Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.


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Post Info TOPIC: Selecting a Solar Installer?


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Selecting a Solar Installer?


We're wanting to have a solar system and lithium battery upgrade  installed on our Allegro Bus.  I've been comparing AM Solar in Eugene Oregon with  Starlight Solar in Yuma, mostly off their websites.   AM Solar is closer to me in Oregon, but  Starlight's prices at least on the lithium batteries seem to be quite a bit less, but I've not gotten complete prices from either provider.   I've read numerous positive comments about both providers, and need help deciding.   I'd appreciate any recommendations or insight from folks who've used either of them or done their own comparisons to help me decide what direction to go?  BTW  I do want to stay on the west coast.

 

Thanks everybody!

 

Jim



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2007 40' Tiffin Allegro BusQDP

2013 F150 Pickup for a toad

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Our solar (and several others on this forum) was installed by Greg Young, of RV Solar Solutions. He and Cori are RV Dreamers and on this forum as "The Restless Youngs".

Recommend them 100%!

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Bill & Kelly - with Callie along the ride.  

2011 Ford F350 Diesel Dually 4x4 

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Jim,

All 3 listed above are IMHO good choices. Would read their blogs/websites and also few others (Mayer, Technomedia) even though you are going to contract it out just so you know how ALL the pieces are supposed to work BEFORE you sign a contract. When got the short list down to 2 would go and visit/meet them.

Before all that would make a few choices such as what you expect solar to do for you and where you are going to be using solar such as in the desert or in the mountains. Resort or dry camping ? A/C or no A/C usage ? Are you afraid to climb a ladder to tilt your panels ? How are you going to vent/heat the Litho battery compartment ? (Very imp. re battery life) Oversize your wires. Install Fantastic fans with temp sensors on them so that they come on when your RV is getting warm (set ours at 78') esp. if not using solar for your A/C for your dogs safety.

Had Newmar install a factory setup with 6 panels glued on the roof (that some people dance on) when purchased my King Aire. But 3 months later when had studied solar (this dummy did not do the research first) tore them off the roof, had to replace large part of the roof, and installed higher voltage, more efficient and expensive panels off the roof so the heat under them could dissipate. Do not make the same mistake I did. (7k factory cost, apx 50% loss moving them to my kid's rv) NOT LOL!

After making a list of what I wanted the solar to do and getting 3 bids which came in outrageously high IMHO. I did it myself but have worked in the trades and with electricity all my working life. So if not comfortable working with electricity have one of the above do it for you IMHO.

John






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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Great advice and  feedback!  Thanks to both of you!  I have some time to do additional research before we have to make a decision, I'll take a close look at all three.

 

Jim



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2007 40' Tiffin Allegro BusQDP

2013 F150 Pickup for a toad

Headed toward full timing.  

 



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Greg (rvsolarsolutions.com) installed our complete solar system and we couldn't be happier. As Kelly mentioned above, he and Cori are also RV Dreamers and have even given seminars for Howard & Linda. Greg is very professional and good at what he does. Would HIGHLY recommend any day of the week! Good luck with your selection.



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RV-Dreams Family Member

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p.s. Forgot to mention - Greg was trained in OR by AM Solar

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Bill & Kelly - with Callie along the ride.  

2011 Ford F350 Diesel Dually 4x4 

2014 Heartland Landmark, Grand Canyon 

"All those who wander are not lost" Tolkien

 BLOG:  http://bkamericanodyssey.com/



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Had our solar installed by AM Solar in OR, no regrets, they were great to work with, love the no sales tax in OR, saved us a bit. Have since met and socialized with Greg and Cori, have heard very good feedback on their installs. Not sure their travel plans include OR soon, but at least you have options and recommendations.

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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I've seen Greg Young's work and he does good work. Ours was installed by John Palmer of palmerenergysystems.com in Mayo FL up near the Suwanee River. John does excellent work…but you have to go to him…and he's definitely a character. He marches to a completely different drummer…I'm not even sure he uses a drummer at all in fact. 

Jack Mayer recommends him as well for a FL based installer…Jack is another New Horizons owner and is a long time member here on the forum.



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RV-Dreams Family Member

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We are from North Carolina. We researched and priced solar installers from all the same solar installers mentioned here. Then one day we found a post on Ray Burrs Love Your RV with a video of Eddie Glonecks installation on his KeyStone. His work looked very professional. We contacted Eddie and had several conversations and felt we had found a better way. At the time Eddie was setup on a ranch in Wy. We where going that way and stopped by and he looked the RV over and gave us a quote. To make a long story short, Eddie installed a system with 4-140 watt Kyocera panels, 2000 watt Magnum invertor, with all the goodies that go along and we invested around $5,500 total. Eddie now has a You Tube video Mobile Homesteading. Since our install he has done several Motor Homes and F/W's. If you want to see some of his work go to www.loveyourrv.com and in the search window type in Solar install. When the page loads you will see the back side of two panels where Eddie is putting wires into junction box. Click on it and then scroll down to fine the videos of us installing our solar. I videoed it and Ray placed it on his site. If you need any help if interested call us at 252-341-6779. At the moment we are at 2016 Spring Rally. Good luck in your search. Heres another link, check it out first.

https://wyominggypsysmobilehomesteading.wordpress.com/2015/09/30/mobile-homestead-solar-services/



-- Edited by carolinakids on Friday 6th of May 2016 06:09:38 AM

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Rush and Lola Songer

2015 F-350 DRW (Alias Fat Baby)

2017 Vanleigh Vilano 325 RL  (Alias Sunshine)

Solar Equipped 

Full Timers July 2016 



RV-Dreams Community Member

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carolinakids wrote:

We are from North Carolina. We researched and priced solar installers from all the same solar installers mentioned here. Then one day we found a post on Ray Burrs Love Your RV with a video of Eddie Glonecks installation on his KeyStone. His work looked very professional. We contacted Eddie and had several conversations and felt we had found a better way. At the time Eddie was setup on a ranch in Wy. We where going that way and stopped by and he looked the RV over and gave us a quote. To make a long story short, Eddie installed a system with 4-140 watt Kyocera panels, 2000 watt Magnum invertor, with all the goodies that go along and we invested around $5,500 total. Eddie now has a You Tube video Mobile Homesteading. Since our install he has done several Motor Homes and F/W's. If you want to see some of his work go to www.loveyourrv.com and in the search window type in Solar install. When the page loads you will see the back side of two panels where Eddie is putting wires into junction box. Click on it and then scroll down to fine the videos of us installing our solar. I videoed it and Ray placed it on his site. If you need any help if interested call us at 252-341-6779. At the moment we are at 2016 Spring Rally. Good luck in your search. Heres another link, check it out first.

https://wyominggypsysmobilehomesteading.wordpress.com/2015/09/30/mobile-homestead-solar-services/



-- Edited by carolinakids on Friday 6th of May 2016 06:09:38 AM


 Thanks for the kind words Rush & Lola. I'm glad you two are out using your system to "Live" the RV boondocking life!

Happy Trails....Friends!!!



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RV-Dreams Family Member

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If anyones interested, the man we got to install our system changed his website so I thought I'd put it here for those who like to look and see someone's work. the link is http://mobilehomesteading.com/ 



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Rush and Lola Songer

2015 F-350 DRW (Alias Fat Baby)

2017 Vanleigh Vilano 325 RL  (Alias Sunshine)

Solar Equipped 

Full Timers July 2016 



RV-Dreams Community Member

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Go to this site and read and do it yourself a lot of information, Handy bobs Blog.



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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Our solar installer is coming to the east coast to visit some family. If you were ever thinking of having it installed then give him a shout. We are going to have him install our system on our new unit. Just give him a call and ask a few questions, you'll see he knows his stuff.



-- Edited by carolinakids on Saturday 17th of September 2016 04:50:39 PM

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Rush and Lola Songer

2015 F-350 DRW (Alias Fat Baby)

2017 Vanleigh Vilano 325 RL  (Alias Sunshine)

Solar Equipped 

Full Timers July 2016 



RV-Dreams Family Member

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HandyBobSolar (Roundup Montana) and Jack Mayer were an untold godsend to us along with Chad Heiser and many others on the Escapees forum, helping us design our whole solar system when our RV Nevercold fridge died on us and we decided to replace with a residential and apply the savings above the cost of a replacement RV fridge, towards the solar set up. We haven't got an electrical or mechanical bone in our bodies or hair on our heads, so we don't say this lightly!

Saved us over half of what we were quoted from some installers recommended to us by taking our time and the kindness of so many forum members helping us with the components as well immense install guidance. Truly believe this gave us a much better understanding of how our system operates.

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Another vote for Greg Young. He installed my system. Aside from being good people, he does great work.

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RV-Dreams rallies: Myrtle Beach '09, Hershey '11, Sevierville 2014

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Our solar installer and his family arrived from Wyoming here in North Carolina and has almost completed our install of the 870 watt, 900 AH solar system. For those of you that seen the other system on our other RV at the 2016 Spring Rally, you would really like this setup. He has added some new monitors which are important in the operation and functions of the system. We found some wasted space when we dropped storage panels and he is rebuilding the storage area to increase it. He suggested adding a Hardwired surge protector and the present inverter installed from factory had no remote so we have added it so we can control it from the living area too. Its a joy watching someone who loves what there doing, not just installing components. He install last year a system on our Cougar. It operated with absolutely no wrinkles. Luckily he came east to see his family and we didn't have to roll out west yet. We would have if needed but the Good Lord was on our side. I wish I could add some pics of it. We are going to make a short video of it and add it to his website, for those that might be interested in solar, it will help you understand more of the operation and how the components play part in the operation of the system.



-- Edited by carolinakids on Sunday 30th of October 2016 08:02:03 AM

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Rush and Lola Songer

2015 F-350 DRW (Alias Fat Baby)

2017 Vanleigh Vilano 325 RL  (Alias Sunshine)

Solar Equipped 

Full Timers July 2016 



RV-Dreams Family Member

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I have heard good reports on both AM and Starlight. 



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Winnebago TT 2101DS & 2020 Silverado LTZ Z71. 300 watts WindyNation solar w/MPPT, 2 Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, USF&WS, NPS, TVA, state/county camps. 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - old MOS 1542 & 1560.



RV-Dreams Family Member

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I should have posted an update on this thread earlier.  Last month we got our solar installation completed at AM Solar in Eugene.  We are very very happy with the install.  Cody and the rest of the folks at AM Solar were the best.  They were patient with my last minute changes, very communicative, and the install quality is great.  Adding lithium to our system was quite a bit out of our budget for the time being, however they did include some advance wiring and components that will make upgrading from AGM's to lithium pretty easy down the road.  We'll be in Quartzsite in mid January, and if anyone's interested in looking over our install, sent me a note, we'd be happy to show and tell.



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2007 40' Tiffin Allegro BusQDP

2013 F150 Pickup for a toad

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Off, still in Quartsite? Still giving a solar tour?

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Winnebago TT 2101DS & 2020 Silverado LTZ Z71. 300 watts WindyNation solar w/MPPT, 2 Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, USF&WS, NPS, TVA, state/county camps. 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - old MOS 1542 & 1560.



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Still here, but leaving first thing in the morning.  We'll be in Phoenix area (couple different parks) if you're in the area give me a holler, we'll arrange a look see!



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2007 40' Tiffin Allegro BusQDP

2013 F150 Pickup for a toad

Headed toward full timing.  

 

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