Solar panel

[axle234]

Does anyone have a fleetwood spec. on wiring the solar panel to the coach battery. the wire now from the panel stops in the front A/C unit inside the coach where the red light usally is.

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

If you're referring to the solar panel mounted on top of the front a/c unit, this panel is wired to the "Chassis" battery, not the coach batteries. Maybe this is what you meant, but I'm not sure what you are asking.

Do you have the wire inside the a/c panel? Are you trying to route a wire?

[Ottawa]

As far as I know, my solar panel charges my coach batteries, not my chassis battery.

[michelb]

Quote:

Originally posted by Ottawa: As far as I know, my solar panel charges my coach batteries, not my chassis battery.

If it's like ours (98 Pace Arrow Vision), I believe the manual says that the solar panel will charge both when the battery disconnect switch is toggled (i.e. charges both when RV is in storage and coach batteries are disconnected from electrical system).

As far as the OP, I believe you can simply contact Fleetwood and ask them for the wiring diagram for your coach (I think it's actually a checkmark on their 'contact us' page).

[offshore]

Does the solar pannel red light stay on all the time? Mine doesn't.

[JerryForwood]

The red light indicates the panel is putting out voltage. It should be off when the panel is not in the sun.

[axle234]

The wire stops in the A/C housing inside. On my previous coach the Panel was wire to the coach battery so that's why I posed that question.

[axle234]

yes I am trying to route the wire from the the inside of the A/C unit. As of now I have NO red light. I believe the panel was placed in error and never connected since it was not a option for this unit. I figure I might as well use it. I have no problem placing a light in the A/C cover inside but not sure had to get from there to the battery.

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

Most of these solar panels, the ones the factory installs on the roof ac unit are very small in wattage output. They typically will not keep large deep cycle coach batteries charged. The CO2, Propane detectors and other devices that draw current from the coach batteries will draw as much or more then the small solar panels put out.

If your expectation is for one of these small solar panels to keep both your chassis and coach batteries charged up while your coach is in storage for months at a time you will be disappointed. You will need a minimum of a 50 watt solar panel connected directly to your coach batteries to do this.

[michelb]

Quote:

... If your expectation is for one of these small solar panels to keep both your chassis and coach batteries charged up while your coach is in storage for months at a time you will be disappointed. You will need a minimum of a 50 watt solar panel connected directly to your coach batteries to do this.

For what it's worth, it depends a lot on where you store your RV, how much shade the panel gets and the sun angle (flat panels work well if you're in the South but the more North you are, the more you need to have your panel inclined (particularly in the winter) and on how many batteries you have but the batteries in our mh (2 coach, 1 chassis) have remained charged during the past 2 winters with the 5W panel on our roof. Our mh is stored in Orlando. Obviously, the more the better but it's worked for us.

[dickfrompasadena]

Axel, I requested and received wiring diagrams from Fleetwood. I did not look to see if the solor panel was in the diagram but I suspect it is. I can send the ones for my 2007 Bounder 35E to you. You may want to email Fleetwood for your specific config. They sent wiring and plumbing via email.

[justimagination]

Quote:

Originally Posted by michelb For what it's worth, it depends a lot on where you store your RV, how much shade the panel gets and the sun angle (flat panels work well if you're in the South but the more North you are, the more you need to have your panel inclined (particularly in the winter) and on how many batteries you have but the batteries in our mh (2 coach, 1 chassis) have remained charged during the past 2 winters with the 5W panel on our roof. Our mh is stored in Orlando. Obviously, the more the better but it's worked for us.

Our unit has the front panel as others have noted, on top of the front a/c unit. It is hooked to the Chassis Battery, and the House Batteries are (2) 6 volts. I'm assuming it charges all of the Batteries since the House Batteries are connected to the Chassis Battery. However, I never have had any Battery problems. And answer to another post, the Red Indicator light does not always stay on, it depends on the requirement of the Batteries. My coach has the original House, Trojan T-105's that came from the factory. I just make sure the terminals stay clean, and keep the water full. Good luck.
David G.

[SSteve]

I'm going to admit, up front, that I know next to nothing when it comes to attaching solar voltaic devices to the various parts of an RV. Here's what I do know.

I have a solar collector roughly 6 inches by 12. I don't know for sure whether it is connected to the chassis or coach battery. It certainly can't keep both charged. Not a lot of accumulated power, even at the best of times. I think I understand this.

My confusion comes from the debate about which battery bank this power goes to.

I makes no sense to me to try to keep the coach batteries charged since they are the most robust of the two types used in the coach. That means (to me, anyway) this charge should go to the chassis battery(ies).

I have no doubt that folks who say their tiny solar collector charges their coach batteries any more than I do those who say it charges the chassis battery(ies). The question is, why is an issue in the first place?

If the solar charges your chassis battery and all else is well, you can start your engine, nothing but good (charging wise) can come of that. If the solar charges you coach battery, and the chassis battery is dead because the charge hasn't been maintained, when you flip the old "AUX START" switch, as often as not, the chassis battery will immediately begin to suck the life from the coach battery. Net result, no start.

OK. I know I've rambled for a while.

It's obvious that different manufacturers place charging priority in one place or the other. To me, it just seems a no-brainer that the chassis takes priority with such a low output collector.

I really hope my collector is charging the chassis batteries. I'm going to check it tomorrow.

Steve

[michelb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSteve ... I have a solar collector roughly 6 inches by 12. I don't know for sure whether it is connected to the chassis or coach battery. It certainly can't keep both charged. Not a lot of accumulated power, even at the best of times. I think I understand this. My confusion comes from the debate about which battery bank this power goes to. I makes no sense to me to try to keep the coach batteries charged since they are the most robust of the two types used in the coach. That means (to me, anyway) this charge should go to the chassis battery(ies). ... Steve

From the dimensions, I suspect your panel is probably only about 2 or 3W.

The reasoning behind knowing which batteries are being charged, at least for me, is not to make sure that I can start the RV (although obviously that's important) but more importanly to make sure the batteries are receiving enough power to stay in good condition (all batteries will run down over time and it's not good for batteries to get run down too low). Since we leave our RV in storage for several months at a time, they all need to receive a trickle charge (depending on where (if) you store your rv, you can simply charge them once / month but we live in Canada and store our rv in Florida during the winter so that's not an option).