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69RoadRunner · 01-20-2010, 03:53 PM

It has the little 5 watt panel for the engine batteries that does very little. That wiring would be too small for some real panels.

Solar Prep is not listed as a standard or optional feature on a 2009 Ventana. As Richard S said, even if it had the prep, the wiring is too small and you'd lose lots of juice on the way to the controller.

Magic · 01-20-2010, 05:14 PM

I didn't know only that my 06 Mountain Aire Gasser came with it. Can the wires at least be used to feed bigger ones ? DAVE

69RoadRunner · 01-20-2010, 05:18 PM

I would bet that it would not be easy to feed the wires with the existing wires, and I want to put the panels in the back and the existing 5 watt panel is in the front.

davebw31 · 01-21-2010, 05:29 AM

Yes, my units (Sharp) are pre-wired in a seal box under the panel. All I did was run two 12 gage (+ and -) from the box to my 30A PPM controller which is only approx. 6 feet away. From the controller to my battery banks ( I have two sets of two 6V Fullriver AGM s) I used 8 gauge wire as the batteries are approx. 20 feet from the controller The two Sharp panels are one 80 watts and the other is 123 watts (total 203 watts). Even on cloudy days these panels will put out 3-6 amps! Sunny days 10-15 amps (14-17 Volts). I usually can dry camp with no sun for two or three days depending on how I manage my 12V use. I may add another 123 watt panel in the furture.

Magic · 01-21-2010, 08:31 AM

Roadrunner, at least on mine, the 5watt panel is only for the chassis battery and the pre-wired solar is completely different. There's a sealed 3"aluminim square on the roof with wires under it, and wires in the battery drawer marked Solar ... ...DAVE

69RoadRunner · 01-21-2010, 09:30 AM

Magic, what year/model do you have?

I don't recall seeing that square, but I don't spend a lot of time up on the roof. The MH is in the storage lot, so I won't be able to look for a while.

Magic · 01-21-2010, 06:50 PM

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Hey Roadrunner,
It's a 06 Muontain Aire Gasser. This square is located to the rear of the first AC/Heat Pump. I think I enclosed a picture DAVE

69RoadRunner · 01-21-2010, 07:16 PM

I don't recall seeing that, but I'll check the next time I exercise the generator.

Magic · 01-22-2010, 07:21 AM

Roadrunner, I guess I didn't give you a connect info on where this square is, but the Sat TV square is in the front and the Solar is back towards the center and straight above the battery drawer hope this helps, You could just look for the extra wires in the battery drawer to see if it's pre-wired .... DAVE

dextercath96 · 02-03-2010, 09:05 PM

Yes, you must screw it by using 1 inch of screw so that when there will be rain, the solar panel will not easily to destroy. Can you help me in building up a solar power

generator? Your comments and suggestions are much

appreciated.Thank you.

69RoadRunner · 02-04-2010, 05:48 AM

I got on my roof the other day. There's no prewiring for solar.

I'm still trying to decide if I want to do this and if so, which setup to get. I didn't have a tape measure with me, and it was pretty cold, so I didn't measure to see what would fit up there.

That 200 watt panel sounds like a bargain! The 100 watt AM Solar panels would fit better.

There's also the matter of getting the panels up on the roof.

DonnaB · 02-05-2010, 09:10 AM

We had 4 panels from AMSolar installed last April in AZ by Marvin Braun precisionrvmobile.com. You will find AMSolar so very helpful whether you are doing the install or they find someone to help you as they did with Marvin for us. Below is a picture of the panels looking toward the rear of the coach as they are installed at the very back. We got the controller that would let us control 6 panels if we decide to add more in the future. The monitor panel we put in the bedroom as that was the only spot that was reasonable. We had a prewire, but as most of the Newmar prewire we have, it wasn't usable, so they ran new wire, 6 gauge cable. Anything smaller results in too much loss. Good luck with your install.