to be disabled when the RV is placed in covered storage.
In our view, all solar systems are simply not equal. While a standard base unit can be helpful in offsetting the "phantom load" -- the amount of battery drain that occurs when both the inverter and all DC loads are tuned off -- having the added features of a carefully engineered system can provide far more in terms of efficiency, protection, and features. There is an RVer "education" section at the AM Solar website which is very helpful for those of us that are not photovoltaic engineers by trade.
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