Solar

[DWR]

What are some of the victron readings on the legacy elite 2 solar panels. The highest wattage I have seen is around 200. Is that the usual. I am located in the northeast. So the sun can be a bit scarce at time. Approx 200 is in the direct sunlight that we get....... 2025 Legacy Elite 2 Platinum Package.   

[jd1923]

1 hour ago, DWR said:

What are some of the victron readings on the legacy elite 2 solar panels.

We have an older hull and have 320W total in two OEM rooftop panels with an old SC not Bluetooth connected. You may have 400W rooftop. Regardless, these numbers are rated capacity, perfect world numbers.

We have our Renogy 400W suitcase solar running right now. I took this screenshot for you!

We’re near Mancos CO at 7760 ft, with pure blue skies. Suitcase panels setup, picture taken at 4:44 PM with a good angle to the sun, input wattage is now 231W. The highest number I’ve ever seen is 367W midday for merely a few seconds then down closer to 330W midday. Light clouds will cut these numbers in half. Heavy humidity less 20%!

On average our 320W rooftop solar nets only half what the 400W suitcase pushes since the rooftop is flat/stationery.

Of course the NE and SW are polar opposites, given altitude and humidity, so getting 200 of 400 watts with rooftop stationery panels seems the right number, likely your high number.

If you travel more than you sit for weeks at campsites, the Victron Orion 50A DC-DC charger will charge 2x more per hour than 400W solar in the best of conditions.

Numbers I count on are 40 Ah/hour towing with the Orion DC-DC Charger, 20 Ah/hour on the 400W suitcase for about 8 hours per day, a little more if your anal about moving the panels, and about 12Ah for the rooftop solar.

+100 Ah all day is the best we get from rooftop solar. With 400W you could add 25% but given your NE climate +100 Ah may be your best. Sorry to be the engineer! 🤣 

[DWR]

Thanks.....  Great info....... I did read a post about the dc to dc charging, just haven't needed it yet. But it is definitely in the  future project file...... The current system, which is the 400 watt system, works well. The batteries charge to 100% on sunny days, when I am away from the trailer. So no complaints. Although I do have a few 100 watt panels I can use if need be...,.... We were at a bluegrass festival. 5 days. The batteries cycled  between 75% to 100%. I did run a generator while using the oven, but the panels did most of the work the rest of the time. I was being very conservative with my usage. Did not mind, worked great.,..... Again thanks for your help .....