Roof plan available?

[kb0zke]

I'm guessing that I'm not the first owner of a 315RLTS to think about putting several solar panels on the roof. Before I climb up there (or more likely, find a younger person to climb up there), has anyone already gotten measurements? We have two skylights, two a/c units, a pair of fans and the usual plumbing vents and television antenna up there. No satellite dish.

[Ynot4me2]

Some of our members actually do have quite a few solar panels on their roof. @SolarPoweredRV quickly comes to mind, and I'm sure will have recommendations.

[MoonShadow_1911]

I'm guessing that I'm not the first owner of a 315RLTS to think about putting several solar panels on the roof. Before I climb up there (or more likely, find a younger person to climb up there), has anyone already gotten measurements? We have two skylights, two a/c units, a pair of fans and the usual plumbing vents and television antenna up there. No satellite dish.

It is best to narrow down the panels you are thinking of buying, then make a cardboard cutout of the panel size. Use painters tape to help lay out the panel locations and mark then off with the painters tape. That really is the easiest way to DIY your panels.

It's really a big pain to try to measure, then fit panels into that space.

Personally, I recommend REC residential solar panels, get the dimensions, cut out the cardboard, get up on the roof, and start laying out where the panels fit.

[SolarPoweredRV]

I'm guessing that I'm not the first owner of a 315RLTS to think about putting several solar panels on the roof. Before I climb up there (or more likely, find a younger person to climb up there), has anyone already gotten measurements? We have two skylights, two a/c units, a pair of fans and the usual plumbing vents and television antenna up there. No satellite dish.

It is best to narrow down the panels you are thinking of buying, then make a cardboard cutout of the panel size. Use painters tape to help lay out the panel locations and mark then off with the painters tape. That really is the easiest way to DIY your panels.

It's really a big pain to try to measure, then fit panels into that space.

Personally, I recommend REC residential solar panels, get the dimensions, cut out the cardboard, get up on the roof, and start laying out where the panels fit.

I agree with what MoonShadow said.

My recommendation is to use Residential Solar panels and not use "RV type" Solar panels like Renogy, Newpowa or Furrion. The advantage of Residential Solar panels is that they generate more energy per sq ft than the others because they are much more efficient (20% + efficiency).

I would look at panels around 325 - 400 Watts and shop by dollars per Watt. The last time I checked, I found Canadian Solar panels for $0.54 cents per Watt, versus the other brands I mentioned at $1 to $4 per Watt. Once you find panels you are interested in buying, get the size specifications and make cardboard templates to determine how they will fit on your roof (be sure to add space for the mounting brackets).

With Residential panels, you will spend less, get more watts, and need to mount fewer Solar panels than if you chose the other panels. For example: I only have 4 panels on my roof and I have 1,220 Watts of Solar.

[Bigs85]

I agree with what MoonShadow said.

My recommendation is to use Residential Solar panels and not use "RV type" Solar panels like Renogy, Newpowa or Furrion. The advantage of Residential Solar panels is that they generate more energy per sq ft than the others because they are much more efficient (20% + efficiency).

I would look at panels around 325 - 400 Watts and shop by dollars per Watt. The last time I checked, I found Canadian Solar panels for $0.54 cents per Watt, versus the other brands I mentioned at $1 to $4 per Watt. Once you find panels you are interested in buying, get the size specifications and make cardboard templates to determine how they will fit on your roof (be sure to add space for the mounting brackets).

With Residential panels, you will spend less, get more watts, and need to mount fewer Solar panels than if you chose the other panels. For example: I only have 4 panels on my roof and I have 1,220 Watts of Solar.

When you mentioned these details about the Residentials panels in another thread it was a lightbulb moment for me in thinking through what I want to do this year and planning for future expansion/changes. Thanks for your comments and the context to the thought process, stuff like this make this forum so valuable.

[SolarPoweredRV]

When you mentioned these details about the Residentials panels in another thread it was a lightbulb moment for me in thinking through what I want to do this year and planning for future expansion/changes. Thanks for your comments and the context to the thought process, stuff like this make this forum so valuable.

You might want to check out this thread:

Affordable-Solar-How-To-Design-and-Install-an-Affordable-Solar-System

Be sure to click on the link "Installing a Solar System in Phases", it has a lot of good information about planning your final system before you start so you don't waste money replacing components as you upgrade the system.

PS: thanks for the kind words.