Community Forums

16bounder · 03-25-2019, 11:36 AM

We have a 16 Bounder and have the solar panel mounted on the front ac unit. I am guessing this is a trickle battery charger for the chassis. Does it charge when needed or is there a switch I need to know about.

16bounder · 03-25-2019, 12:46 PM

Forgot the most important part.....this solar panel came original equipment and is approx 18x18, and is mounted/attached to the front air conditioner shroud.

Frank Miller · 03-25-2019, 07:09 PM

Most A/C mounted solar panels are too small to need a controller or switch and are about as useful as a yellow hole in the snow.

bolhuijo · 03-26-2019, 12:24 PM

On my older Bounder, I examined the diagram for the battery control center where the tiny solar panel is connected. It appears that the solar panel can only charge the coach battery. (and of course it is so small that it can't do much other than keep the battery charge topped off) There is no switch or controller - it just always delivers charge when it can. There is a small LED in the interior AC vent to tell if it is working. When I got mine, the 3A fuse in the BCC was faulty but it lit up for me after I fixed that.

It can't deliver charge to the chassis battery unless the isolator relay is closed. (and the power required to keep the isolator relay closed may be more than the tiny panel could delivery anyway)

Your mileage may vary if they have changed the wiring method.

medic574 · 04-01-2019, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank Miller

Most A/C mounted solar panels are too small to need a controller or switch and are about as useful as a yellow hole in the snow.

That’s funny [emoji38]

KF5UMC · 04-01-2019, 09:57 AM

One day while cleaning out the front and back AC units, I noticed a wire pair and connector for another solar panel on the rear AC unit. It was never installed with a panel. Might be worth finding another panel and hook it up...and no LED indicator on the inside rear grill.

Rhaun · 04-18-2019, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KF5UMC

One day while cleaning out the front and back AC units, I noticed a wire pair and connector for another solar panel on the rear AC unit. It was never installed with a panel. Might be worth finding another panel and hook it up...and no LED indicator on the inside rear grill.

hey there,
I have the same setup
here's what I did I ordered another one like the front one and installed it....
then went inside the coach and I had to drill a hole from the rear ac unit and then I fished a wire through the celling and sires it in with the other charging unit.
I hope this helped.