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05-25-2018, 09:01 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,180
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Solar panels need air circulation to help cool them as much as possible. Heat kills output. Panels stuck down to the roof with no airflow under them will have diminished output. 400 watts is good for maintaining the batteries in storage, provided the inverter is shut down. If you are trying to use solar for storage with the inverter on...for fridge, security camera, etc...400 watts is woefully under-rated for that use.
I really cannot endorse the Newmar factory installed solar that they have now. I don't think the bang for the buck is worth it...
The factory prep is good. I mean, I wish they had 4awg instead of 6awg...but it works for a 100A MPPT controller connected to eight 180w panels wired in four sets of two.
If you check out installations done by reputable installers...like amsolar.com or precisionrv.com...you'll not find many flexible panel installations. These guys are pros...and do many installations that are exactly tailored to the owners needs. I would recommend using one of them...or at least trying to incorporate their design strategy into your installation. They both stand behind their work...have excellent reputations and work hard to explain the system operation to the owner.
The only difficult thing about doing the install yourself is getting the panels on the roof. And possibly working in the tight confines of the storage bay. There are a few skills to learn...like crimping terminals on heavy gauged wire...or crimping butt connectors or MC-4 connectors...but there are numerous YouTube videos to walk you thru. AMSolar has a channel on YouTube to explain the use of their mounting components... Literally, there isn't anything overly complex...and if you come across questions...there is a growing number of us who have installed systems and can help answer questions.
If you install the system on your Canyon Star...it is not difficult to transfer the major components to the Dutch Star later...you will probably need new mounting feet, dicor, and maybe some extra roof wiring depending on configuation.
__________________
Charlie & Ronni
2016 Ventana 4037
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05-25-2018, 09:53 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 813
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vsheetz
Not am I fan of factory prep for solar either. Typically not of the desired wire size, wire routing, or number of desired pairs.
IMHO. YMMV.
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Vince,
You can ask for a different gauge wire and the number of wires pulled from roof. I have a pair of 4awg
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05-25-2018, 09:56 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 330
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Quote:
Originally Posted by C.Martin
Solar panels need air circulation to help cool them as much as possible. Heat kills output. Panels stuck down to the roof with no airflow under them will have diminished output. 400 watts is good for maintaining the batteries in storage, provided the inverter is shut down. If you are trying to use solar for storage with the inverter on...for fridge, security camera, etc...400 watts is woefully under-rated for that use.
I really cannot endorse the Newmar factory installed solar that they have now. I don't think the bang for the buck is worth it...
The factory prep is good. I mean, I wish they had 4awg instead of 6awg...but it works for a 100A MPPT controller connected to eight 180w panels wired in four sets of two.
If you check out installations done by reputable installers...like amsolar.com or precisionrv.com...you'll not find many flexible panel installations. These guys are pros...and do many installations that are exactly tailored to the owners needs. I would recommend using one of them...or at least trying to incorporate their design strategy into your installation. They both stand behind their work...have excellent reputations and work hard to explain the system operation to the owner.
The only difficult thing about doing the install yourself is getting the panels on the roof. And possibly working in the tight confines of the storage bay. There are a few skills to learn...like crimping terminals on heavy gauged wire...or crimping butt connectors or MC-4 connectors...but there are numerous YouTube videos to walk you thru. AMSolar has a channel on YouTube to explain the use of their mounting components... Literally, there isn't anything overly complex...and if you come across questions...there is a growing number of us who have installed systems and can help answer questions.
If you install the system on your Canyon Star...it is not difficult to transfer the major components to the Dutch Star later...you will probably need new mounting feet, dicor, and maybe some extra roof wiring depending on configuation.
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I feel like Superwoman when I read your threads...then I go to Home Depot purchase stuff to do around the S & B and realize I'm more like Lucy & Ethel....
I would love to try to do this...when DH retires (when ???) I can convince him to at least try. And moving the main hardware to the new unit should be easy then. He's more open to stuff like that since it's more cost-effective.
If NealC could do it alone I think that perhaps I can convince him the two of us could do it. We've actually got tools from all the projects I've done over the years.
See, you made me feel like Superwoman again!
__________________
2021 Dutch Star 4081; Jeep JL Sport
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05-25-2018, 04:13 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Chicago and Traverse City
Posts: 315
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my opinion only:
factory installed panels are obviously inferior
Pre wiring may be adequate depending on how many watts you want to add (and charger controller becomes VERY important)
That in turn depends on how long you stay off the grid and whether you're stationary or driving some
AND water mgt might become an issue before power
I've had good luck with AM Solar qualified installers and have read similar in other forums
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05-25-2018, 05:34 PM
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#19
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Registered User
Newmar Owners Club Appalachian Campers Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Midlothian, VA
Posts: 4,774
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Quote:
Originally Posted by yogus
If NealC could do it alone I think that perhaps I can convince him the two of us could do it.
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I didn't technically do it alone, I'm still waiting for C.Martin to unblock my number
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05-25-2018, 05:54 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,180
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Quote:
Originally Posted by yogus
I feel like Superwoman when I read your threads...then I go to Home Depot purchase stuff to do around the S & B and realize I'm more like Lucy & Ethel....
I would love to try to do this...when DH retires (when ???) I can convince him to at least try. And moving the main hardware to the new unit should be easy then. He's more open to stuff like that since it's more cost-effective.
If NealC could do it alone I think that perhaps I can convince him the two of us could do it. We've actually got tools from all the projects I've done over the years.
See, you made me feel like Superwoman again!
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I have faith that you can do it. It will take a bit of planning, accumulating components, and asking questions as you get the road map drawn out. I can say...it is easiest to do it in steps... Step 1...install a battery monitor. Step 2...install the basement components. Step 3...install roof components. Step 4...Enjoy! Breaking it down into phases helps...while helpful to have an idea of the project...not so important to worry about the next phase all the time. Just do one at a time. It will all come together.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NealC
I didn't technically do it alone, I'm still waiting for C.Martin to unblock my number
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LOL...He did do it alone. He completed all the steps and even took his system to the next level with remote monitoring and control. Very awesome
If Verizon charged me for text messaging..I would need a second job
__________________
Charlie & Ronni
2016 Ventana 4037
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05-27-2018, 03:54 PM
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#21
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 29
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I'm looking at ordering the 3226 in a couple of months and I've been considering ordering the solar prep. If anyone has added this before do you know if it includes anything besides running 6Ga. Wire from the roof to your house battery compartment? I feel pretty confident about installing the solar panels and combiner box. I'm not too confident about running the power to the fuse box, to the inverter, etc. Just curious how much of the pre wiring Newmar takes care of.
Thanks
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04-24-2021, 09:15 PM
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#22
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Fairview TX
Posts: 2,453
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For those of you who are uncertain about the factory solar panels, my advice is to forget it. I just picked up this new to me, 2019 Vantana and on the trip home I heard noises up on the roof. Upon inspection, this is what I found.
With all 4 panels working, I was able to put 20 A into my battery pack during full sunlight, which wasn't all that efficient, but acceptable. Then all of a sudden it dropped to 15 A… Obviously, with one panel missing I lost 25% of my capacity.
Not sure of any Newmar warranty, but I plan to rip the remainder of this system off my roof. Why would I risk slapping a motorist behind me with a flying panel?
__________________
Slabman
2019 Newmar Ventana 3717
2007 Lexus LX470 Toad
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04-28-2021, 05:28 PM
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#23
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,180
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slabman
For those of you who are uncertain about the factory solar panels, my advice is to forget it. I just picked up this new to me, 2019 Vantana and on the trip home I heard noises up on the roof. Upon inspection, this is what I found.
With all 4 panels working, I was able to put 20 A into my battery pack during full sunlight, which wasn't all that efficient, but acceptable. Then all of a sudden it dropped to 15 A… Obviously, with one panel missing I lost 25% of my capacity.
Not sure of any Newmar warranty, but I plan to rip the remainder of this system off my roof. Why would I risk slapping a motorist behind me with a flying panel?
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I see it now. That panel departed the fix. WOW.
__________________
Charlie & Ronni
2016 Ventana 4037
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04-30-2021, 08:57 PM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 570
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The prior owner had a solar system put on our 2014 Canyon Star 3920....
It has four 175 watt panels, and a Blue Sky 30/24i 40A controller with remote control..
It's a good system, and I really like it. I don't boondock much, so mostly it lets me keep batteries fully charged while stored with no plug in.. In the heat I can keep the vents open, with one fan on to keep air flowing. Before a trip, I can turn on the residential fridge/inverter to get it cold for loading a couple days before the trip.
However... The guy who installed it is supposed to be some Solar Guru at Quartsite, AZ... Can't say I understand why he's so popular.
He of course ran his own wires and the house batteries looks like a rats nest. The solar controller shunt & a solar breaker lying on the tops of the batteries amid clumps of wires wrapped in zip ties... Took me awhile to figure it all out..
I love the system, but hate the install...
__________________
2014 Newmar Canyon Star 3920
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